Mayor Buchanan condemns Metro Vancouver’s handling of North Shore Wastewater Project

Mayor Linda Buchanan has voiced strong concerns regarding Metro Vancouver’s management of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant (NSWWTP) project, emphasising the need for transparency and fiscal responsibility. This statement follows Metro Vancouver’s announcement of an independent project review.

Mayor Buchanan highlighted the unsustainable nature of current infrastructure funding, stating, “Major infrastructure projects are getting too big, too expensive, and the funding model is unsustainable for the region’s taxpayers who are already facing growing financial pressures.” She expressed concern over the disproportionate financial burden on North Shore residents, attributing it to an outdated cost allocation formula that did not account for such significant overruns.

The Mayor criticized the lack of public discourse and transparency in decision-making processes, asserting, “Too many decisions have been made behind closed doors, away from the public. Projects of this magnitude that we know will have a serious economic impact on people should be discussed in public whenever possible.” She called for an end to the “culture of silence,” urging for multi-billion dollar projects to have expert oversight and be tied to specific budgets and asset management plans to ensure accountability.

On June 17, the City of North Vancouver Council unanimously supported a resolution for an independent and public review of the NSWWTP. The Council has also directed Mayor Buchanan to file a formal complaint with Metro Vancouver regarding the project’s costs and processes.

Buchanan did not hold back in her assessment of the situation, remarking, “Simply put, this project is a mess, years in the making, and has been driven by a complete lack of financial discipline and transparency.” She criticized Metro Vancouver’s recent announcement of an independent review as vague and insufficient, stressing the necessity for a comprehensive examination of the systemic issues within the organization.

The Mayor insisted that any review or audit must be entirely independent and report directly to the Board of Directors, without any organizational influence. She also called for public accessibility to the review findings.

Buchanan expressed her empathy with the public’s frustrations: “I hear the frustration from people as it relates to the Metro Vancouver Regional District, its spending, its governance, and its lack of transparency. I hear them, and I share their concerns.”

Mayor Buchanan concluded by emphasising restoring public trust and ensuring taxpayers receive good value for their money. She expressed confidence in the ability of Board members, the public, and stakeholders to drive necessary systemic changes, asserting, “The time is now to shake up the status quo and begin a new chapter.”