Metro Vancouver board chair and Delta Mayor George Harvie has announced that he will not be making an upcoming trip to the Netherlands.
Under fire for the past few weeks following the release of Metro Vancouver travel expenses, and with the board under scrutiny for the cost overruns to the new wastewater treatment plant proposed for the North Shore, late Tuesday afternoon, Harvie released a statement through Metro Vancouver.
“I have decided not to participate in an upcoming trip to the Netherlands to attend the International Conference on Urban Drainage and study tour on green infrastructure from June 7 to 16,” said Harvie.
He said the conference and study tour, which includes meetings with the City of Rotterdam and the City of Amsterdam, provides opportunities to learn from experts about innovative solutions to urban drainage and flooding.
Lessons learned on this trip align with Metro Vancouver’s work to develop and update the Liquid Waste Management Plan and Drinking Water Management Plan — long-term plans that will help Metro Vancouver ensure ongoing effective delivery of these core services for decades to come.
“With my term as board chair coming to an end, effective July 1, 2024, I have come to the difficult decision to forego this learning opportunity,” he continues in the statement. “I do not wish to be a distraction to the ongoing work at Metro Vancouver. Following my departure as board chair, I will remain a member of Metro Vancouver’s Mayors Committee.”
