Latest news with #MikeHurley
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Under fire for wasteful spending, Metro Vancouver touts award for ‘excellence in financial reporting'
A report has found the Metro Vancouver board to be 'unwieldy' and in need of an overhaul. As critics continue to accuse Metro Vancouver of wasteful spending and project mismanagement, the regional district is touting its 'excellence in financial reporting.' Metro Vancouver has received a "Canadian Award for Financial Reporting" from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the fourth year in a row, the regional district said in a news release Wednesday. 'The award acknowledges Canadian local governments that go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual financial reports in the spirit of transparency and full disclosure,' the release reads. In recent months, the regional district has faced criticism for its pay structure for board members, who are elected officials from constituent municipalities. With fees for appearing at committee meetings – which can double if the meeting lasts longer than four hours – it has been estimated that some board members earned more than B.C. Premier David Eby last year. Speaking to CTV News earlier this year, Metro Vancouver board chair Mike Hurley, who is also the mayor of Burnaby, described that comparison as unfair. 'If we're going to compare to the premier, let's compare to total compensation and use his expenses and all his other benefits that he gets as well, including pension,' Hurley said in February. 'There's a bit of unfairness going on there. Not to say compensation doesn't have to be looked at. It does.' Board compensation formed part of a governance review conducted by Deloitte and presented to the regional body last month. That review featured 49 recommendations, including an end to double pay for long meetings and meeting fees while travelling on Metro Vancouver business. The report describes the board as 'large and unwieldy,' but the author of the report told CTV News he wouldn't characterize it as 'damning.' Metro Vancouver is far from the only local government body in B.C. to receive a GFOA award. The association's website lists 44 recipients in the province – mostly cities and regional districts – for the 2023 fiscal year, the most recent for which awards have been given. Governments applying for the award must submit an application and pay a fee to be considered. The fee for GFOA members representing areas with 250,000 or more residents is US$950. Non-members of the organization with populations that size must pay a US$1,900 application fee. 'Metro Vancouver's 2023 annual report was judged by impartial Canadian Review Committee members to meet the program's high standards, including demonstrating a constructive 'spirit of full disclosure,' clearly communicating the regional government's financial story, and motivating others to read the report,' the regional district said in its release.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Metro Vancouver scales back director pay, strikes committee to restructure
Recent cost overruns to the tune of billions of dollars have raised serious questions about how Metro Vancouver is run. In response, the regional district ordered an independent governance review. That report described Metro Vancouver's board as too large and difficult to manage. It also pointed to growing political tensions, a culture of mistrust, and a lack of proper oversight. Now members voted to cut some perks and improve accountability. For what that will look like, The Early Edition's Stephen Quinn was joined by Board Chair Mike Hurley.
The Province
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Province
Metro Vancouver vows change from consultant's report, strikes another committee
Metro Vancouver took the first step to act on recommendations to streamline its governance by striking a new committee to guide them. Mike Hurley is the mayor of Burnaby and chair of the Metro Vancouver board. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / 10107294A Metro Vancouver regional district's board voted on Friday to restructure remuneration for directors, eliminating extra pay for meetings that last longer than four hours and opening up recruitment for a committee that will act on restructuring its organization based on recommendations of a consultant's report. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Metro hired Deloitte Canada partner Shayne Gregg to review its governance structure to deal with tensions within the organization and a growing sense of public distrust in the regional district after a bombshell revelation that the budget for its North Shore wastewater treatment plant project had exploded to four times its original cost. Gregg, in presenting his report to Metro's board, characterized his recommendations as 'pragmatic as opposed to transformational,' but board chair Mike Hurley said he still expects substantial changes to come from the exercise. Hurley said it will take a couple of weeks to establish the governance committee, which he started Friday by asking for directors to put their names forward to do the work. He expects its membership to be selected based on their skills and to ensure regional representation. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The report does recognize the challenges of governing an organization of Metro Vancouver's scale and complexity,' Hurley said. '(But) it's not a ticking-the-box exercise. This is going to lead to real change.' In his report, Gregg determined that the size of Metro Vancouver's overall organization has outgrown its existing governance structure and is in need of streamlining to make sure it is making decisions based on the best information and in a transparent fashion. In his work, Gregg found that Metro's 41 directors, drawn from the elected councils of its 21 member municipalities, the Tsawwassen First Nation and Electoral A, is 'becoming increasingly more politically divided.' He added that the complexity of the capital projects that Metro needs to build and the amount of information that comes with it has sometimes been difficult for the board's 'constantly changing' membership to absorb, which contributes to tensions with staff. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. '(There) is a need to streamline the board size and structure, adding professional support and acumen,' Gregg wrote. Hurley said he expects the governance committee's work will result in reducing the size and composition of the key committees that manage its water and sewer-service utility functions, with the addition of professional backup. Metro, as a regional district, provides common water and sewer services for a population of 3.1 million people along with public housing services and management of a network of regional parks. In 2024, the board oversaw an operating and capital budget of $3.2 billion. 