Election promises are easy to make. Governing is harder.
The people elected this October will inherit a growing city, costly infrastructure decisions, an ongoing flood threat, increasing homelessness and schools already stretched beyond their intended capacity.
Not every problem is controlled by City Hall.
So, who understands the problems—and who has a believable plan to address them?
1. Growth, Housing and Infrastructure
Abbotsford is planning for approximately 250,000 residents by 2050, with 75% of new growth expected within existing neighbourhoods. The City’s housing assessment also estimates that Abbotsford will need about 11,066 additional homes within five years.
That means more apartments, townhouses and development near established neighbourhoods. But homes do not arrive alone. New residents also need roads, water, sewers, fire protection, parks and recreation facilities.
Council can approve housing and influence where it goes. The harder job is ensuring the infrastructure and services arrive with it—without placing the entire cost on existing taxpayers.
Ask the candidates:
How will you add the homes Abbotsford needs without allowing traffic, infrastructure and neighbourhood services to fall behind?
2. The Billion-Dollar Flood Question
The 2021 disaster proved that flood protection is not only a Sumas Prairie issue. It affects homes, farms, food production, transportation routes, businesses and the wider economy.
The price is sobering. Abbotsford submitted a $1.6-billion funding request for urgent flood-mitigation work, while broader options examined by the City have ranged from hundreds of millions to nearly $2.8 billion.
No mayor or council can pay for that alone. Progress will require cooperation with the provincial and federal governments, First Nations and neighbouring communities.
Ask the candidates:
How will you secure the partners and funding Abbotsford cannot provide on its own—and which protections should come first?
3. Homelessness, Safety and Responsibility
Abbotsford’s 2025 one-night count identified 654 people experiencing homelessness, compared with 465 in 2024. The City notes that changes in counting methods contributed to the increase, but the figure still reveals the scale of the challenge.
Residents want compassionate solutions and safe, usable public spaces. Those goals are not opposites—but achieving both will require more than slogans.
The City can influence shelter locations, supportive housing, outreach and public spaces. Health care, treatment, income assistance and much of the necessary funding belong to senior governments.
Ask the candidates:
What can you realistically accomplish locally, and what will you demand from the Province and Ottawa?
4. Schools Beyond Capacity
Abbotsford’s schools are operating at approximately 102% of capacity district-wide. With enrolment expected to grow, the district has warned that more portable classrooms may be needed.
Trustees must balance classroom space, aging facilities, catchment boundaries, student supports and limited resources. But even a determined board cannot simply build a school—major capital funding largely depends on the Province.
Ask trustee candidates:
Which school or facilities pressure would you address first, and how will you turn that priority into provincial action?
The Bottom Line
Abbotsford does not only need bigger promises. It needs leaders who understand the problems waiting for them on day one.
No candidate can solve every problem alone. Listen for those who understand which office controls what, acknowledge the costs and trade-offs, and explain how they will work with other governments.
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