Municipal election

Veteran Councillor Brian Skakun seeks eighth term on Prince George City Council

Sep 14, 2026 | 8:50 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Prince George’s longest-serving city councillor is once again asking voters for their support.

Brian Skakun, first elected to Prince George City Council in 2002, is seeking an eighth term in office. Over more than two decades at City Hall, Skakun has become one of the city’s most recognizable municipal politicians, and says there is still important work ahead.

One of his key priorities is improving the city’s relationship with the RCMP. Skakun argues council needs more regular and detailed reporting from the local detachment, particularly given the significant financial investment the city makes in policing.

“We’re supposed to have 15 members on shift. We’ve had as low as eight members,” Skakun said. “We don’t know what areas of town are getting covered.”

He believes council should receive monthly updates on crime statistics, neighbourhood coverage and policing initiatives, rather than infrequent briefings from senior RCMP officials.

“Spending $40 million a year on RCMP is a massive, massive cost,” he said. “We need a better relationship and more current information so we can tell what is working and what isn’t.”

Economic growth is another area Skakun plans to focus on if re-elected. He points to major developments taking shape across northern B.C., particularly in the mining sector, as opportunities Prince George must be ready to capitalize on.

Skakun recently highlighted growth at the Prince George Airport, noting FedEx is constructing a new facility on Boundary Road that he says will be the first of its kind in North America. The project is expected to increase air cargo activity and support future investment.

“We’re on the edge of just such great news in northern B.C. with all this type of development,” he said. “City Hall and city council are trying to do all we can to make sure we harness that and get that investment in Prince George.”

He also continues to push back against what municipalities describe as the downloading of provincial responsibilities onto local governments. According to Skakun, those costs have totalled roughly $26 million since 2021, affecting everything from homelessness to health-related issues.

“We’re looking after health stuff now. We’re looking after homelessness. We’re looking after all these things that aren’t our jobs,” he said.

Skakun said local governments across the province continue lobbying Victoria to reduce those costs and restore programs such as the rural homeowners grant.

As voters prepare to head to the polls, the veteran councillor says improving public safety accountability, supporting economic development and fighting downloaded costs will remain at the centre of his campaign platform.