---
title: "Re-elected Prince George-Mackenzie MLA says UHNBC acute care tower is his top priority"
description: "Kiel Giddens won his second term on 24 October 2026 with 9,926 votes. He told the Prince George Citizen that keeping the University Hospital of Northern BC expansion on time and on budget is what he will push for first in Victoria."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/kiel-giddens-uhnbc-forestry-priorities-october-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-30T21:37:57.040Z"
---

[Kiel Giddens](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/kiel-giddens), the re-elected Conservative MLA for [Prince George-Mackenzie](/bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/prince-george-mackenzie), told the Prince George Citizen on 30 October 2026 that his top priority as he returns to Victoria is keeping the acute care tower expansion at the University Hospital of Northern BC on time and on budget.

Giddens earned 9,926 votes in the 24 October 2026 provincial election, representing 66.11 per cent of ballots cast in Prince George-Mackenzie. He was first elected in 2024. He defeated BC NDP candidate Ian McMahon, who received 3,532 votes, and Green Party of BC candidate Teri Young, who received 1,517 votes, according to the Elections BC initial count.

Giddens told supporters at the Prince George Ramada on election night that the result marked a Conservative majority government for the first time in 98 years. "We have witnessed a Conservative majority government, something that defied all odds. It's been 98 years since that happened in the province of British Columbia," he said, according to the Citizen.

## Health care

Giddens told the Citizen that the UHNBC acute care tower expansion is the first item on his agenda. He said he wants to make sure the project finishes on schedule and within budget. The Citizen did not report the project's current cost estimate or completion timeline.

Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson is from Williams Lake. Giddens told the Citizen he sees Doerkson's location, farther north than past premiers, as an opportunity for the Prince George region to be present in provincial decision-making.

## Forestry and resources

Giddens told the Citizen the forest sector in northern BC is in difficulty. He named keeping chipping operations running as a priority so the Intercontinental Pulp Mill in Prince George can remain open. He said he also wants to support mining and oil and gas development across the north.

"Our forest sector is struggling," he told the Citizen. "We need to do whatever we can to fight for forestry jobs and give opportunity to the new engines of our economy, which will also be in mining and oil and gas."

Residents of Prince George-Mackenzie can follow what Giddens does in the legislature at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/kiel-giddens](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/kiel-giddens). People who use UHNBC can follow the hospital expansion's progress through Northern Health's own project updates.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.