The Feb. 20th article “Abbotsford-Mission growth slows” provides some food for speculation.
(And I dearly wish those in Ottawa would show us sufficient respect to provide individual figures for our individual communities.)
The article informs us that our combined cities provide “one of the slowest growth rates among Canadian census metro areas.” We also read that we have a “higher proportion of residents 14 years of age and younger” of all CMAs.
Interesting. The latter statement indicates that families at one time chose our fine (combined) region as the place to have and raise their children. Yet that trend is now slowing.
Could finances have anything to do with this? The answer is “of course” – finances have almost everything to do with this.
For many years commuters could find a larger home on a larger lot for less money than anything further west. But individuals smart enough to figure out mortgage costs are equally able to figure out transportation costs.
And the toll on B.C.’s “widest bridge in the world” appears to be putting a halt to local growth. Politicians could change this by advocating for – and finally supplying – proper transit alternatives.
But I wouldn’t hold my breath on this one.
Regina Dalton, Abbotsford