On Saturday, September 14, over 100 mayors and councillors gathered in Port Coquitlam for Metro Vancouver’s Council of Councils meeting. In a press release, Metro Vancouver said the attendees learned more about the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program, why Metro Vancouver decided to terminate the previous contractor, and what’s behind the cost increases.
“I am committed to transparency, so it was important to me to provide a forum for Metro Vancouver members to ask any questions about the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program,” said Mike Hurley, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors. “I was pleased to see many of my colleagues from across the region engaged in this important discussion on Saturday.”
Metro Vancouver has consistently shared information with the Board, the media, and the public about the project and the reasons for the cost increase resulting from the termination of the contract with Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP. In addition to the event held on Saturday and previous media opportunities, Metro Vancouver has centralized program information on a dedicated webpage.
Metro Vancouver says extensive information about the program is available online for those interested, including a video technical briefing and backgrounder document explaining the project; answers to frequently asked questions; a monthly newsletter about the project; full copies of the public court filings; and a comprehensive timeline of events and documentation such as previous Board and Committee reports and presentations.
“It was a pleasure to host elected officials from across the region to come together and ask questions about the project and better understand its history,” said Brad West, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Finance Committee and Mayor of Port Coquitlam. “We have seen many major projects across Canada escalate in cost due to the cumulative effect of inflation of construction and labour costs and competition for resources, so it was a good reminder of the factors influencing the changes to those cost estimates.”
“Building the plant is not optional — it is critical for protecting human health and the environment,” said John McEwen, Vice Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Board. “It’s incredibly important that we are realistic about what it will take to build a quality wastewater treatment plant so that inadequately treated water doesn’t end up in the Burrard Inlet.”
At the Council of Councils event, Chair Hurley also announced that he has taken the next step in responding to calls for a review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program, retaining John J.L. Hunter, K.C., a retired judge and founder of Hunter Litigation Chambers, to advise the Metro Vancouver Board on an independent performance audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program.
100 Mayors at one meeting there goes another 100 thousand!