The North Shore Neighbourhoods Alliance (NSNA), a coalition of seven North Shore community associations, has been established in response to the alarming rise in the estimated capital cost of Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. The recent decision by Metro directors to impose a disproportionately large share of the financial burden on North Shore utility rate and property taxpayers has sparked significant concern among residents, notes a press release by the group.
“We have two objectives,” stated Daniel Anderson, the official spokesperson for the NSNA. “Firstly, we seek a commitment for greater financial contributions toward the Project’s capital costs from each senior level of government. Secondly, we demand a fully independent public inquiry into the factors that have led to this extraordinary increase in the financial burden on North Shore property tax and utility rate-payers.”
Anderson further explained that, in response to an enquiry from the NSNA, Metro Vancouver disclosed that the current capital cost estimate does not include expenses associated with the decommissioning and demolition of the existing Lions Gate Sewage Treatment Plant, nor any soil remediation that may be required for the site. “This massive and growing financial burden necessitates that both the federal and provincial governments increase their respective commitments to cover at least one-third of the final capital cost of the completed Project,” Anderson added.
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In the upcoming weeks, NSNA representatives will meet with North Shore federal and provincial elected officials and candidates for office to advocate for more significant financial assistance. The responses, or lack thereof, will be made public. The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project, initially estimated to cost $700 million, has seen its projected expenses balloon to over $3 billion.
John says
Earlier, in the North Shore Daily Post it was reported:
“ Metro Vancouver has announced an independent review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in response to escalating costs and significant public concern. This decision comes as the project’s budget has surged to nearly $4 billion from an initial estimate of $700 million.”
Nash Vancouver says
Why should the rest of the city be responsible for paying this bill it should all rest on the heads of the North Shore taxpayers and any of our city councilors and other cities agree to pay it. It should come at a price at election time. We can no longer allow the civic governments to allow their buddies to get contracts at lower prices and then have the rest of us funded for them
Oliver says
The municipalities should reduce spending and to help taxpayers on their property tax bill.
Zaher Meghji Meghji says
This is ridiculous
Why is that anthing handled by any goverment body is always over budget always delayed always miscaculated ..especially when we pretend that the berucrats hired at exobirtant salaries and benefits packages are hired for their for their so called high education experience and competence.
This so called up comptence fails to impress!!!!!!
And then then
our politicians hit us with these higher taxes utilities rateS etc
We are seniors and have lived on the north shore for over 35 years.
And over the years this incomptence rears its head over and over and we get stuck with the bill for failed contracts, cost over runs , etc etc.
We are mad..and frustrated because we have no option but to pay.
Our property tax was over 10,000 this year ..then over $2000 for utlities and then over 600 for waste disposal etc
How can this work for us house rich cash poor seniors and all others who live on the north shore.
Its not a question of putting up with the pain of additional taxes..its a matter of the how money is managed by these super beuracrats.
They waste the money and we have to pay extra
This is also a form of corruption which we claim only hapoens in the developing world.
I am writing this laying in a hospital bed put into a corridor with 15 others as there is not enough room or staff at Lions gate hospital.
It us degrading to say the least.
And we just gave 5 billion dollars to Ukraine to fight a war. And millions more to Isreal to commit a genocide.
This is our tax dollars.
Spend them here for seniors, the homeless, schools and hospitals.
Canada is now the laughing stock all over the world for our hypocracy.
Wre cannot take care of our own people and we preach human rights to the world!!!!
Lets all together refuse to pay these costs!!!!!
Zaher meghji says
Read above
John Rowlands says
So, as North Shore residents we are on the hook for paying (at least) $600 per household per year. for the Wastewater treatment fiasco. There is one group of people on the North shore who are not required to pay any taxes if they live on the “Reservation” Will they be required to pay their fare share ????.
Last year the Federal government gave $8 billion to Indigenous people to assist with their water treatment facilities. Did our group receive any of this money ????????
It would be a big help to North Shore taxpayers if they did, and may assist in reducing our costs.