Business in Vancouver
The Metro Vancouver Regional District board of directors is calling on the provincial government to join a new committee aimed at reforming its own governance model.
The new governance review committee will largely explore changes to the board’s structure, according to board chair Mike Hurley, who formed the committee.
Hurley tabled a report from Deloitte Canada on Friday that concluded the board has become “large and unwieldy” with “increasing tensions and political differences” at the table.
“There is need for major systemic changes,” Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke told the board Friday. …
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Burnaby Coun. Sav Dhaliwal—the two longest-tenured directors—joined District of North Vancouver Coun. Lisa Muri in targeting recent media coverage of Metro Vancouver, which has focused on board remuneration and travel expenses in the wake of the organization’s nearly $3-billion cost overrun for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.
That extraordinary overrun resulted in the region’s homeowners receiving a 25.3 per cent increase to Metro Vancouver’s portion of their 2025 property tax bill.
Muri noted that “this story still has legs, sadly,” while Brodie said the board needs “more balanced coverage” on this issue. …