The mayors of Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Langley Township and Surrey are to sign a Livability Accord that will direct them in working together on issues relating to their projected growth over the next 25 years.

The accord is to be signed by Surrey mayor Dianne Watts, Coquitlam mayor Maxine Wilson, Abbotsford mayor George Ferguson and Langley Township mayor Kurt Alberts. The Metro Vancouver (formerly GVRD) mayors committee was set to receive the report for information Wednesday, October 24.

The accord stems from a 2007 report prepared by the external advisory committee on cities and communities, for which former NDP premier Mike Harcourt was chair. That report notes that the areas represented by the high-growth cities will absorb 65 percent of the population growth of the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley over the next 25 years. Collectively, it is believed the population of the four HGCs currently totals approximately 750,000, which is expected to grow to 1.25 million in 2031.

The committee was appointed by the federal government. In early 2007, after meeting with Watts, Harcourt approached the other three mayors to engage the four HGCs in a discussion "regarding the merits of collaborating in developing strategies and plans that would better position each respective local government and the area represented by the group of local governments to better meet the opportunities and challenges of future growth while enhancing the livability and sustainability of each community".

While Coquitlam, Langley Township and Surrey are within the Metro Vancouver boundaries, Abbotsford is in the Fraser Valley Regional District.