Metro Vancouver board votes to shrink membership and add project oversight

Metro Vancouver’s board has voted to reduce its size from 45 elected officials to 34, pending provincial approval, as part of a package of governance and cost-saving measures.

Governance committee chair Lisa Dominato said the public and province have called for the regional district to improve its operations. The proposal would cap Vancouver and Surrey at three directors each, down from seven and six respectively, while introducing weighted voting. The region includes 23 jurisdictions.

New Westminster Coun. Daniel Fontaine said a 34-member board would still be too large. Directors receive $557 for each meeting in addition to their municipal salaries, and Richmond Coun. Kash Heed is among those calling for the stipends to be reduced or eliminated.

The board also approved a major-projects oversight committee made up of elected officials and industry professionals. The move follows the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant’s cost increase from an original $700 million estimate to more than $3.86 billion.

Directors also agreed to explore combining the region’s four sewerage areas into one, a change that could create further savings.