North Shore wastewater plant faces sharp criticism

As I understand it, in June, 2011, the federal government ordered that the North Shore’s existing Lions Gate primary sewage treatment facility be upgraded and, in March, 2012, without any public involvement in between, it was announced that an entirely new treatment plant was to be built, at the foot of Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver, on some of the former BC Rail yards.

Why was the existing plant not simply upgraded? Why was this particular site chosen, and after what assessments, geo-technical or otherwise, were made? What alternative sites, if any, were considered and rejected and why? Who made these decisions and with the involvement of which other entities or people?

A contractor was chosen on the basis of a particular type of contract and presumably pursuant to some form of bidding process. A type of design was chosen, apparently only the second wastewater treatment facility to be built this way in the world. Who made these decisions, why and with the involvement of whom else?

Apparently, the project has proceeded in a less-than-ideal manner, one which involved an unusually high number of ‘change orders’.

The schedule for anticipated completion has been extended to an inordinate degree, and the estimated cost of construction has ballooned by an extraordinary amount. Why? Who is responsible? What might be learned that would help prevent a similar disaster in the future?

The rate-payers of not only Metro Vancouver but the taxpayers of British Columbia, and Canada, have a right to accurate and complete answers to these questions and more.

It is the responsibility of individuals in certain elected offices to ensure that this happens and in a timely fashion. Specifically, the Metro Vancouver board of directors, comprised as it is of local government elected officials from within the regional district.

If they are unable or unwilling to discharge their duty in this regard, and it appears that this is the case, the provincial Cabinet has the power pursuant to a tailor-made provision of the Local Government Act to initiate a full-fledged public inquiry. Inexplicably, and to their collective disgrace, they refuse to do so.

Last but certainly not least, those elected members of municipal councils throughout Metro Vancouver, who do not hold a position on the regional board or one of its many committees, have, with extremely rare exception, remained mute in the face of this massive financial burden being imposed on those they claim to represent.

This fact should not be forgotten, come the local elections a little over a year from now. Those who seek re-election must be held to account.

The same applies to MLAs who represent an electoral district that is, in whole or in part, located within the boundaries of Metro Vancouver.

It seems most, if not all, of these individuals have forgotten their responsibility to stand up for the interests of those who they, in theory at least, were elected to serve. These people, too, must be held to account should they seek re-election the next time the province goes to the polls.

Fundamentally, what we have here is a breach of trust on a huge scale. What has gone wrong with the NSWWTP project is bad enough. What has gone wrong with our democracy is that much worse again.