(l-r) Brad West, Mayor, City of Port Coquitlam, Kevin Quinn, CEO, Translink, Meghan Lathi, Mayor, City of Port Moody, Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Richard Stewart, Mayor City of Coquitlam, Jennifer McKinnon, CEO, Tri-Cities Chamber, John McEwen, Mayor Village of Anmore
(TRI-CITIES CHAMBER) June 16, 2026 Housing, transportation, and infrastructure are no longer simply community planning conversations—they are business issues. They impact where employees can afford to live, how efficiently goods and services move, whether businesses can expand, and ultimately, how competitive our region can be.
The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce welcomed a full room of engaged business and community leaders for our State of Infrastructure & Housing Forum, featuring the Honourable Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West. The discussion, moderated by Theresa Rawle, Director of Planning & Development at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, explored the opportunities and challenges facing one of the fastest-growing regions in British Columbia.
The conversation focused on a central theme: growth is not just about building more homes—it is about ensuring communities have the infrastructure, transportation networks, and economic opportunities needed to support that growth.
Growth Must Work for Business
One of the key questions discussed was how businesses and non-profits can continue to benefit from population growth at a time when development activity has slowed.
Panelists emphasized that the health of the local economy depends on maintaining a strong pipeline of housing and employment growth. Delays and uncertainty in development can have a ripple effect—not only impacting the availability of housing, but also reducing the investment that helps fund community amenities, services, and infrastructure that residents and businesses rely on.
The panel discussed the need for stronger collaboration between all levels of government, the development industry, and community organizations to create predictable processes, reduce uncertainty, and ensure growth continues in a way that benefits both residents and the business community.
Infrastructure: Investing in Productivity
When asked which infrastructure investment would have the biggest impact on business productivity if completed tomorrow, the discussion highlighted the importance of transportation connections that move both people and goods efficiently.
Key priorities included reducing congestion, improving regional connections, increasing transportation capacity, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with population growth. Panelists noted that businesses depend on reliable movement—whether it is employees commuting to work, customers accessing services, or goods reaching their destinations.
The conversation also touched on the importance of long-term infrastructure planning and funding models that recognize the pressures fast-growing communities face.
Transit as a Driver of Economic Growth
The Tri-Cities has experienced significant growth over the past decade, and panelists agreed that continued investment in transit is essential to supporting the next generation of economic activity.
The discussion focused on improving transit reliability, expanding service frequency, strengthening connections between communities and employment centres, and ensuring the transportation network evolves alongside growth.
A strong transit system was recognized not only as a transportation solution, but as an economic development tool that helps businesses attract employees, access talent, and connect communities.
Moving From Investment to Results
Audience questions through Slido sparked an honest conversation around accountability, trust, and the challenges of delivering housing and infrastructure.
Questions raised included the relationship between governments, municipalities, and both for-profit and non-profit housing providers; how municipalities can meet growing expectations for affordable housing; how infrastructure costs should be funded without adding additional pressure to housing prices; and how governments measure success beyond dollars invested and focus on tangible outcomes.
Panelists acknowledged that while historic investments are being made, the true measure of success will be seen through projects delivered, homes built, infrastructure completed, and improved outcomes for communities and businesses.
Breaking Down Barriers
When asked what single barrier they would remove to accelerate housing, infrastructure, and transit delivery, a common theme emerged: complexity.
Whether through permitting timelines, funding structures, regulatory requirements, or coordination between governments and partners, the need for clearer processes and stronger collaboration was evident. Creating certainty for municipalities, industry, and investors will be critical to delivering the housing and infrastructure needed for the future.
The Chamber’s Role: Keeping Business at the Table
These are not easy conversations—but they are necessary ones.
The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce is committed to ensuring the business community remains part of discussions that shape the future of our region. By bringing together decision-makers from all levels of government, industry leaders, and local businesses, we can better understand the challenges ahead, identify solutions, and advocate for a thriving and resilient Tri-Cities economy.
Thank you to our panelists, moderator, and everyone who joined us for an engaging and thoughtful discussion. The energy in the room and the quality of questions reinforced just how important it is to continue these conversations as our communities grow.
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Since 1971, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce has been the largest business association serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, and Belcarra, now representing 1,300+ organizations from every sector. The Chamber works to foster economic development, provide connections and benefits, and influence public policy at all levels of government to ensure strong business and strong communities. The Tri-Cities Chamber is an active member of the BC and Canadian Chambers of Commerce.
The Tri-Cities Chamber is an active member of the BC and Canadian Chambers of Commerce.
For more information, contact:
Jennifer McKinnon, Chief Executive Officer
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
ceo@tricitieschamber.com