Abbotsford – Abbotsford’s municipal candidates are broadly backing calls to make the city faster, safer and more competitive for business, according to new results released today by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber’s Business Voices 2026 Candidate Survey asked every candidate for Mayor and City Council to take a position on five priorities affecting Abbotsford’s economic future: faster business approvals, safer commercial districts, infrastructure for growth, investment attraction and economic development, and the amenities needed to attract people and investment.
The results show significant agreement on the direction Abbotsford needs to take, but important differences in how candidates would get there.
Three of four mayoral candidates and 16 of 22 Council candidates responded to the Chamber’s survey.
“Abbotsford is growing, but growth alone doesn’t guarantee a competitive economy,” said Alex Mitchell, CEO of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses are making decisions every day about whether to hire, expand and invest here. The speed of approvals, safety of our commercial districts, availability of employment land and infrastructure, and our ability to attract workers and investment all shape those decisions.”
“That’s why we asked candidates to move beyond general statements about supporting business and put clear positions on the record.”
Broad agreement, with important differences
Candidates were asked to indicate Yes, No or Qualified Support for specific policy commitments and then explain what they would do if elected.
Across the five priorities, the results point to broad support for the Chamber’s business agenda. Only one responding candidate opposed the direction of one of the five proposed commitments.
The greatest level of qualified support emerged around faster business approvals and infrastructure for growth, where candidates raised questions about implementation, timelines and costs. Written responses also reveal different approaches to transportation, public safety, investment attraction and the role of the City in economic development.
On faster business approvals, 13 candidates indicated Yes, 6 Qualified Support and 0 opposed the Chamber’s call for published service standards for major commercial and industrial approvals, including a 90-business-day target for complete, OCP-compliant development permits by the end of 2027.
On safe and vibrant business districts, 16 candidates supported, 3 offered Qualified Support and none opposed a dedicated Business Safety Strategy focused on commercial areas, public reporting and coordinated action on repeat commercial offending.
On infrastructure for growth, 14 candidates supported, 5 offered Qualified Support and 0 opposed a defined pathway for direct transit connectivity to Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) and a 10-year Employment Lands Strategy.
On economic development, 14 candidates supported, 4 offered Qualified Support and 1 opposed a private-sector-aligned economic development model with a clear investment-attraction and business-growth mandate backed by publicly reported performance targets.
On Abbotsford’s amenity gap, 18 candidates supported, 1 offered Qualified Support and 0 opposed a strategy to strengthen the amenities that help the city attract workers, visitors, events and investment.
“Consensus on the priorities matters, but the next Mayor and Council will ultimately be judged on their ability to deliver real results for the community,” Mitchell said. “That is why we didn’t stop at asking candidates whether they support these ideas. We asked what they would actually do, what investments they would champion and what results they believe City Hall should be accountable for delivering.”
“Businesses and voters can now compare those answers for themselves, and after the election the Chamber will have a clear record against which to measure progress.”
Five priorities for Abbotsford’s economic future
The candidate survey builds on the Chamber’s Business Voices 2026 municipal election agenda, developed through member feedback, ongoing advocacy and direct engagement with local employers.
Representing approximately 850 businesses, the Chamber is calling for measurable action from the next Mayor and Council in five areas:
- Make Abbotsford the fastest place in B.C. to do business by reducing red tape, establishing transparent service standards and improving the speed and certainty of commercial and industrial approvals.
- Keep Abbotsford safe, vibrant and open for business through a dedicated strategy addressing crime, street disorder and the economic vitality of commercial districts.
- Build infrastructure to match Abbotsford’s growth, including better connectivity to YXX, transportation and goods-movement infrastructure, and a long-term strategy for employment lands.
- Strengthen Abbotsford’s economic development engine with a clearer focus on attracting investment, helping existing businesses expand and publicly measuring results.
- Close Abbotsford’s amenity gap by strengthening the places, infrastructure and experiences that attract talent, visitors, major events and investment.
Engaging Candidates on October 7th
The candidate survey is part of the Abbotsford Chamber’s Business Voices 2026 municipal election campaign, which is bringing the priorities of local employers directly into the election conversation and giving businesses and residents clear information about where candidates stand.
The Chamber will also host the Council Candidate Mingle and Mayoral Debate on October 7, presented by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and supported by the Fraser Valley Chapter of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Tourism Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association and the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association.
The event will provide voters with an opportunity to meet Council candidates and hear directly from candidates seeking to serve as Abbotsford’s next Mayor.
“The Chamber is non-partisan. Our role is not to tell people how to vote,” Mitchell said. “Our role is to make sure the issues affecting businesses, jobs, investment and economic growth are part of this election, to give voters useful information, and to hold the next Mayor and Council accountable for what comes next.”
Full candidate responses and the Chamber’s five business priorities are available through the Abbotsford Chamber’s Business Voices 2026 Election Hub.
General Voting Day is October 17, 2026.
