Local councilor suggests distributing excess costs from North Vancouver's over-budget sewage facility equitably among residents
Vancouver's Mayor, Ken Sim, has voiced his concerns over a secret vote that shelved a review of the financial disaster at the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant, which is $3-billion over budget, has been a source of frustration for local homeowners, who are set to pay approximately $590 extra per year for the next 30 years to cover the costs.
The overspending has raised questions about the transparency and accountability of Metro Vancouver, the managing authority of the plant. North Vancouver district councillor, Herman Mah, is among those calling for a reconsideration of surcharges, arguing that the current system is unfair to North Shore homeowners.
Mah points out that the cost of the sewage treatment plan is significantly higher than what homeowners in other regions pay. He advocates for a levelling of surcharges, so everyone in Metro Vancouver pays the same amount. This, he believes, would help restore trust and confidence in Metro Vancouver, which has been eroded by the situation with the wastewater treatment plant.
Premier David Eby has acknowledged the need for Metro Vancouver to ensure accountability for taxpayers but has not yet intervened. Eby has promised to review the justification for the decision by Metro Vancouver and to move forward. Sim, on the other hand, believes the corporate governance structure at Metro Vancouver is not effective and lacks accountability and transparency.
The call for accountability and transparency is not new. Sim has stated that until changes are made, similar issues can be expected. Eby, too, has expressed his intention to ensure accountability for taxpayers in the situation with the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.
As the issue continues to be a topic of discussion, residents are hoping for a more transparent and accountable system that justifies the fees they are paying and restores their trust in Metro Vancouver's management of large infrastructure projects.
- The secret vote that shelved a review of the financial disaster at the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant has sparked concerns about the transparency and accountability of policy-and-legislation related to Metro Vancouver's management of large infrastructure projects.
- The Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, along with North Vancouver district councillor, Herman Mah, has advocated for changes in the corporate governance structure of Metro Vancouver, as they believe the current system lacks accountability and transparency, particularly in the realm of general-news and policy-and-legislation.
