| Statement: Metro Vancouver Transparency on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project | Statement: Metro Vancouver Transparency on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project | | <div class="ExternalClassD686AC7D973A402B85789571DAD5640E"><p>Metro Vancouver has maintained a clear and consistent record of public disclosure on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. From budget changes to construction milestones and contractor disputes, key decisions and updates have been shared through public board meetings, committee reports, monthly project newsletters and construction status reports, press conferences, budget workshops, official announcements and a detailed <a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-project" title="Metro Vancouver - North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant">project webpage</a>.</p><p>The Board made the decision to pause the independent review of the project at its regular monthly meeting on July 25 — these meetings normally take place on the last Friday of the month. As soon as the decision was made, it was made public in a media release and through social media. This decision was made in a closed meeting because it involved legal proceedings related to the project. The decision regarding the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program – Independent Performance Review that was released is on the <a href="/boards/GVSDD/SDD-2025-07-25-RCL.pdf" title="Report - GVSDD - July 25, 2025">Metro Vancouver website</a>.</p><p>Some information related to the project has been shared in closed meetings due to ongoing litigation that could result in the recovery of hundreds of millions of public dollars in damages from the previous contractor. However, substantial information related to the cost increase and project progress has been in the public domain.</p><p>The following timeline below highlights the measures Metro Vancouver has taken — and continues to take — to ensure residents, stakeholders, and the public are kept informed of cost increases and key updates associated with the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program.</p><p>You can read the full timeline with links to all of the public documents on the <a href="/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-program-timeline" title="Metro Vancouver - North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program Timeline">North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program Timeline webpage</a>.</p><p><strong>2021</strong></p><ul><li>February 26: Publicly announced revised cost of $1.058 billion following 2019 negotiations with Acciona and new substantial completion date of 2024.</li><li>May 8: Provided detailed update to Council of Councils, which includes elected officials from across the region.</li><li>May 28 and September 2: Discussed debt amortization options at public Board meetings.</li><li>June: Metro Vancouver received a claim from Acciona that the treatment plant construction would take an additional 26 months to complete, at an additional cost almost double the original contract price. This claim was rejected by Metro Vancouver and the independent certifier.</li><li>September 29: Acciona laid off about 130 staff without notice. This significant disruption was reported to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) Board.</li><li>October 21: Metro Vancouver issued notice of default to Acciona and began preparing for a new procurement process.</li></ul><p><strong>2022</strong></p><ul><li>February 25: Publicly announced a new contract awarded to PCL for early contractor involvement and construction management ($40 million).</li><li>March 31: Acciona filed a civil lawsuit against Metro Vancouver over contract termination.</li><li>June 15: Metro Vancouver filed a counterclaim against Acciona, continuing legal proceedings.</li><li>April 29, May 18, June 8, July 13, September 21, and October 5: Series of regular public updates to the Liquid Waste Committee on project status via manager’s reports.</li></ul><p><strong>2023</strong></p><ul><li>February 8, March 15, April 12, and May 17: Continued monthly public reporting to the Liquid Waste Committee on project progress and decisions.</li><li>June 30: Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Board received and published a comprehensive program overview and background presentation.</li><li>September 29: Publicly announced that Board Chair struck a task force to conduct a review of various options to complete the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program</li></ul><p><strong>2024</strong></p><ul><li>March 22: Metro Vancouver publicly announced an updated cost estimate of $3.86 billion and revised completion date of 2030. Reasons for cost increases were disclosed at a two-hour press conference immediately following the announcement.</li><li>April 17, May 17, and May 31: Held three public Board Budget Workshops to discuss how costs would be allocated and measures to reduce short-term impact on ratepayers.</li><li>June 18: Metro Vancouver’s Board Chair publicly announced intent to launch an independent review of the project.</li><li>September 14: Board Chair publicly announced selection of a lawyer to advise the Board on defining the review’s scope and reviewer selection process, and provided a public update to Council of Councils, to answer questions about the project from elected officials from throughout the region.</li></ul><p><strong>2025</strong></p><ul><li>January 31: Publicly announced that Metro Vancouver had executed the contract with PCL to complete construction of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, with a total contract price of $1.95 billion, and held a media tour of North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project construction site.</li><li>February 28: Publicly announced selection of the Independent Review Team.</li><li>July 25: Publicly announced that the independent review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program is paused. The Board will be able to reconsider conducting a review once the dispute with the former contractor has been resolved.</li></ul></div> | 7/28/2025 7:00:00 AM | | Metro Vancouver Media Relations | media@metrovancouver.org | | |