As mentioned in previous updates, Metro Vancouver has released the findings of its Board Governance Review conducted by Deloitte. The review was initiated in response to concerns over the effectiveness of the current Board structure, especially following the $2.8B cost overrun on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. Deloitte assessed governance practices across Metro Vancouver’s four legal entities and identified key challenges, including an oversized and complex Board, fiduciary conflicts, information overload, and strained relations between the Board and staff. The review outlines systemic governance issues and offers a series of structural, procedural, and cultural improvements. More information can be found in the full report.  

March 4, 2025

At their meeting on February 28th, chair Mike Hurley announced that Deloitte Canada will be leading the independent review of Metro Vancouver's Regional District's governance. This move follows longstanding advocacy from the Urban Development Institute and its member companies, who have called for an independent examination of Metro Vancouver's governance structure, as well as an audit of its Capital and Financial plans. 

In addition, Metro Vancouver appointed an independent remuneration expert review panel to look into potential cost savings associated with remuneration. This panel will also work with Deloitte and tie in findings into the governance review. The five external volunteer experts include:

• Glen Clark, former B.C. premier
• Colin Hansen, former B.C. finance minister
• Martin Thibodeau, regional president of RBC (TSX:RY)
• Jennifer Podmore Russell, chief development officer of Nch’ḵaỷ Development Corp.
• Diane Vuong, former chief financial officer and vice-president of finance at the Vancouver Airport Authority

It was noted that the review could result in significant changes within the organization, many of which would require action from the provincial government to amend existing legislation.

An independent audit review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plan will be led by Peter Milburn, former B.C. Deputy Finance Minister. 

During the meeting, Hurley also announced the following committee changes: 

• The dissolution of the Fraser River Crossing Task Force Committee for the Massey Tunnel.
• The consolidation of the Regional Culture and Flood Resiliency Committees into the Finance and Air Quality Committees, respectively.

The motion from Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West was deferred to the April 25th board meeting.

February 3, 2025

On March 28, 2024, after Metro Vancouver’s Development Cost Charges (DCCs) were approved by the Board of Directors, UDI submitted a letter to Premier David Eby calling for a governance review of Metro Vancouver. In response, the Premier’s office indicated that the file would be assigned to Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. Since that time, UDI has continued to engage with Minister Kahlon, our members, various stakeholders, and municipal leaders across the region to advocate for this review.

On Friday January 31, the following motion was tabled and approved by the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors:

“That the MVRD Board authorize Board Chair Mike Hurley to send a letter on behalf of the Metro Vancouver Regional District Board to the Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, requesting that the Provincial Government partner with the MVRD to conduct a governance review.”

Directly following this vote, Director Brad West submitted a notice of motion to be debated at the next board meeting scheduled on February 28th at 9:00am. The first three items of the notice of motion were related to reducing pay and stipends but the fourth, if approved has the potential to fundamentally change the way Metro Vancouver operates, how infrastructure is funded and how it is delivered. 

“Initiate a full-scale external core service review of the MVRD, GVSDD GVWD, and the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation, with a mandate to identify savings, efficiencies, and reductions by examining all departments and service areas, staffing levels, use of contracted services and consultants, and any other areas as identified by the Board, as well as reviewing Metro Vancouver’s role as a regulator, identifying areas of duplicatory or overlapping municipal, regional, provincial, and federal regulation, and delegated authorities from the provincial and federal governments which maybe uploaded back.” 

Minister Kahlon made the following statement after the meeting:

“The public has made it clear the situation at Metro Vancouver cannot go on as is. Metro Van has requested the province participate in its review. If pay and stipends are included, we will ensure the province is participating in a Metro Van-funded review to increase transparency”

UDI will continue to engage with Minister Kahlon, UDI members, various stakeholders, and municipal leaders to leverage this first real opportunity to re-examine the role of DCCs in regional infrastructure.