Vancouver Sun
Mike Harcourt says major change is needed at Metro Vancouver.
The former B.C. premier and Vancouver mayor was commenting after the release of a damning report into the way the regional district operates.
“We need to do more than carve down costs and better deal with disasters like the North Shore water treatment plant cost overruns,” said Harcourt, 82.
“You could reduce the number of municipalities in the region (21) to six or eight, for example. And move toward a provincial police force, cut the committees in half and improve fiscal accountability.” …
“We need to do something about the outrageous pay that people are making,” he said. “When I see the mayor of Richmond and Burnaby making more than the premier and the prime minister and then getting paid on top of that through Metro Vancouver there is something seriously wrong with the system.” …
According to a Global News investigation, in 2023 Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie earned more than $362,000, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley earned $393,075, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West earned $347,000 and Delta Mayor George Harvie earned $346,780.
The consultant’s report released last week found the Metro Vancouver regional district has outgrown its governance structure and should be streamlined and supported by experts. …