Open Letter to Minister Boyle: Governance Reform at Metro Vancouver
Councillor Jim Hanson has written to BC’s Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, calling for reform of Metro Vancouver’s governance model and a directly elected board.
September 7, 2026
Dear Minister Boyle:
Re: Governance Reform at Metro Vancouver
We recently read in the media that you have been tasked with developing options for governance reform at Metro Vancouver ("Metro"). We congratulate you on this important assignment.
Given Metro's record of mismanagement of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will run at least $3 billion over budget, with the costs falling disproportionately on North Shore residents, the need for reform is apparent
The current Metro Vancouver governance model, under which mayors and councillors are appointed to Metro through an opaque process and then "moonlight" in these roles, has clearly failed. North Shore residents face a form of "taxation without representation."
We call on your government to legislate a new governance model for Metro under which the board is composed of representatives directly elected by residents of the region. This would ensure that Metro is directly accountable to ratepayers and that its elected representatives are exclusively tasked with overseeing this important public body, rather than being distracted by other primary duties.
We thank you for considering this proposal.
Beyond this issue, we wish you every success in your role as Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
Sincerely,
Jim Hanson
Councillor
District of North Vancouver