Tony Luck: Premier Eby has the responsibility and tools to call for a full public inquiry into the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant boondoggle

Opinion: It’s time for the provincial government to call for a full, independent public inquiry under the supervision of the inspector of municipalities, who has sweeping powers to investigate financial mismanagement.

Published Jan 09, 2025  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  5 minute read

Originally budgeted at $700 million with a completion target of 2020, the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project is now nearing an astounding $4 billion — an almost 500 per cent increase, writes Tony Luck. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104754A

In B.C., we pride ourselves on transparency, accountability and good governance. These bedrock principles help build trust between governments and the people they serve.

But what happens when those principles are tossed aside, and taxpayers are left holding the bag for a multibillion-dollar failure?

The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant fiasco isn’t just an isolated incident, it also represents a broader failure of governance and accountability. It’s time for the provincial government to stop avoiding the issue and call for a full, independent public inquiry into the scandal under the supervision of the inspector of municipalities. The public deserves answers, and they deserve them now.

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What started as a necessary infrastructure project to serve Metro Vancouver residents has become a textbook case of mismanagement, cost overruns and finger-pointing. Originally budgeted at $700 million with a completion target of 2020, the project is now nearing an astounding $4 billion — an almost 500 per cent increase — and there’s no clear end in sight.

This is the largest public infrastructure cost overrun in B.C. history, and yet the people responsible continue to evade meaningful scrutiny. Let’s be clear: This isn’t just about a project gone wrong. It’s about a governing body, Metro, that has lost sight of its responsibilities to taxpayers.

Metro Vancouver is entrusted with critical infrastructure projects and billions of public dollars, yet its failures have exposed a glaring lack of oversight. It’s about a lack of transparency, unchecked spending and a leadership structure that shields itself from public accountability.

The province must act now to get to the bottom of this boondoggle. If it doesn’t, this debacle could become a troubling blueprint for how major infrastructure projects are mismanaged in future.

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At the heart of this scandal are two primary culprits: Metro and Acciona, the multinational construction company originally tasked with building the plant.

In 2021, Metro terminated Acciona’s contract, citing underperformance and failure to meet deadlines. Acciona, in turn, blamed Metro for mismanagement, lack of clear specifications and excessive changes that derailed the project timeline. Both sides continue to engage in a costly legal battle, wasting more public funds while taxpayers are stuck paying the price.

The governance structure within Metro has made matters worse.

Chairman Mike Hurley’s recent misstep only added to the chaos. His motion to appoint a personal acquaintance with no relevant expertise to oversee a performance audit of the project — a person who also happened to be a political donor — was shocking.

Hurley swiftly reversed the proposal after public backlash, but it exposed the flawed governance and concentration of power within Metro.

It’s unacceptable that taxpayers are being asked to pay hundreds of dollars more in taxes each year to cover Metro’s failures, while its leadership continues to operate without accountability.

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In fact, North Shore residents alone are being saddled with an additional $590 annually for the next 30 years to fund this disaster. A public inquiry is the only way to shine a light on the systemic problems that led us here and ensure this never happens again.

Metro’s governance model is over 50 years old. Originally designed to co-ordinate shared services for a small region, it now manages billions of dollars in projects and has far-reaching authority over decisions that impact millions of people.

Yet, Metro’s directors aren’t directly elected. Instead, they’re appointed by municipal councils, meaning there is no direct line of accountability to taxpayers. Without direct voter oversight, Metro operates in a bubble, shielded from public scrutiny.

Its board members face little political consequence for mismanagement, and decisions that cost taxpayers billions are made with insufficient transparency. This opacity fosters an organizational culture where accountability is the exception, not the rule. This must change.

Reforms are necessary to ensure that taxpayers have a voice in how their money is spent. Direct elections for regional district directors and greater oversight mechanisms, such as an auditor general for regional districts, must be considered.

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By giving voters a direct say in who represents them at the regional level, we can begin to restore trust in Metro’s governance.

Under Section 764 of the Local Government Act, the premier has the authority to request the inspector of municipalities to conduct a formal inquiry. The inspector has sweeping powers to investigate financial mismanagement, far beyond what even the auditor general can achieve. This mechanism exists for moments like this — when the public’s trust in government institutions has been severely undermined.

The premier’s silence on this issue is baffling. Why has he not used this authority to trigger an inquiry? Taxpayers across the Lower Mainland are watching their bills climb while they get no answers. Every day that passes without action is a disservice to those who expect better from their government.

Premier David Eby must stop shielding Metro’s leadership and put the interests of taxpayers first.

The Conservative Party of B.C. has been clear in its stance: We would launch an independent investigation into this fiasco to uncover what went wrong, hold those responsible accountable and ensure taxpayers get the answers they deserve.

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On Oct. 1, 2024, the party announced its commitment to a full inquiry into the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, recognizing that this is about more than a failed project — it’s about restoring public trust. While the current government continues to sit on its hands, leadership willing to act is already committed to addressing this issue head-on.

Councillors across the Lower Mainland, including Linda Annis of Surrey, Kash Heed of Richmond, Daniel Fontaine of New Westminster and others, have been vocal in their calls for a full investigation. These leaders recognize the gravity of the situation and are standing up for their constituents.

Eby must listen and act. Failure to do so will only deepen the growing frustration and mistrust in government.

As is often the case in disputes involving multiple parties, there is growing concern that Metro and Acciona may be pursuing a negotiated settlement privately. Such a deal, likely shielded by non-disclosure agreements, would further lock taxpayers out of the process and bury critical details about what went wrong.

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The province must immediately halt any such discussions until a public inquiry can be conducted. Taxpayers deserve answers, not another backroom deal.

This issue transcends political lines. It’s about accountability, responsible governance and respect for the taxpayers who fund these projects.

The premier has the tools and the responsibility to act. He must show leadership and call for a full public inquiry into the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. The longer this scandal drags on without answers, the more it costs British Columbians — not just financially, but in trust and confidence in their leaders. The time for delay has passed.

The province must act now to restore transparency, hold those responsible accountable and ensure this never happens again.

Tony Luck is the B.C. Conservative critic for municipal affairs and local government, and the MLA for Fraser-Nicola.

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