Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA Sharon Hartwell called 2025 eventful after completing her first full year in the position.
One of the main things she used this year for was learning how provincial politics operates.
“All my municipal governance experience did come in handy but the routine in parliament has been a little bit different,” Hartwell said.
A main point she focused on through last year was healthcare in northern B.C. which one of the reasons Hartwell returned to politics.
One example she mentioned was Stewart which has been struggling to gain a permanent, full time paramedic along with Kitwanga.
“I think what I want the government to know, and they hear this regularly, is that we’re completely underserved for all kinds of things in the north.”
Another item Hartwell mentioned was the Bulkley Valley District Hospital which has been operating at near full staffing but has inadequate facilities.
Plans for a new hospital facility were submitted to the province in 2019 by the North West Regional Hospital District.
“We are planning town halls coming in January and maybe early February. One will be on forestry, and one certainly will be on health care,” said Hartwell.
She added consulting with residents in the riding on various issues is something being looked forward to in 2026.
“I’m a very firm believer on consultation eye to eye. You can put posts out on social media to say this is the result but for me, that is not consultation.”
Also last year, Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad stepped down as leader of the B.C. Conservatives which Hartwell called unsettling.
“It’s interesting people seem to be unsettled because one man left his party and started another party, because he wanted to do good things for B.C. He wanted other people to have a voice,” she said.
“We would not be here if it wasn’t for Rustad.”
This year, one of Hartwell’s main focuses is on road safety and askes drivers to think about their speed and where they’re going.
Something going on in the Bulkley Valley Lakes District you think people should know about?
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