To:
The Government of British Columbia


The Minister of Health


Northern Health Authority


The Board of Northern Health


The Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District

Petition
Whereas the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) is the major regional referral and trauma hospital serving Northern British Columbia;
Whereas UHNBC has operated without an on-site hospital helipad since 1993, requiring patients arriving by air ambulance to land at Prince George Airport and then be transported approximately 15 kilometres to the hospital by ground ambulance;
Whereas the City of Prince George reports that 109 patients were transported by helicopter to Prince George Airport and subsequently transferred by ground ambulance to UHNBC during 2024–25;
Whereas the Government of British Columbia publicly committed in 2024 to adding a helipad to the UHNBC expansion project, with Premier David Eby publicly discussing the commitment during the 2024 election campaign;
Whereas Northern Health's publicly available UHNBC information continues to state that the Government of British Columbia has committed to building a helipad as part of the overall UHNBC project plan;
Whereas the recently announced redesign of the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project does not provide for an on-site helipad, according to the City of Prince George;
Whereas the City of Prince George has publicly stated that it considers the hospital campus the most appropriate location for the helipad and has reported that municipal land options reviewed for the purpose are not currently feasible;
Whereas Northern British Columbians deserve transparency regarding major decisions affecting emergency and critical-care transportation;

We, the undersigned, petition the Government of British Columbia and Northern Health to:
 1 Include an operational helipad on the UHNBC hospital campus as part of the overall UHNBC redevelopment and acute-care expansion project.
 2 Provide a clear, publicly accessible explanation of the decision-making process that has resulted in the current UHNBC project not incorporating an on-site helipad.
 3 Release the evidence, technical assessments, feasibility studies, cost analyses, safety assessments and other substantive information relied upon in determining the location and design of the proposed UHNBC helipad, subject to legitimate privacy, security and commercial-confidentiality requirements.
 4 Explain specifically why an on-campus helipad is not currently incorporated into the UHNBC project, including the technical, operational, financial, land-use and aviation considerations that led to that decision.
 5 Undertake a formal and transparent reassessment of an on-campus helipad, including consideration of all technically feasible locations on the UHNBC campus and within the hospital redevelopment plan.
 6 Consult directly with BC Emergency Health Services, air ambulance operators, physicians, nurses, paramedics, patients, local governments and other relevant stakeholders as part of that reassessment.
 7 Publish the findings of the reassessment and identify the preferred solution, including the rationale, estimated costs, timeline and any identified obstacles.
 8 Ensure that the original provincial commitment to provide a helipad for UHNBC is fulfilled in a manner that provides the greatest practical benefit to patients requiring emergency and critical-care air transport.
 9 Provide the public with a clear timeline for resolving the helipad location and design issue, given that work on the UHNBC redevelopment is proceeding.

Petitioner's Statement
We recognize the importance of proceeding with the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project without unnecessary delay. This petition seeks transparency and a thorough reassessment of the helipad location so that the final solution appropriately considers patient care, emergency transportation, aviation safety, operational requirements, cost, and the long-term needs of Northern British Columbia.
We respectfully request that the Government of British Columbia and Northern Health publicly respond to the concerns and requests contained in this petition.