Surrey mayor criticizes Metro Vancouver governance decision

Surrey’s mayor says a recent Metro Vancouver governance decision falls short of the reform the region needs.

In a statement, the mayor said capping each member jurisdiction at three directors may reduce the size of the board but does not address longstanding representation concerns. Surrey has argued that Metro Vancouver’s weighted voting system does not provide proportional representation.

The statement contrasted Belcarra, which has fewer than 1,000 residents and is guaranteed one vote, with Surrey, which has a population hundreds of times larger but has 29 votes.

The mayor called for a governance model that more accurately reflects the communities served, along with action on Metro Vancouver’s scope, rising costs, spending and service duplication. The statement said the city will continue pressing for reforms.