METRO Vancouver says it has taken the next step in responding to calls for a review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program and has retained John J.L. Hunter, a retired judge and founder of Hunter Litigation Chambers, to advise the Metro Vancouver Board on the independent performance audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. (His full biography is available here.)
“When I was elected to the Metro Vancouver Board back in July, I made a commitment to move ahead with an independent performance audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. Today, I am pleased to announce we have taken the next important step by hiring John J.L. Hunter, K.C. to advise the Board on the details of this review,” said Mike Hurley, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors.
Hunter will advise the Board on the scope of the review, the terms of reference for the review, and on a process to select an independent, qualified reviewer.
Hurley said: “In July, the Board asked that I identify a lawyer who can support this review. To find someone as independent as possible, I asked staff to identify lawyers who have not previously worked with Metro Vancouver, and I chose Mr. Hunter from the list on the basis that he is a retired judge with 40 years of experience as a lawyer. I trust he will provide sound advice to the Metro Vancouver Board.”
The recommended scope of work and a terms of reference will be brought back to the Board for discussion and approvals.
Hurley said: “I look forward to the Board receiving Mr. Hunter’s recommendations and working with the Metro Vancouver Board to ensure the public has confidence that Metro Vancouver is taking the right steps when it comes to expanding critical infrastructure to meet the needs of our rapidly growing population.”
Metro Vancouver announced its intention to initiate an independent performance audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program on June 18.
On September 10, Hurley issued a statement on publicly disclosing information surrounding the project and the reasons for the cost increase resulting from the termination of the contract with Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP. Extensive information on the history and documentation of the program is available online at www.metrovancouver.org/nswwtp.
The new North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant will serve over 300,000 residents and businesses in the Districts of North and West Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). It will replace the existing Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of the last plants on the west coast of Canada and the United States to provide only primary-level wastewater treatment. Building a new wastewater treatment plant that provides a higher level of treatment is essential to comply with mandatory federal regulations. The program also includes construction of a new pump station and sewer pipes to serve the new plant (now complete), and the preliminary design for decommissioning the existing Lions Gate plant.
Metro Vancouver says it has undertaken continuous measures to enhance how it manages and delivers major capital projects and has undertaken extensive due diligence on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program as it has evolved in recent years.
Program information available online at www.metrovancouver.org/nswwtp
