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- calendar_today October 31, 2026
Outgoing Metro Vancouver Board Postpones Budget Approval
The outgoing board of Metro Vancouver has chosen to delay a decision on the regional district’s 2027 budget. The move, made on Friday, follows requests from several incoming local politicians, including the mayors-elect of Vancouver, Surrey, and New Westminster, who argued that the budget vote should wait for the new board to take office.
Debate Over Board’s Mandate and Transition
Metro Vancouver is comprised of elected officials from 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation, covering areas from Lions Bay and Bowen Island to Delta, Langley Township, and Maple Ridge. Earlier this month, local elections resulted in a transition to a new set of councillors and mayors. This transition raised questions among current directors about whether the outgoing board still had a mandate to pass the 2027 budget or if the decision should be left to their successors.
Arguments for and Against Passing the Budget Now
At the Friday meeting, Mike Hurley, Metro Vancouver board chair and Burnaby’s mayor, voiced support for approving the budget. Hurley emphasized that the water district board is legally required to adopt a budget by December 31 and that passing the proposal would give the new board a foundation to work with. However, after debate, the board decided to defer the budget in a vote of 89 to 36.
"However, the board made that decision, and we live with those decisions," Hurley told CBC News afterward, expressing disappointment with the outcome.
Details of the Proposed Budget and Recent Criticisms
The 2027 budget proposal would raise the total household impact by $17, or 1.9 percent, compared to the previous year. According to a Metro Vancouver spokesperson, this increase is lower than the three percent target for 2027. The budget covers all Metro Vancouver services, including utilities provided by the water district, the sewerage and drainage district, and other initiatives like regional parks and air quality management.
The regional district has drawn criticism in recent years, particularly following the escalating costs of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project. The scrutiny has added to calls for greater transparency and accountability.
Outgoing Directors Voice Opinions on Delay
Rebecca Bligh, outgoing Vancouver councillor and director, voted in favor of the budget deferral. "There is an important step here to restore accountability and trust within the organization and how the public sees that," Bligh said, referencing what she called a tumultuous period for Metro Vancouver.
In contrast, outgoing Burnaby councillor Sav Dhaliwal argued that the current board retained the responsibility to deliver on its mandate. He doubted the incoming board could review the 700-page budget effectively before the end-of-year deadline. "You expect a new board coming in ... to read that 700-page budget book and make a decision in the first meeting? Ridiculous," Dhaliwal stated.
Next Steps for the Budget Process
Brad West, re-elected mayor of Port Coquitlam, supported the decision to delay, given the significant turnover from the recent municipal elections. He noted there is still time for the incoming board to consider and pass the budget before the necessary deadline and highlighted that this year’s increase is substantially lower than initially estimated.
The first meeting of the new Metro Vancouver board is scheduled for November 27, at which point the budget is expected to be revisited and debated.
Source: cbc.ca.
