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2026 Abbotsford Votes

What should Abbotsford become next?

Election Day

Stay informed on key election information and the issues that matter to Abbotsford businesses. Abbotsford’s municipal election is Saturday, October 17th. Find the latest voting information.

Mayoral Debate

Join us on October 7th for the Council Candidate Mingle & Mayoral Debate, bringing Abbotsford’s municipal election candidates together with the local business community. Register now.

850 Chamber Members

The Chamber represents a strong and connected business community, informed by member feedback, ongoing advocacy and direct engagement with local employers.

5 Business Priorities

Faster business approvals, safer commercial districts, investments in infrastructure, and a stronger approach to attracting investment.

The Five Business Priorities

Faster business approvals, safer commercial districts, investments in infrastructure, and a stronger approach to attracting investment are among five priorities the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is putting before candidates in the 2026 municipal election.

Representing approximately 850 businesses, the Chamber released its municipal election agenda, shaped by member feedback, ongoing advocacy and direct engagement with local employers.

“Business issues cannot be overlooked in this election,” — Alex Mitchell, CEO of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. 

Cut red tape. Speed up approvals. Make City Hall work for business.

  • Published service standards for every major commercial and industrial approval, benchmarked annually against comparable B.C. municipalities. 
  • A one-window approach for businesses making major investments. 
  • End-to-end digital application tracking for commercial and industrial approvals. 
  • Annual red-tape reduction targets with public progress reporting. 
  • A 90-business-day target for complete, OCP-compliant development permit applications by the end of 2027, with public reporting on actual processing times. 
  • Competitive municipal taxes, fees and development charges. 

Candidate question: Will you commit to published service standards for every major commercial and industrial approval, benchmarked against comparable B.C. municipalities, including a 90-business-day target for complete, OCP-compliant development permits by the end of 2027? 

Address street disorder. Strengthen commercial districts. Bring people back to our business areas.

  • A dedicated Business Safety Strategy addressing crime, street disorder and their impacts on commercial areas. 
  • Public reporting on crime and disorder affecting commercial areas. 
  • Stronger coordination in responding to repeat commercial offending, involving the City, police, businesses and community partners. 
  • Focused action to improve the safety, cleanliness, vitality and activation of Historic Downtown and other commercial districts. 
  • Commercial-district activation measures that bring customers, employees and investment back to business areas. 

Candidate question: Will you support a dedicated Business Safety Strategy, with public reporting and focused action on repeat commercial offending and the vitality of Historic Downtown and other commercial districts? 

Connect YXX. Move people and goods. Invest ahead of growth.

  • A defined pathway to establish direct transit connectivity to YXX. 
  • Better transit to employment areas and regional networks. 
  • Long-term transportation and goods-movement planning. 
  • Strategic road and trade-enabling infrastructure. 
  • Utilities and servicing aligned with growth. 
  • A 10-year Employment Lands Strategy to protect, service and activate employment and industrial lands. 
  • Long-term infrastructure planning aligned with business and employment growth. 

Candidate question: Will you commit to a defined pathway for direct transit connectivity to YXX and a 10-year Employment Lands Strategy?   What major infrastructure investment would you champion to prepare Abbotsford for its next phase of growth?

Compete for investment. Grow businesses. Measure results.

  • Establish a private-sector-aligned economic development model with a clear mandate to attract investment, support business growth and deliver major investment opportunities. 
  • Clear investment attraction and business retention/expansion mandate. 
  • Meaningful private-sector alignment and engagement. 
  • Public KPIs for capital investment attracted, jobs created and retained, businesses attracted and expanded, investment opportunities converted and employment lands activated. 
  • Dedicated investment attraction and business retention/expansion capacity. 
  • Targeted strategies around Abbotsford’s competitive strengths, including agriculture and agri-food, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and aviation, transportation and logistics, and emerging industries. 

Candidate question: Will you support a private-sector-aligned economic development model with a clear investment-attraction and business-growth mandate, backed by publicly reported performance targets?

Build the places and experiences that attract talent, visitors and investment.

  • Establish a clear pathway to unlock new full-service hotel and conference capacity. 
  • Invest in sports and recreation infrastructure that supports residents, tournaments and major events. 
  • Develop a coordinated major-events strategy that attracts visitors and supports the local economy. 
  • Invest in destination-quality public spaces and strengthen arts, culture, dining and the evening economy as economic-development assets. 
  • Connect amenities, events and quality of place directly to talent attraction, visitor economy growth and investment. 

Candidate question: What concrete action would you champion to close Abbotsford’s amenity gap, including hotel and conference capacity, major events, sports and recreation, public spaces, arts, culture, dining and the evening economy?

Where the Candidates Stand

The Chamber will take its agenda directly to candidates throughout the election campaign, asking those seeking a seat on Mayor and Council to respond to specific commitments under each of the five priorities.

Candidate responses will be published later in September, allowing businesses and residents to see where candidates stand on the issues affecting Abbotsford’s economic future.

Coming Soon…

Business Voices

Abbotsford Chamber Sets Business Agenda for Municipal Election

Five priorities shaped by member input call on candidates to make Abbotsford B.C.’s most competitive city for business   ABBOTSFORD, B.C. | September 1, 2026...

Read the article

Abbotsford Chamber Council Candidate Mingle & Mayoral Debate

As Abbotsford prepares to elect its next Mayor and City Council, join the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce on October 7 for an important evening focused on the future of our city and the issues that matter most to Abbotsford’s business community.

October 7th | Register Now

Ready to Vote?

The City of Abbotsford will hold its Municipal Election on Saturday, October 17, 2026. 

Eligible voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for one Mayor, eight Councillors, and seven School Trustees.

Stay informed about voting dates, eligibility, registration, voting locations, and other election information through the City of Abbotsford’s official election website.

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