Improving the Governance Model at the Metro Vancouver Regional District - Upcoming Consultation

Last year, the Metro Vancouver Regional District received the results of a report it commissioned on potential recommendations to improve regional district governance. While almost all of BC has regional districts, the Metro Vancouver Regional District is home to over half the province's population, creating unique challenges. As mentioned earlier this year, the board currently has 41 directors; this number is determined by the provincial government.

Local governments, including regional districts, are set up more like a strata council, non-profit, or corporate board. The legislation that enables local government is designed to encourage meaningful discussion at meetings. The current Metro Vancouver Board, which is expected to grow to 50 members shortly, would make it impossible for everyone to have meaningful discussions at meetings. It would take days to get through a simple Metro Vancouver Regional District agenda. In practice, it would need to operate more like a legislature to be effective with that number of members, though I believe that goes against the general idea of how local government should work in our province.

We don’t need to look far to see what a potentially smaller Metro Vancouver Regional District Board would look like. The TransLink Mayors' Council has 23 members, including the same representation as the Metro Vancouver Board. I sit on the Mayors’ Council, and I can say that the Mayors’ Council itself operates very effectively. I’m not suggesting that the region’s mayors control the Metro Vancouver Board, but the size and weighted vote structure at the Mayors’ Council seems to strike a good balance.

Another challenge at the regional district is that the water and sewer utilities are extremely complex, so the governance review is also looking at how to best ensure that the elected board members have access to independent technical expertise advice, such as by having a major project committee or smaller water and sewer boards with elected representatives and independent technical experts appointed by the main regional district board.

The Regional District is planning a comprehensive consultation on proposed governance changes, likely running from May to June 2026. It will include opportunities for everyone to participate.

Governance isn’t a cure-all, but it is always good to identify changes that can improve the decision-making process. While I’m all for making changes, I also believe that it matters more who is elected or appointed rather than the governance structure. Good people can get a lot done even with a challenging governance structure.

Metro Vancouver Seeking Feds to Ban Large Nitrous Oxide “Whip Cream Charger” Cylinder

In December of last year, the Metro Vancouver Regional District issued a media release noting that large nitrous oxide cylinders being thrown out are dangerous, causing explosions at the regional waste-to-energy facility, damaging equipment, and endangering workers' safety.

People can recycle gas cylinders, such as nitrous oxide cylinders, for free by dropping them off at a Metro Vancouver Recycling and Waste Facility. While the Regional District has seen a sizable increase in people recycling these cylinders since the media release, they are still being thrown in the garbage, and explosions continue.

Post Combustion Nitrous Oxide Cylinders. Select the image to enlarge.

Nitrous oxide cylinders are typically used for whipping cream chargers and are small in size. When used, the cylinder is punctured, which depressurizes the container, removing the risk of explosion when it is recycled or accidentally thrown into the garbage. The nitrous oxide cylinders of concern are larger and are sold in many vape shops in our region and online. They do not have pressure release valves. These larger containers are typically not used for making whipped cream.

The Regional District is seeking to ask the federal government to prohibit the import and sale of large single-use valved nitrous oxide cylinders. The current ad hoc approach by Health Canada to recalling these products appears to be on a retailer-by-retailer basis, which is ineffective. A quick search online shows that there are many vendors able to ship to addresses in our region.

It will be interesting to see what actions, if any, the federal government will take.

Protecting Half of Metro Vancouver’s Land Area, Preserving Natural Spaces

It is a well-established fact that natural spaces in urban areas provide benefits to society, such as food, shade, flood control, and clean air. These natural areas also provide clear benefits to human health. These areas function better when they are linked together. The Metro Vancouver Regional District’s goal is to protect 50% of its land area. About 40% of our regional district’s land is protected currently, focused on the North Shore mountains.

The Regional District has created a Regional Natural Infrastructure Network Opportunity Map to help member municipalities identify areas for future conservation, natural parks, environmentally sensitive areas, or environmental development permit areas of regional significance. These areas could be purchased by the member municipality or acquired as part of development proposals.

The following is the overall map. An interactive version is available on the Metro Vancouver website. Major areas are green, minor areas are yellow, and already protected areas are hashed.

Regional Natural Infrastructure Network Opportunity Map Overview. Select the map to enlarge.

Zooming into Langley City, you can see there are opportunities for major areas for protection along the Langley Bypass by KPU, as well as minor areas such as Newlands Golf Course.

Regional Natural Infrastructure Network Opportunity Map for Langley City. Select the map to enlarge.

The map's data is from July 2025. It is anticipated that the next update will occur in 2028.

Let’s Chat, Langley City! Open House Tonight

Langley City is holding an open house where you can chat with various City departments, committees, and service providers. Do you have a question or concern about emergency planning? Did you want to learn about the Citizens’ Assembly on Community Safety? Did you want to learn about the City’s finances? Did you want to find out how you can volunteer to help your community? You can share your questions, concerns, and learn at the Let’s Chat, Langley City! Open House.

Senior City staff, service providers, and volunteers will be available to assist you. Members of City Council will also be at the open house.

The following City departments, service providers, and committees will be on hand:

• Fire Rescue Service
• Bylaw Enforcement
• Langley RCMP
• Emergency Planning
• Engineering, Parks & Environment
• Development Services
• Recreation, Culture & Community Services
• Social and Community Wellbeing
• Financial Services
• Langley Animal Protection Society
• Langley City Library
• Accessibility Committee
• Arts, Recreation, Culture & Heritage Committee
• Crime Prevention Committee
• Environmental Sustainability Committee

There will also be a kids' zone to help out parents and caregivers. The open house is low-key; you can drop in any time and stay for as little or as long as you like.

Date: March 3, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Location: Coast Langley City Hotel & Convention Centre, 20393 Fraser Highway