Assuming they had 300K to put down, a five year fixed rate mortgage and todays rates would have a monthly payment of $5800 Per month. That's $69,000 after tax income going to mortgage payments in one of the highest taxed jursidictions in Canada. So yes, it is definitely an income issue why people who work in Vancouver don't live there if they want to own their own home.
There's a thing called "renting".
Also, if you can't afford a house in Vancouver proper, good luck finding anything affordable in the region. Maybe Chiliwack.