It’s not every day we have a provincial Minister of Agriculture who hails from our own backyard, but that’s the case with Pam Alexis, who is also the MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. As a result, we have no doubt that when she’s at the cabinet table, she keeps Abbotsford and its residents, businesses and farmers in mind, which requires that she make a concerted effort to continually stay up to date on community trends, challenges and opportunities.
On March 15, Minister Alexis met with Mayor Siemens at City Hall to discuss current economic development trends and issues in Abbotsford and across the Fraser Valley.
One of the hottest topics was Abbotsford’s position as one of the largest and most dynamic employment centres in region with a diverse economy with strengths in a variety of sectors, namely agriculture, retail, healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing, aerospace, aggregates, trucking, construction and film. It’s all these factors that contribute to making us the cultural and economic Hub of the Fraser Valley.
Also discussed were labour force challenges and opportunities and how people can continue to thrive while working, living and playing in Abbotsford. While our city is home to over 7,700 businesses and has a total labour force of 88,362 people, adequate housing is needed to continue to be able to attract and retain workers. Furthermore, local businesses are concerned about workforce shortages, which could be addressed through an increase in local training opportunities so residents don’t have to drive to neighbouring communities. The need for truck parking was also discussed, along with the upcoming Commercial Truck Parking Strategy engagement which is starting this Spring.
Finally, possibly one of the most challenging ongoing issues for Abbotsford was discussed: our lack of industrial land. Abbotsford has a lot of property within the Agricultural Land Reserve, but there is a competing need for more industrial land which would enhance our Agri-tech sector and continue to attract innovative agricultural businesses to invest and grow in our community. This has and continues to be an ongoing conversation between Abbotsford and the Province of BC, and land use and development will play a prominent role in Abbotsford’s upcoming update to our Official Community Plan.
We appreciate Minister Alexis taking the time to visit and learn more about the economic issues facing our region and we look forward to continued constructive discussions going forward.
Abbotsford City Council