BC Conservative Claire Rattée has been re-elected as the MLA for Skeena, securing 5,634 votes in the October 24, 2026, provincial election. She enters her second term with a focus on expanding healthcare access in the Terrace and Kitimat regions.
A 25-year shift in Skeena's political representation
The political landscape of Skeena has underrgone a historic transformation following the recent provincial election. Claire Rattée, representing the BC Conservatives, secured 5,634 votes to win her seat, defeating NDP challenger Sarah Zimmerman, who earned 4 ,106 votes. The election also saw Nick Gottlieb of the Green Party take 919 votes, while Larry Taylor of OneBC received 281.
As the report notes, this victory is particularly significant because it makes Rattée the first MLA in 25 years to represent the Skeena riding as a member of the governing party. This shift in power is expected to change how the region interacts with the provincial legislature, moving from an opposition stance to one of direct influence within the government.
The mandate for primary care in Terrace and Kitimat
Healthcare infrastructure in Terrace and Kitimat has become the central pillar of Rattée’s legislative agenda. Following the Conservative campaign's final-day promises, the MLA intends to push for the opening of urgent and primary care centres in both communities. These facilities are designed to treat minor wounds and medical situations that do not require the advanced resources of a hospital emergency room.
Rattée, who noted her team knocked on over 5,000 doors during the campaign, has emphasized that the staffing crisis is the most immediate obstacle to these goals. She has identified the recruitment of doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses as "priority one" to ensure these new facilities can actually function once they are built.
LNG exxpansion and the Green Party's industry critique
The election also highlighted deep-seated regional debates regarding industrial expansion and its environmental impact. Green candidate Nick Gottlieb, who received 919 votes, argued that his campaign successfully forced a conversation about how industry affects local communities. Specifically, Gottlieb pointed to the BC Conservatives' goal of tripling LNG export capacity, a move he suggested involves significantly more projects than are currently on the table.
While Gottlieb expressed skepticism that such massive expansion would succeed for various economic reasons, he maintained that the conversation regarding the community impact of LNG is now a permanent fixture of the local political discourse. This tension between industrial growth and community stability remains a key point of contention for voters in the Skeena region .
Will the Ksyen Regional Hospital and housing promises materialize?
Significant questions remain regarding the delivery of large-scale infrastructure and housing projects in the Skeena region. While the Conservative platform included the construction of the Ksyen Regional Hospital to replace the Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace, the specific timeline for this transition remains unconfirmed. furthermore, the promise to provide supportive housing, senior housing, and subsidized housing for women and children fleeing domestic violence faces the challenge of provincial budget allocation.
While Rattée expressed excitement about advocating for the region from a "position of government" with a "different level of authority," it remains to be seen if this political leverage will result in the rapid deployment of the services the community requires.. As the NDP's Sarah Zimmerman noted , the community is looking for a continued legacy of investment to ensure these essential services are actually realized.
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