National

B.C. politicians ask for audit of $3.86 billion North Shore water treatment plant

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Jun, 2024 01:52 PM

A group of local politicians from B.C.'s Lower Mainland are asking the provincial auditor general to investigate how the cost of a wastewater treatment plant could balloon to $3.86 billion.

Seven local city councillors from five jurisdictions say in a statement they are urging Michael Pickup to look into the delays and cost overruns, saying he has the jurisdiction because the province put $200 million toward the project.

The original cost of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2018 was $700 million and it was expected to open in 2020, but the Metro Vancouver regional district fired the contractor over construction delays in 2021.

Surrey Coun. Linda Annis, one of those asking for the audit, says the mismanagement of the megaproject is staggering, and Metro Vancouver taxpayers deserve to know how it went wrong and why they are stuck with the bill for the next 30 years.

Richmond Coun. Richard T. Lee says there hasn't been any accountability for the nearly 450-per-cent cost increase from the original budget.

A statement from the auditor's office says it did receive the request, and because there is provincial involvement, it would be something the office could look into, but its policy is not to discuss work under consideration for an audit.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

House of Commons elects Liberal MP Greg Fergus as first Black Canadian Speaker

Liberal member of Parliament Greg Fergus has been elected the House of Commons Speaker in a historic mid-session vote, becoming the first Black person to hold the position in Canada's Parliament. Fergus, 54, was first elected to represent the Quebec riding of Hull-Aylmer in 2015.

House of Commons elects Liberal MP Greg Fergus as first Black Canadian Speaker

Fall sitting starts for B.C. legislature with four official parties

British Columbia politicians are back in the legislature for the fall session, and the seating arrangement looks a little different. The Conservative Party of B.C. now has official party status, complete with a nearly $400,000 annual budget, after former BC United MLA Bruce Banman crossed the floor last month to join John Rustad.

Fall sitting starts for B.C. legislature with four official parties

Federal ministers still lack mandate letters, two months after majority shuffled

Shortly after taking office in 2015, Trudeau's government announced it would publish the lists of tasks given to each minister, known as mandate letters. The documents lay out the priorities for each federal minister, and signal to public servants the timeline or scope of policies the government wants to advance.

Federal ministers still lack mandate letters, two months after majority shuffled

19-year-old clocked going 199 km on North Van highway

R-C-M-P in North Vancouver say a lead-footed driver with a learners licence is a lot poorer -- and less mobile -- today after making a bad choice on Friday night. Mounties say the 19-year-old was clocked doing 199 kilometres per hour in an 80-kilometre per hour zone along the Upper Levels Highway through North Van.

19-year-old clocked going 199 km on North Van highway

Interest rates to stay high

Experts are warning the next few years will likely see sharp mortgage payment increases amid expectations that interest rates will stay higher for longer. Variable rate mortgage holders have already seen their payments surge by more than 49 per cent on average, according to Bank of Canada data, but many fixed rate holders still haven't felt the sharp rise in rates.

Interest rates to stay high

Who will become Manitoba's next premier? A look at party leaders vying for the job

Manitoba's provincial election is to take place Tuesday. Here's a look at the leaders of the province's three parties that have seats in the legislature.