Across the region, we’re all feeling the strain of rising costs. It’s no different for your regional government: at Metro Vancouver, the costs of providing the essential services that make our region livable have also gone up.
As we plan for our 2026 budget, Metro Vancouver is looking for ways to reduce costs for ratepayers. Since I was first elected as chair of the Metro Vancouver Board in June, I’ve made affordability my key priority and I, together with the 40 other elected officials who oversee the organization, am determined to continue that work.
The reality is that infrastructure is complicated — and expensive. Water treatment plants, dams, wastewater treatment plants, massive water supply tunnels and the like require considerable investment and time to construct.
On the North Shore, we are working to construct a new wastewater treatment plant to meet federal regulations and accommodate the growing population. Metro Vancouver began legal action against the previous contractor on the project for failing to meet the terms of its contract, resulting in cost escalations and delays. Now we’re moving forward: our job is to deliver a quality project, and that’s what we will do.
For over 50 years, Metro Vancouver has delivered the vast majority of our complex infrastructure and construction projects on time and on budget. We have over 300 construction projects underway right now. But, you don’t usually hear about the ones that get completed without a hitch.
We’re always making improvements to ensure we continue to deliver reliable, high-quality essential services at a low cost. As the region’s population grows, we must keep up with demand. This means building bigger pipes, higher capacity, modern treatment facilities, and other essential infrastructure that’ll let us fulfil our responsibility to protect human and environmental health. At the same time, it’s important we take the time to evaluate our performance and meet our mandate while respecting the interests of ratepayers.
We are already looking toward our 2026 budget.
This week, the board received a report from Metro Vancouver staff with potential operational cost savings by department, including details of financial and service implications for any potential revisions. This work is being integrated into an earlier budgeting process, and will give the board more information and earlier opportunities to provide feedback on where improvements could be made. This review will help guide decisions related to the 2026 budget and the next five-year financial plan.
I’m also advancing a governance review. It will explore the way the Metro Vancouver Board makes decisions, receives and shares information, and any potential efficiencies that could be explored through provincial legislation. The independent performance review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project is also underway and will continue.
Metro Vancouver’s services are foundational to the quality of life in this region. We will continue to meet our mandate as a regional district, as a water, sewerage, and solid waste utility, and as one of the largest providers of non-market rental housing in B.C. — and we’ll meet it with careful consideration of how we spend your tax dollar.
Mike Hurley
Metro Vancouver Board chair
Mayor of Burnaby
