The North Coast Regional District is raising concerns about highway maintenance oversight on Haida Gwaii, pointing to what it describes as a lack of provincial response and on-island staffing.
At its February board meeting, directors voted to send a letter to senior officials with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, citing ongoing concerns with how contracted road work is monitored and audited along Highway 16.
The letter will be sent to Associate Deputy Minister Paula McKay and Northern Regional Office Executive Director Darrell Gunn, with a copy to North Coast MLA Tamara Davidson.
In its motion, the board pointed to what it sees as inaction from the province in addressing concerns about road maintenance, particularly due to a lack of ministry staff based on Haida Gwaii.
The issue comes amid a series of recent disruptions along Highway 16, including washouts, culvert work and infrastructure-related incidents that have affected travel and access across the islands.
The NCRD’s move follows similar concerns raised earlier this year by the All Islands Protocol Table, which called on the province to increase on-island monitoring, improve drainage and strengthen long-term reliability of the highway network.
Together, the letters signal growing pressure from local governments and leadership groups for the province to take a more active role in overseeing highway maintenance on Haida Gwaii.
It is not yet clear what response, if any, the ministry will provide.
