Members of FVREB’s Stakeholder and Government Relations Committee (SGRC) recently attended the City of Abbotsford’s Mayor’s Luncheon to stay informed on the key growth, housing, infrastructure, and agricultural issues shaping one of the Fraser Valley’s fastest-growing communities.
Mayor Ross Siemens emphasized the need for coordinated long-term planning to balance growth, housing, agriculture, and infrastructure. As one of the Fraser Valley’s key growth centres, Abbotsford continues to play an important role in regional housing activity and population growth.
Siemens noted that while Abbotsford is the largest municipality by land area in BC, approximately 72 per cent of its land base is within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), limiting land available for housing and infrastructure. Despite these constraints, Council approved 1,400 new housing units in 2025 and issued permits for an additional 1,700 units to support population growth and attract skilled workers.
Housing demand remains strong, with Abbotsford accounting for approximately 15 per cent of all Fraser Valley home sales in 2025, representing just under 1,800 sales.
Agriculture and infrastructure were also major themes, particularly following flooding events in the flood-susceptible Sumas Prairie. Siemens stressed the importance of protecting critical infrastructure in the area, including Highway 1 and the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
“We are fighting to not only protect the most productive agricultural land in the country, but also infrastructure vital to our provincial and national economy,” he said.
The luncheon concluded with a panel discussion on balancing agricultural land protection with future housing and infrastructure needs.
Stakeholder and Government Relations Committee