'The most important part is getting to a really good governance model that the public can trust that Metro Vancouver is operating in the most fiscally responsible (way) and being the most transparent that it can possibly be,' Hurley said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Besides restructuring its committees, Hurley said Metro will also beef up its internal audit functions and will invite the province to take part in the process through a liaison position on the committee aimed at making sure its efforts meet provincial expectations. Hurley said the governance committee is expected to hold its first meeting in July, but in the end probably won't result in a wholesale tearing down and rebuilding how Metro works, which Gregg said still works well despite its challenges. 'The governance structure is not broken,' Gregg said. 'Despite this sort of public perception, I guess, but you can certainly benefit from improvement, but there's a lot to build off.' Tensions for Metro Vancouver came to a head with the revelation that the budget for the North Shore wastewater plant had exploded to $3.8 billion, compared with its initial $700 million cost estimate. Hurley, however, argued the regional district delivers its core water, sewer and solid waste services 'in an exceptional way.' depenner@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Local News Local News Local News
Global News
24-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Metro Vancouver board makes changes after damning governance report
Following a report by Deloitte, which deemed the Metro Vancouver Regional District's governance structure 'large and unwieldy,' some money-saving decisions were made at Friday's board meeting. The board says it will eliminate meeting fees while travelling on Metro Vancouver business and eliminate double stipends for meetings exceeding four hours. 2:13 Metro Vancouver governance review released 'I think it was important to deal with that today,' Metro Vancouver Chair Mike Hurley said. 'Could I put a number on what that savings will be? In my experience, it wouldn't be very much.' Story continues below advertisement Metro Vancouver says it will also create a governance committee and strengthen the organization's internal audit function. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I still do think there's need for major systemic changes, and I think you pointed to many of those, and hopefully that will be part of the overall governance review as we move forward,' Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said. After the board meeting, Deloitte report author Shayne Gregg told reporters his company had 'done a lot of governance reviews that I would say are a lot more damning than that one.' 'But in terms of the opportunity there, I think that's where I'm focused,' he added. 'The processes are generally in place now and working well.' 4:45 Metro Vancouver votes on cost saving measures During the meeting, new questions were raised by the finance committee chair, who is a chartered professional accountant. Story continues below advertisement 'The problem is, I'm not able to do my job here with knowing that there is information that is lacking and not transparent,' Pardeep Kooner, a Surrey Councillor, said. 'I'm just trying to figure out where the accountability lies.' Chair Mike Hurley later responded, saying, 'Director Kooner is more worried about her professional designation and how she would do things, and those questions are all very valid and will be answered; however, I'm not concerned at all about how Metro Vancouver handles finances.' Metro Vancouver's governance review was announced earlier this year, following spending revelations and news the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant is an $3 billion overbudget.
Global News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Report finds ‘unwieldy' Metro Vancouver board needs major overhaul
The Metro Vancouver Regional District's 41-member board is being called 'large and unwieldy.' That characterization was made by accounting firm Deloitte, following an audit of the beleaguered organization. Deloitte makes 41 recommendations for reform. 'There are some things in there that are quick things we can get done right away, and we plan on doing that right away,' Board Chair and Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said. The audit was ordered amid a series of problems, including a $3.5 billion hike in the anticipated cost to finish the Northshore Wastewater Treatment Plant. 1:58 Multiple reviews of Metro Vancouver underway And there were numerous budgetary concerns, including extensive travel and board member stipends of $1,094 for attending meetings that exceed four hours. Story continues below advertisement Addressing those payments is among Deloitte's recommendations. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The board should consider eliminating the double meeting stipend for meetings over four hours and seek to create efficiencies in the meeting agenda and schedule to manage within this timeframe,' it states. 'The double meeting fee, that should be eliminated right away, that's identified in the report, and I expect action on that,' Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West said. The report also calls for an overhaul of the way the regional district's governance is structured. 'A new Board and Committee structure is required to provide more effective governance and oversight, to introduce a balance of professional experience and enhance decision-making and risk management,' it states. The report also concludes that 'there are opportunities to continue to reduce the size, composition and meeting frequency of Board Standing Committees without negatively impacting the governance of the organization.' 'As a province, we will do what needs to be done to help expedite the process,' B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said. 1:58 Metro Vancouver taking big step towards governance review West said he expects the province to follow through on that commitment. Story continues below advertisement 'The size of the board is because of provincial legislation, so it will take the provincial government stepping in to allow the board to be right-sized and reduce the number of people who are there,' he said. The 363-page report will be presented to Metro Vancouver's Board on Friday. 'I knew I was going to be an agent for change, and that's what I'm doing,' Hurley said. 'We've made many, many changes in the last number of months.' And more change is sure to come at Metro Vancouver, as the regional district works toward being more accountable to taxpayers.
