AS the region grows and becomes more complex, Metro Vancouver is examining whether its current board size, voting structure, and composition will continue to be the right fit. From May 6 to June 14, 2026, the public is invited to share their thoughts during public engagement.
“For more than a century, communities across Metro Vancouver have worked together to deliver critically important regional services,” said Mike Hurley, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Boards, on Wednesday. “Strong governance is fundamental to that work, and this engagement is about making sure our governance structures continue to serve residents well as the region grows.”
In 2025, Deloitte Canada conducted an independent Board Governance Review. The review produced 47 recommendations focused on strengthening Board oversight, decision‑making, and accountability. To date, 20 recommendations have been implemented, including reforms related to board member remuneration.
“Over the past nine months, the Metro Vancouver Board has implemented 20 of 47 recommendations from the independent Governance Review and more changes are in progress”, said Lisa Dominato, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Governance Committee. “One recommendation is to explore the size and structure of Metro Vancouver’s four boards with an aim to reducing Board size, while enhancing decision making, oversight and accountability.”
Metro Vancouver is governed by four boards of directors made up of mayors and councillors from across the region. The boards oversee services that are delivered to more than three million people — half of BC’s population:
- Metro Vancouver Regional District: air quality management, regional parks, regional planning, and Invest Vancouver
- Greater Vancouver Water District: delivery of drinking water
- Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District: wastewater treatment and solid waste management and recycling
- Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation: large portfolio of non-market rental housing
While this model is rooted in local democracy, transparency, and accountability, Metro Vancouver recognizes that governance must evolve over time to remain effective. Metro Vancouver is reviewing a range of options, including the number of directors on each board and whether some boards could benefit from independent appointed members alongside elected officials. Each option is being assessed based on whether it supports better decision‑making and oversight, is resilient as the region grows, represents member communities, and can be effectively implemented.
Public engagement on the size of and structure of the boards runs from May 6 to June 14, 2026. Residents are invited to provide input online or to participate in a webinar. Metro Vancouver is also actively engaging member jurisdictions, local First Nations, and the Province.
The Metro Vancouver Boards will consider the feedback received during the consultation period as they evaluate the various options for changes to size and structure in July 2026.
Progress on all recommendations of the Metro Vancouver Board Governance Review is publicly available through an online Board Governance Tracker.
