Metro Vancouver says results of the long-awaited review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program have been put on hold.
The estimated cost of the plant project ballooned to $3.86 billion last year — five times over its original budget and years behind schedule.
Last summer, the regional district moved to conduct a review under the guidance of retired judge John J.L. Hunter, whose role was filled by lawyer Randal Kaardal after Hunter’s death.
In an update Friday, Metro Vancouver announced that the review will not proceed until progress is made in a legal dispute with the plant’s former contractor, Acciona.
“The litigation is a public process, and once the dispute with the former contractor has been resolved, the Metro Vancouver Board and the reviewer would be in a better position to complete a review on any outstanding questions,” said Kaardal.
In February, a group of city councillors voiced their concerns about how long the review was taking, saying the regional district needs to assure taxpayers that any review’s findings and recommendations will be completely public.
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Among that group was Richmond City Coun. Kash Heed, who tells 1130 NewsRadio he’s “rather surprised” by Friday’s announcement and is left questioning how the lawsuit conflicts with the review.
“This litigation has been in process for several years. And we know the governance part of it, and how the debacle occurred right from the outset has been a concern, and it’s also been in play for several years,” said Heed.
“I’m surprised that a review of this nature would be put on hold, given the fact that several recent court rulings have gone against the North Shore Wastewater Treatment side of it… I’m actually bewildered that they would make such a decision at this point.”
Heed says the public has a right to know how the project went awry, adding that it was a “catalyst” for focus on greater issues in the regional district’s governance.
The trial between Metro Vancouver and Acciona is scheduled to begin in March of 2027.
The governance board says it will be able to “reconsider conducting a review once the dispute with the former contractor has been resolved.”
Heed says he’s skeptical that the legal ramifications will end with the 2027 trial.
“We may never know what has happened,” said Heed.
“It’s a very convenient excuse to delay scrutiny of how that project was handled and continues to be handled by Metro Vancouver.”
He says taxpayers should put the pressure on the provincial government to take action, and “remember who the people are at the helm of Metro Vancouver” for the next civic elections in 2026.
“This can all be done simultaneously, so I’m rather surprised at a certain aspect of Metro Vancouver taking this position. But that being said, given what we’ve seen from Metro Vancouver in the last few years, it shouldn’t surprise too many people.”
—With files from Michael Williams
