As a public organization, we take our responsibility to serve the public and provide clear, transparent, accurate information seriously.
This page is meant to help interested residents find factual information to debunk misinformation and disinformation that may emerge about Metro Vancouver and the services it provides residents of the region.
Claim: Metro Vancouver is not transparent or accountable to the public.
Fact: Metro Vancouver's Board of Directors is made up exclusively of individuals who are elected by the public to serve as Councillors or Mayors at their local municipality or Nation. Metro Vancouver Board and Committee meetings are livestreamed and reports are available online.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass6C366045208E49469C9E37E084879C0F"><p>Committee and Board meetings are broadcast live and reports are posted online for anyone to read. Board meetings happen the last Friday of every month. The public can apply to speak at Committee or Board meetings.</p><p><strong>Additional resources:</strong></p>
<ul class="fa-ul"><li><span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/boards/board-live-webcast">Watch a board or committee meeting</a></li><li><span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/boards/board-members">View the list of board members</a> </li><li><span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/boards/meeting-calendar">View calendar of upcoming and past meetings</a> </li><li><span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/boards/speaking-to-board-or-committee">Apply to speak at committee or board</a></li></ul>
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Claim: Metro Vancouver’s "core services" are delivering drinking water, treating wastewater, and managing solid waste.
Fact: One role of a regional district is to provide services that its members believe are more beneficial and cost-effective to deliver at a regional level.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass624368E4D3FE4A118D2601466DC087FB"><p>As a regional district, Metro Vancouver provides services that the member jurisdictions see as being most efficiently delivered as a region. Metro Vancouver has successfully delivered non-utility services, such as affordable housing and regional planning, for over 50 years. We are one of the highest ranked affordable housing providers in Canada and our regional planning model is world-renowned.<br></p><p>Regional districts have three basic roles. They provide a political and administrative framework to:</p><ul><li>Provide region-wide services such as regional parks and emergency telephone services such as 911</li><li>Provide inter-municipal or sub-regional services where residents of a municipality and residents in areas outside the municipality benefit from the service</li><li>Act as the general local government for electoral areas and provide local services such as waterworks and fire protection to unincorporated communities within the electoral areas</li></ul><p>Metro Vancouver is the largest of 27 regional districts in BC and is governed by the <a href="https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/r15001_00" target="_blank" title="Table of Contents - Local Government Act">Local Government Act</a>. Regional districts are modeled as a federation composed of municipalities, electoral areas, and in some cases, Treaty First Nations, each of which have representation on the regional district board.</p><p>
<strong>Additional resources: </strong></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/facts-framework/systems/regional-districts" target="_blank" title="Regional districts in BC">Regional districts in BC</a></li></ul></div> |
Claim: The majority of Metro Vancouver’s projects run over budget and fail to meet deadlines.
Fact: Metro Vancouver has successfully delivered major infrastructure projects for over 50 years and the vast majority are on time and on budget.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass5F63AB46F98C4BCDB9C7848E9B0B82BC"><p></p><p>Metro Vancouver has successfully delivered major infrastructure projects for over 50 years, which have consistently been delivered time and on budget. We are currently delivering over 300 projects around the region to maintain and upgrade water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure.<br> <br>Water treatment plants, dams, wastewater treatment plants, massive water supply tunnels and the like require considerable investment and time to plan for, design, and build. In the case of major infrastructure projects, we deliver cost estimates that are updated throughout the lifecycle of the project to reflect macro and micro economic influences that may emerge over the sometimes 20-year span of delivering the projects.</p><p>
<strong>Additional resources: </strong></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/bidding-opportunities/current-and-upcoming-projects">Metro Vancouver infrastructure projects underway</a></li><li>
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<a href="/about-us/Documents/financial-plan-2025-2029.pdf" target="_blank" title="2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan">2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan</a> (lists every project planned or underway)<br><br></li></ul> </div> |
Claim: Mayors are ‘doubling dipping’ – receiving a second salary for sitting on Metro Vancouver Boards or Committees.
