Image: City of Chilliwack / Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove (centre) and Councillors Harv Westeringh (l to r), Bud Mercer, Jason Lum, Chris Kloot, Nicole Read and Jeff Shields.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

City of Chilliwack

City of Chilliwack urges B.C. govt. to accept housing on First Nations land toward mandated housing targets

Aug 7, 2025 | 9:19 AM

CHILLIWACK — The City of Chilliwack is calling on the B.C. govt. to accept housing unit contributions on First Nations land within Chilliwack toward provincially mandated housing targets.

According to a news release from the City, Chilliwack’s year-one housing target report suggests that the municipality is unique because 14 First Nation reserves account for an integral part of the broader community.

Under the BC Housing Supply Act, the City of Chilliwack was issued a Provincial Housing Target Order effective July 1, 2024, which required 4,594 net new residential units to be completed by June 30, 2029. The City states it has exceeded the province’s one-year target of 659 units by providing 1,069 units.

This includes housing units on city land (726) and surrounding First Nations land (343).

“The majority of these reported housing units are the result of the City’s standard development processes and initiatives that Council implemented to advance housing supply, and are not the result of changes due to Provincial mandates,” the city said.

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The city of Chilliwack says it works with local First Nations to facilitate future development on their land in terms of traffic management, servicing, utility system capacity planning, environmental design, recreational facility planning, and social, economic, and cultural activities. Over the last five years, 40 per cent of Chilliwack housing units have come from First Nations development.

“We work closely with First Nations to coordinate future development, and we recognize the integral social, economic, and environmental contributions of local First Nations within Chilliwack,” said Mayor Ken Popove. “By omitting the contribution of local First Nations towards housing development in Chilliwack, the Province is disrespecting their vital role in the overall community.”

“I am concerned with the Provincial Government’s lack of acknowledgement of the substantial contribution of Ch’iyaqtel (Tzeachten) First Nation and other First Nation communities in addressing the housing crisis within and surrounding Chilliwack,” said Chief Derek Epp. “The Province must recognize the integral role of First Nations in ensuring that more homes are being built, and that these homes are being built for those who need them most.”

“Moving forward, the City of Chilliwack will continue to recognize the important role First Nations have in addressing the housing crisis in Chilliwack, and staff will keep including First Nations housing units in progress reports to the Province,” said Mayor Popove.