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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. 

Explore the 5 Business Priorities

Know what’s changing.  Have a say in what’s next.

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

See where the candidates stand. 

The Five Business Priorities

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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.

To make candidate responses easy to compare, each answer is marked using the key below.

  • ✅ indicates support for the Chamber’s proposed direction.
  • ⚠️ indicates support for the general intent, but with conditions, concerns or a different approach.
  • 🚫 indicates the candidate did not support the proposed direction.
  • ❌ indicates that no response was submitted.
Read Full Report

Mayoral Candidates

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. The Chamber of Commerce does not endorse or support any individual candidate.

Sukhi Dhami

Sukhi Dhami

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Paul Mahil

Paul Mahil

⚠️ Faster Business Approvals
⚠️ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

David Pellikaan

David Pellikaan

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

Ross Siemens

Ross Siemens

⚠️ Faster Business Approvals
⚠️ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
⚠️ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Council Candidates

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. The Chamber of Commerce does not endorse or support any individual candidate.

Les Barkman

Les Barkman

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

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Matthew Cavacece

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

Patricia Driessen

Patricia Driessen

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Carmen Fast Hollett

Carmen Fast Hollett

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Simon Gibson

Simon Gibson

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

Rupi Kanda-Rajwan

Rupi Kanda-Rajwan

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Jeremy Klix

Jeremy Klix

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

Joel Madsen

Joel Madsen

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
⚠️ Infrastructure for Growth
⚠️ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Kristy Mills

Kristy Mills

⚠️ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Amrik Narang

Amrik Narang

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Jasmit Phulka

Jasmit Phulka

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
⚠️ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Preet Rai

Preet Rai

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Patricia Ross

Patricia Ross

⚠️ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
⚠️ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Dave Sidhu

Dave Sidhu

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Jag Sidhu

Jag Sidhu

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
⚠️ Infrastructure for Growth
⚠️ Economic Development
⚠️ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Rick Thiessen

Rick Thiessen

✅ Faster Business Approvals
⚠️ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Dao Tran

Dao Tran

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

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Thomas Votik

❌ Did Not Answer Survey

Mark Warkentin

Mark Warkentin

⚠️ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
⚠️ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Skully White

Skully White

⚠️ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
⚠️ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Shirley Wilson

Shirley Wilson

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
⚠️ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

Doris Woodman-McMillan

Doris Woodman-McMillan

✅ Faster Business Approvals
✅ Safe & Vibrant Business
✅ Infrastructure for Growth
✅ Economic Development
✅ Abbotsford's Amenity Gap

The Questions: ​

Faster Business Approvals

  • Will you support 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?
  • What specific changes would you support to make it faster and easier to do business with City Hall?

Safe and Vibrant Business Districts

  • Will you support a dedicated Business Safety Strategy focused on commercial areas, with public reporting on results and action on repeat commercial offending?
  • What specific action would you take to improve safety and economic vitality in Historic Downtown and other commercial districts?

Infrastructure for Growth

  • Will you support a defined pathway for direct transit connectivity to Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) and a 10-year Employment Lands Strategy?
  • What major infrastructure investment would you champion to prepare Abbotsford for its next phase of growth?

Economic Development

  • Will you support a private-sector-aligned economic development model with a clear mandate to attract investment and help existing businesses grow, backed by publicly reported performance targets?
  • What results should the City be accountable for delivering?

Abbotsford’s Amenity Gap

  • Will you support a strategy to close Abbotsford’s amenity gap and strengthen the city’s ability to attract workers, visitors, events and investment?
  • What specific amenity investment would you prioritize, such as hotel and conference capacity, sports and recreation, public spaces, arts and culture, dining or the evening economy?

Business Voices

Abbotsford Candidates Go on the Record on Business Priorities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Abbotsford Candidates Go on the Record on Business Priorities Chamber survey reveals broad support for Abbotsford’s business agenda, with key differences emerging...

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myBusiness – Sept 2026

The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce shares myBusiness features in the AbbyNews, highlighting local business stories, community updates, and Chamber initiatives throughout the year. You can...

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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...

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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.