A group of councillors from five different Lower Mainland cities are calling upon Premier David Eby to immediately initiate a governance review of Metro Vancouver. They are also calling upon the Premier to formally support their calls for an independent audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant financial debacle – preferably by B.C.’s Auditor General.
They noted on Thursday that over the past several months, a growing chorus of municipal officials and community groups have been requesting that Metro Vancouver be audited to help provide answers for the public regarding the financial mess created by the largest infrastructure project in the organization’s history.
With the election of a new Chair at Metro Vancouver, it is now clear that Metro Vancouver is not willing nor interested in providing taxpayers in our region with the answers they deserve when it comes to the almost $3B in cost overruns, they said.
One option that is being advocated by a group of North Shore resident associations and should also be given full consideration is to involve the Inspector of Municipalities. The inspector has the legal authority to conduct a public inquiry into the financial debacle as long as it is approved by the B.C. Cabinet.
The group of city councillors are asking the Premier to undertake three key actions:
1. Conduct an independent and arms-length governance review of Metro Vancouver and report to the public regarding all of the recommendations.
2. If practicable, commit to putting some of the recommendations on the ballot during the 2026 municipal election.
3. Openly welcome and encourage BC’s Auditor General to conduct an audit or the Inspector of Municipalities to conduct a public inquiry into the cost overruns at the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Richmond Councillor Kash Heed said: “There is a growing number of politicians and community groups that are voicing their concerns about a lack of answers at Metro Vancouver. The Province has the power to affect change, the question is why aren’t they using it?”
Surrey Councillor Linda Annis said: “If we’re not going to get answers from Metro Vancouver, then the only option left to the public is to demand the Province step in and does the right thing.
Surrey Councillor Mike Bose said: “Not only do we need answers regarding the cost overruns at the North Shore Wastewater treatment plant, we also need major governance reform to fix what’s broken.”
New Westminster Councillor Daniel Fontaine said: “Metro Vancouver has been given ample opportunity over the past few weeks to demonstrate they have an interest in making themselves more open and transparent. Unfortunately, they have failed to do so at every turn.”
Burnaby Councillor Richard T. Lee said: “Conducting an independent audit is the only way we stand a chance of finding out what went so horribly wrong with this project and how to prevent if from ever happening again.”
New Westminster Councillor Paul Minhas said: “Local taxpayers facing double digit utility fee increases for sewer and water over the coming decade are right to be demanding answers. They are footing this bill for this financial mess and it’s high time we provide them with answers.
Maple Ridge Councillor Ahmed Yousef said: “Whether you live in Maple Ridge or North Vancouver, you are going to be impacted by the increased taxes levied on you to pay for the cost overruns in North Vancouver. This entire region deserves answers regarding how we got here and what more can be done to prevent the same from happening with the Iona project.’
