Coralee Oakes has officially announced her campaign for Mayor of Quesnel, focused on community safety, economic growth, workforce development, responsible infrastructure planning and strong partnerships with other levels of government.
Oakes says her campaign is rooted in a belief that Quesnel's future depends on pragmatic, experienced, solution-orientated leadership willing to tackle challenges while recognizing the tremendous opportunities that exist within the community.
“I believe Quesnel can be a safe, affordable and growing community where families and young people can build a future, seniors are well cared for, businesses can invest and create good jobs, and residents can have confidence in the services their city provides,” said Oakes.
Oakes brings 18 years of experience serving residents in elected positions at different levels of government, including Quesnel City Council, the Cariboo Regional District and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. She also served in Cabinet as Minister responsible for Local Government and later as Minister responsible for Small Business and Reducing Red Tape. In addition to her government experience, Oakes spent 14 years as Manager of the Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce and is trained as a Business Retention and Expansion specialist. “I've had the privilege of serving this community in many different capacities,” said Oakes. “I've learned that leadership is about listening, bringing people together, understanding responsibilities and finding practical ways to deliver results.”
Community safety is one of the campaign's central priorities. Oakes is proposing stronger coordination among the RCMP, municipal bylaw, Fire and Emergency Services, outreach teams and community service providers. It also includes working with senior levels of government to prioritize Quesnel for RCMP recruitment. Coralee proposes a regional (Prince George, Williams Lake and Quesnel) Repeat Property Crime Offenders pilot based on the Federal online reporting tool to address car theft, amendment of bylaws to address street disorder and enforcement. Oakes would like to increase pressure and build more partners to deliver accessible, timely addiction treatment and recovery services, including in-patient treatment beds, step-down care and sober-living opportunities. “Community safety requires both accountability and effective supports,” said Oakes. “We need to address public safety while also working toward better outcomes for people struggling with addiction, mental health and homelessness. The status quo is not working.”
Oakes says City Hall needs a stronger business-focused perspective. Her campaign emphasizes business retention, economic diversification, industrial land development, reducing unnecessary red tape, improving development timelines and responsible fiscal management. “Local businesses are the foundation of our economy,” said Oakes. “Business retention is every bit as important as attracting new investment. Existing businesses create jobs, support families and contribute enormously to our community.”
She also commits to continuing strong advocacy for Quesnel's forestry sector while exploring opportunities for manufacturing and economic diversification. “I see Quesnel becoming the service hub for the expanding Mining sector in the region and would like to encourage other Natural Resource Corporate Operating Offices to re-locate to Quesnel, similar to West Fraser.”
Building Quesnel's Future Workforce development is another major pillar of the campaign. Oakes is proposing a Mayor’s Task Force that will develop a workforce strategy that brings together employers, Northern Health, RCMP, School District 28, CNC, UNBC, First Nations education partners and community organizations to identify labour shortages and expand local access to education and training. “Our goal should be straightforward,” said Oakes. “Give people the opportunity to train locally, find meaningful work locally and build their future in Quesnel.”
Oakes believes population growth can strengthen Quesnel's tax base and help maintain and improve municipal infrastructure and services. However, she says growth must be planned rather than simply reacted to. She proposes a regional readiness plan to identify infrastructure needs, service pressures and community impacts while these major regional projects move forward. “Growth should be planned-not simply reacted to,” said Oakes. “We need to understand what Quesnel will need tomorrow, not just what requires investment today.”
A key theme throughout Oakes' campaign is collaboration. She says her experience working in local and provincial government has taught her the importance of respecting jurisdictional responsibilities while advocating strongly for local communities. “I believe my past experiences provide me with a unique set of skills and relationships that will support Quesnel during this pivotal and volatile time,” she said. “I don't believe every problem can be solved overnight. But I do believe we have to try.” Oakes says she is committed to developing a short-, medium- and long-term strategic plan with measurable priorities, clear responsibilities and transparent reporting to residents. “Quesnel is my hometown and I care deeply for it’s success. I believe in our people. I believe in our businesses. And I believe our strongest future is still ahead of us.”
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