| Metro Vancouver Board Moves Forward with Recommendations from Independent Board Governance Review | Metro Vancouver Board Moves Forward with Recommendations from Independent Board Governance Review | | <div class="ExternalClass0A5DDA32DE37476095FB70E7123808B6"><p>Today, the Metro Vancouver Board received recommendations from the independent Board Governance Review led by Deloitte Canada and took immediate steps to begin implementing the recommendations put forward.</p><p>“When I came on as Chair of the Board, I committed to ensuring the public is confident that this Board is working effectively and in their best interest. To that end, I initiated a Governance Review — today, we as a Board were able to make research-informed decisions on governance to ensure we are continuing to govern well," said Mike Hurley, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors. “With the findings from this thorough and thoughtful independent Governance Review, we can now take meaningful action to strengthen how we govern and serve our region."</p><p>The report concluded that Metro Vancouver's governance structure has worked for decades but can benefit from improvements. The report provided 49 recommendations aimed at improving Metro Vancouver Board governance, which include reviewing the Board size and structure, instituting a Governance Committee, streamlining standing committees, and strengthening Metro Vancouver's internal audit function. </p><p>Following today's Board meeting, immediate action to be taken at Metro Vancouver coming out of the Board Governance Review include:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Create a Governance Committee with broad regional representation to lead the Board's efforts in implementing the recommendations in the Governance Review Report</li><li>Strengthen the organization's internal audit function</li><li>Draft revisions to the <a href="https://subscription.metrovancouver.org/sites/Media/default.aspx?jg=51b276fb-bd7d-4b02-bf7d-36879c418968&eg=21b7aae2-abc6-4cc5-a600-db134691d0b6&lg=98ad4793-682d-40fa-90e0-efbe6bfcb8e7<p=c">remuneration bylaw</a> to: </li><ul style="list-style-type:circle;"><li>Eliminate double meeting fees</li><li>Eliminate meeting fees while travelling on Metro Vancouver business</li></ul></ul><p>The Governance Committee's first meeting is targeted for July, and the Province will be invited to participate in the implementation of relevant Governance Review recommendations through this committee.</p><p>“Once the Governance Committee is in place, our next step will be to carefully assess and prioritize the Governance Review recommendations and begin implementing the changes that will have the greatest impact," said Metro Vancouver Board Vice Chair John McEwen. “This review provides a clear path forward to modernize how we govern — ensuring our Board and committee structures, decision-making processes, and compensation frameworks are aligned with best practices and meet the needs of our growing region."</p><p>The Board Governance Review was officially launched in February 2025 to review Board and committee structure, compensation for Board and committee members, and Board decision-making processes. The provincial government is partnering with Metro Vancouver on this review, and Deloitte Canada is the independent third party selected for the review. The full report can be viewed <a href="https://subscription.metrovancouver.org/sites/Media/default.aspx?jg=51b276fb-bd7d-4b02-bf7d-36879c418968&eg=21b7aae2-abc6-4cc5-a600-db134691d0b6&lg=b941d8cb-0dbb-423c-997d-e27d5fceb309<p=c">here</a>.</p><p> </p><p><strong>About the Board Governance Review</strong></p><p>The purpose of the Metro Vancouver Board Governance Review was to review Board and committee structure, compensation for Board and committee members, and Board decision-making processes. The provincial government is partnering with Metro Vancouver on this review. </p><p>Deloitte was the independent third party selected for the review. As part of their work, they consulted with all Board members, staff and elected officials from a number of organizations, and a panel of independent, external experts comprised of:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Glen Clark – a Canadian retail executive and former BC Premier</li><li>Colin Hansen – former BC Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier</li><li>Martin Thibodeau – Regional President of RBC</li><li>Jennifer Podmore Russell – Chief Development Officer of Nch'ḵaỷ Development Corporation</li><li>Diane Vuong – former CFO and VP of Finance at Vancouver Airport Authority</li></ul><p>Information on the Governance Review, Services and Cost Efficiencies Review, and North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Independent Review can be found at <a href="https://subscription.metrovancouver.org/sites/Media/default.aspx?jg=51b276fb-bd7d-4b02-bf7d-36879c418968&eg=21b7aae2-abc6-4cc5-a600-db134691d0b6&lg=b4bd1d28-69e9-474b-8a88-29a72f837ea9<p=c">metrovancouver.org/boards/reviews-underway</a>.</p><p><strong>About Metro Vancouver's Governance Model</strong></p><p>Metro Vancouver has the authority to change some things about its governance, while others would need provincial government involvement.</p><p>Metro Vancouver is made up of four separate legal entities, each operating under a different act of the provincial government.</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD): <em>Local Government Act</em></li><li>Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD): <em>Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act</em></li><li>Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD): <em>Greater Vancouver Water District Act</em></li><li>Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation (MVHC): <em>Corporations Act</em></li></ul><p>Metro Vancouver's legal entities are each governed by a Board of Directors composed of elected representatives appointed by their respective member jurisdictions.</p><p>The Metro Vancouver Board also has standing committees that play an important role in making sure the significant amount of work done by Metro Vancouver receives transparent, accountable oversight with broad representation from across the region. The standing committees review the organization's work and provide recommendations to the Board, ensuring deeper transparency, accountability, and oversight.</p><p><strong>About Regional Districts</strong></p><p>Regional districts were introduced in BC by the provincial government in 1965, when the Province amended the <em>Municipal Act</em> — today known as the <em>Local Government Act</em>. Regional districts are a federation composed of their members: the municipalities, electoral areas, and treaty First Nations that are located within the boundaries of the regional district, and that have representation on a regional district board.</p><p>Of the 27 regional districts in BC, the Metro Vancouver Regional District is the largest by population. The number of directors appointed to the Board is determined by the population of the member jurisdiction, as defined by the <em>Local Government Act</em>. Changes to the number of Board members would have to come from the Province. The <em>Local Government Act</em> specifies that population is determined by census, which the federal government conducts every five years.<br></p></div> | 5/23/2025 7:00:00 AM | | Metro Vancouver Media Relations | media@metrovancouver.org | | |