Fact: Sitting as a director of the Metro Vancouver Board is not part of the obligations of a Councillor or Mayor. Metro Vancouver is independent of a municipality, so Board Directors have specific and unique responsibilities. They are compensated for the responsibilities they take on as a member of the Metro Vancouver Board, like taking on a second job.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass36C4CA64FB3848E6BF0E1A40816358C1"><p>The Board and Committee <a href="/boards/remuneration">Remuneration Bylaw</a> establishes payment of remuneration and expenses for the Metro Vancouver Board and Committee members by setting annual, monthly, and per meeting pay rates.<br> <br>The Metro Vancouver Board is proceeding with an independent <a href="/boards/reviews-underway">Governance Review</a>, which will explore Board and Committee structure and compensation (remuneration). The Provincial Government is partnering with Metro Vancouver on the review and Deloitte has been selected as the independent third party to lead it. As part of their work, Deloitte will also consult with a panel of independent, external experts. <br></p></div> |
Claim: The CAO of Metro Vancouver is making $700,000 a year in compensation.
Fact: The role of Commissioner / CAO of Metro Vancouver received an annual base salary $451,949 in 2023.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass479E0DE1249547749C93A9C9AE2B3093"><p>The CAO's salary was determined by the Board with support from an independent consultant. This salary is in line with executive compensation for similar organizations such as BC Hydro, BC Ferries, TransLink, Toronto Transit Commission, and ICBC. </p><p>In 2023, the CAO of Metro Vancouver's base salary was $451,949. The $222,578 that brings his total remuneration to “$700,000 a year" is not an annual amount — it included a one-time, retroactive payment based on the conclusion of collective bargaining and a review of the position. It also included a Board-directed performance pay based on the Commissioner/CAO remuneration policy which has since been amended to be not included future compensation packages. </p><p>
<strong>Additional resources:</strong></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li><a href="/boards/Finance/FIN-2024-06-19-AGE.pdf#page=19">2023 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI)</a> (Page 19 of Agenda Package from June 19, 2024 Board Meeting)<br></li></ul></div> |
Claim: The Chair of Metro Vancouver makes more than the Prime Minister of Canada.
Fact: The Metro Vancouver Board Chair is compensated $109,337 per year. Their role as Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board is independent of other roles or jobs they may hold.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass75C3B9F4248A4792B567FD0EFAC74BCB"><p>The Metro Vancouver Board Chair is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The compensation for the role is $109,337 per year. The salary is set at 75% of the median salary of regional mayors, based on a survey conducted every four years.</p><p>The Metro Vancouver Chair is responsible for leading a multi-billion-dollar organization that provides the services and infrastructure that enhance the region's quality of life. The role requires a significant amount of work and is in addition to any other roles they may hold, such as their separate jobs as Mayor, Chief, or Councillor of their local jurisdiction.</p><p>The Prime Minister of Canada makes roughly $406,200 annually and receives a personal residence and other expenses covered including food and travel.<br></p></div> |
Claim: Metro Vancouver grant money was used to subsize electric vehicles for major retailers.
Fact: Metro Vancouver has not provided funding or grants to subsidize electric vehicles for major retailers.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClassD1637A43CA414ADF8F353BC2974B0CF0"><p>Metro Vancouver supported sustainability initiatives through the Fraser Basin Council with a $300,000 annual grant, which the Board voted to discontinue in 2026 as part of the Services and Cost Efficiencies Review. This grant has supported the organization as a whole, rather than specific activities such as incentive programs.</p><p>Fraser Basin Council has partnered with the Province of BC ‘s Clean BC program to provide electric vehicle adoption incentives and reduce emissions in the transportation sector, but no funding from Metro Vancouver has gone toward this program.<br></p></div> |
Claim: The reviews underway for Board governance and the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant are not independent and the Province should be involved.
