Episode 20: Cost for waste water treatment plant in North Vancouver skyrockets to nearly $4 billion dollars

In this episode, special guest Councillor Paul Minhas and host Daniel Fontaine explore the financial and political ramifications of a costly overrun at a waste treatment plant under construction in North Vancouver. The original cost for this infrastructure project was pegged at $500 million, but now it's estimated to cost upwards of $4 billion dollars. Once all the dust has settled, North Shore residents will be paying about $725 more in taxes per year for three decades to partially offset the cost overruns. Other Metro Vancouver residents could face increased annual taxes of $150 for 15 years. Several mainstream media outlets interviewed Fontaine this week to discuss his call for a public inquiry and a forensic audit. Listen to those interviews from Global TV, City News and the Jas Johal Show on CKNW.Fontaine is also calling for complete governance review of Metro Vancouver in the hope that changes could be implemented as early as 2026. Also discussed is the issue of creating a more fun and vibrant street scene in downtown New Westminster. Why have so many street festivals and other outdoor activities simply packed up and disappeared? Can more be done to generate new life and a sense of vibrancy in our downtown core? Minhas talks about what needs to be done to bring 'energy' back to the downtown. He also explains how more 'eyes on the street' could reduce both public disorder and crime rates while also helping to increase a sense of safety. You'll want to listen to this latest episode which is available on all major platforms including Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Amazon and Spotify.