The British Columbia provincial government has introduced a new housing mandate that directly impacts the City of Chilliwack, aiming to accelerate housing development in the face of an ever-growing demand for affordable housing. This mandate comes as part of the province’s broader strategy to address the housing crisis by imposing stringent housing targets on selected municipalities.

Chilliwack, along with other municipalities, has been identified by the province through an empirical selection process that prioritizes areas with the highest need and greatest potential for growth. According to the criteria outlined by the province, Chilliwack’s inclusion in Cohort 2 of targeted municipalities was based on several indicators, including the city’s current housing supply relative to population growth, the affordability of rental housing for essential workers, and the city’s capacity to support future growth through existing infrastructure.

Under the new mandate, the City of Chilliwack has been ordered to deliver 4,594 new housing units over the next five years, with specific annual targets set to ensure consistent progress. These targets are part of a provincial effort to ensure municipalities are actively contributing to solving the housing shortage by streamlining development processes and updating zoning bylaws.

However, the City of Chilliwack is not entirely on board with the province’s approach. City officials have expressed frustration, arguing that while they recognize the need for more housing, the forced mandate disregards the city’s existing plans and strategies that were already underway to address housing needs. They argue that this top-down approach may lead to rushed decisions that do not consider the unique challenges and opportunities within the local context.

Despite this discontent, the province has made it clear that failure to meet these targets could result in significant consequences. The Minister of Housing has the authority to appoint an advisor to review the city’s progress and recommend corrective actions. In extreme cases, the province can even override local bylaws and directly issue permits to ensure that the housing targets are met​.

This mandate signals a major shift in how housing development is managed across British Columbia, emphasizing urgency and accountability. For Chilliwack, the bottom line is clear: change is coming, and it’s coming fast. Whether the city can meet these ambitious targets while maintaining its vision for sustainable growth remains to be seen.

In the meantime, residents and local stakeholders will be closely watching how the city navigates this new landscape, balancing the need for rapid development with the preservation of the community’s character and quality of life.