Fact: The Governance Review and North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program Review are being completed in line with the
Government of Canada’s definition of an independent review.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClassAEF47D8C3B454CB8A700CD41D5AE98AF"><p>Deloitte Canada is leading the Governance Review. As part of their work, Deloitte will consult with a panel of independent, external experts. The Provincial Government is partnering with Metro Vancouver on this review.</p><p>On September 14, 2024, Metro Vancouver appointed John J.L. Hunter, K.C., a retired judge and founder of Hunter Litigation Chambers to advise the Metro Vancouver Board on the independent performance audit for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. On February 28, the John J.L. Hunter recommended that the MWGK Independent Review Team conduct the independent audit. The team will be led by Peter Milburn, best known for his role in the Site C Dam Review (Milburn Report) and the Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4 Project, where he demonstrated his ability to conduct thorough evaluations of budget escalations and governance structures. <br></p><p>
<strong>Additional resources: </strong></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/boards/reviews-underway">2025 Reviews Underway</a> </li><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/information-technology-project-management/project-management/guide-independent-reviews.html" target="_blank" title="Government of Canada">Government of Canada's Guide to Independent Reviews</a><br></li></ul></div> |
Claim: Metro Vancouver has not been transparent about the cost increase for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program.
Fact: Metro Vancouver held a
press conference on March 22, 2024 immediately following the Board’s approval of the updated costs for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. At this time, the reasons for the cost increase were disclosed. The estimated cost to deliver the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program was updated following the termination of the contract with the previous designer and builder, and more than a decade after the original cost estimate. Three comprehensive cost estimates were done by three different organizations, which took into account inflation, market conditions, and work that needed to be done to transition the project to a new contractor.
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass85BFFCEEF2EC495D85D5D84D2261AD3A"><p>The cost increase to $3.86 billion is attributable to multiple factors, including:</p><ul><li>The significant rework required to address design and construction deficiencies left by the terminated design-build contractor</li><li>The cumulative effect of inflation on construction and labour costs</li><li>Volatile market conditions</li><li>The large number of infrastructure projects competing for resources across the province.</li></ul><p> The updated cost considers comprehensive cost estimates by three separate organizations, a value engineering exercise, investigation of current market conditions, and a review by a Metro Vancouver Board task force to consider the best path forward.</p><p>Metro Vancouver's legal claims related to the termination of the previous contractor provide detail of rationale for termination and are available for the public to read (on the website under “Legal claims").</p><p>This information and more is available publicly on the
<a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-project">project website</a>. <br></p><p>
<strong>Information includes: </strong></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-project">Project website</a> </li><li>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w4Tb7uV89g" target="_blank">A video technical briefing and backgrounder document explaining the project</a><br></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span>
<a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-project">Answers to frequently asked questions</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> A monthly newsletter about the project (<a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-project">Past issues on the website under “Email newsletters"</a>; </li><li>
<span class="fa-li">
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span>
<a href="/services/liquid-waste/liquid-waste-engagement-mailing-list">Sign up to receive</a>) </li><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> Full copies of the public court filings (<a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-project">On the website under “Legal claims")</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span>
<a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-program-timeline">A comprehensive timeline of events and documentation such as previous Board and Committee reports and presentations</a></li></ul></div><br> |
Claim: The Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant will cost over $12 billion.
Fact: The cost estimate for the Iona Projects as scoped in 2022 remains $9.9 billion ($6.4 billion in 2022 dollars, including escalation over duration of projects and risk reserve).
| Learn more | Learn more | <div class="ExternalClass17FBC0C39BA749ECA3EC47C8824D9F9D"><p></p><p>In fall 2024,<strong> </strong>the Board gave staff direction to explore options for phasing the project in a way that could result in improved cost sustainability for residents (lower rate impact per year). That work is still underway. <br></p><p>
<strong>Learn more:</strong> </p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<a href="/services/liquid-waste/iona-island-wastewater-treatment-plant-projects">Iona Projects website</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li">
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionDocuments/iiwwtp-projects-backgrounder-standalone-May2022.pdf" target="_blank">2022 Iona Projects Conceptual Design Background Paper</a><br></li></ul></div> |