Metro Vancouver moving forward with wastewater project audit, international travel ban
![Mike Hurley Metro Vancouver Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley chairs a meeting of the Metro Vancouver Board. (CTV News)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/7/26/mike-hurley-metro-vancouver-1-6979774-1722045706497.jpg)
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley has only been chair of the Metro Vancouver Board for a few weeks, but he's already facing public pushback.
It's been a rocky few months for the regional district's leadership, with the ballooning cost of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant and a spending scandal leading to the departure of Delta mayor and former chair George Harvie.
Hurley stepped into the role with a mandate to oversee an independent audit of the wastewater project and reign in the board's spending on international travel.
But the Burnaby mayor's choice to lead the audit – prominent developer William McCarthy – proved controversial.
"He generously stepped forward and made an offer to do this audit for us pro bono, and I thought that was important to bring forward to the board," Hurley said, before acknowledging anger from some board members that McCarthy had donated to Hurley's election campaign.
"He did donate to my campaign, but as far as I know, that's legal."
On Friday, the board voted unanimously to initiate an independent performance audit of the wastewater project. McCarthy will not be leading that effort.
Hurley also announced a pause on board and committee members' international travel, and stated the board's intent to proceed with a governance review.
Even B.C. Premier David Eby has weighed in on Metro Vancouver's ongoing issues, promising provincial intervention if the board proves unable to resolve them itself.
"If they fail to address this issue of bizarre and excessive spending at Metro, then the province will step in," Eby said.
When it was first announced back in 2011, the wastewater project was slated to cost $700 million.
The most recent price tag is $3.86 billion, more than five times the original projection. The goal of the audit will be to go over the last 15 years of planning and construction work to understand why the cost has ballooned so badly.
In a statement issued Friday, the regional district said the performance audit "will include retaining reputable, experienced external legal counsel to advise the board."
"The external legal counsel will work with lawyers representing Metro Vancouver in ongoing litigation related to the North Shore project to develop and recommend a scope of work, terms of reference, and a process for selecting an independent and qualified reviewer," the statement reads.
The board has not yet selected someone to lead the performance audit. Its next scheduled meeting is in September.
"We intend to make it a very independent process," Hurley said. "We are very confident in what we are doing, and it goes a long way to restore the confidence that is being questioned out there by Metro Vancouver residents."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Yasmin Gandham
Correction
A version of this story that aired on CTV News at Six Friday incorrectly stated that the cost of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project had grown to $9.9 billion. In fact, that is the cost of the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. The cost of the North Shore project is $3.86 billion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7029443.1725744633!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Police release video of Toronto plaza shooting that killed university student
A university student from Brampton was killed when two shooters fired indiscriminately into a crowded plaza in Toronto last month in what police say was a 'cowardly act.'
BREAKING Manhunt underway for suspect after several people shot in Kentucky near Interstate 75, officials say
Several people have been shot near Interstate 75 in Laurel County, Kentucky, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s office.
The iPhone is getting a 'glow' up. What to expect from Apple's Monday event
Apple excited fans with its vision for its 'Apple Intelligence' artificial intelligence system earlier this year. Now, it's time for the company to prove it really works.
No more porta-potties at B.C. construction sites starting Oct. 1
What some B.C. construction workers describe as the worst aspect of their jobs will be coming to an end next month, the province announced.
'Hopeless and helpless': Regina mother seeks help to treat rare spinal disease
Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.
'Extremely vigorous' wildfire activity in central B.C. prompts crews to back off for safety
The wildfire fight in central B.C. intensified Friday, according to officials.
Trump campaigns in Wisconsin just days ahead of debate with Harris
With just days to go before his first — and likely only — debate against U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, former U.S. president Donald Trump leaned into his familiar grievances about everything from his indictments to the border as he campaigned in one of the most deeply Republican swaths of battleground Wisconsin.
They were due to leave for their dream cruise in May. Three months on they’re still stuck at the departure port
It was the years-long cruise that was supposed to set sail, but saw its departure postponed… postponed… and postponed again.