A recent Metro Vancouver board meeting lasted three minutes and 40 seconds, but Global News has learned that their payday was much bigger than that.
The meeting took place on Thursday morning when 13 members of Metro Vancouver’s Regional Planning Committee gathered, some in person and some virtually, for three minutes and 40 seconds.
The agenda items were procedural, with Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward chairing the meeting.
Metro Vancouver confirms that each director in attendance is entitled to a $557 stipend, meaning the meeting, which lasted less than four minutes, cost the public more than $7,200 in fees, paid to the Metro directors, who are also local politicians.
Woodward says the board is too large and the committee structure should be reformed.
- World Cup legacy: Inside Toronto’s FIFA transit preparations for high-stakes matches
- Carney heading for Ireland, France to deepen ties and attend G7 summit
- Federal policy changes needed to ease separatist concerns: Poilievre
- Most Albertans disapprove of Smith as premier and her handling of separatism: Ipsos poll
When asked about the pay, he told Global News that, “I actually have attempted to not be remunerated by Metro Vancouver on multiple occasions and the bylaws don’t permit that,” he said.
Get breaking National news
“You have to take it. Their position is you have to be remunerated regardless of meeting lengths, and that’s not what I would prefer to see…. quite happy to serve without being paid additional for that.”
Based on the length of the meeting, the politicians earned the equivalent of $151.77 per minute, or $2.53 per second.
“The meeting proceeded because the agenda contained two time-sensitive items: Regional Context Statements for Surrey and Coquitlam that require committee and then Board approval so that the cities can pass their Official Community Plans and meet provincial requirements,” Metro Vancouver said in a statement to Global News.
Gee, I’d like to get paid $157/minute too!
Thank you Erik for spending my tax dollars so efficiently!
“David Jones”
Do you really think that politicians do anything “Off the Clock” ?
Somehow, I doubt it highly .
Gots ta keep slurping up those tax dollars at all costs.
Not surprised, they’re the biggest criminals in bc.
Woodward is a downright liar.
Real happy they make more in a minute than I do labouring for a whole day. I am a modern day peasant
where are the people that are accountable for this grift? We need some accountability and heads to roll.
CRIMINAL INTENT ACROSS SO MAY SPECTRUMS… ALLOWED….????? No you do not have to take the money… DONATE IT… (SEE HOW MANY SHOW UP…)
UNFORGIVING… NDP… METHODICALLY RUINED THIS PROVINCE.
AN ABSOLUTE SHAM.. TO THINK THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PROSTITUTE THEMSELVES.. FOR A FEW DOLLARS…!
David Eby, is a failure and incompetent leadership has jeopardized the province into bankruptcy resign dufus
Our failed premier, David Eby, keeps saying he will step in when required. Wonder when that might be as he seems to have a great tolerance for all the tax payer abuses going on at Metro. The whole thing should be shut down (without compensation to any) and a smaller, more accountable board elected and paid at a more reasonable rate.
Langley Mayor Eric Woodward claims “You have to take it. I actually have tried not to be remunerated by Metro Vancouver on multiple occasions and the bykaws don’t allow it.” That’s funny Eric because the Metro Vancouver Board holds the ultimate authority to pass, amend, or rescind regional bylaws. So, the very board members who met and got paid, including you, are the only ones that can change this rule. How convenient that you force yourselves to be paid.
Can this get anymore ridiculous, the people that allow this need to be jailed
If this meeting was held at 9:00 am this would mean they are already getting paid by their political Job’s would it not or do they give that money Back.
Haha!
also why wasn’t it a video call meeting if they new it would be this short.
and do they claim mileage now for this meeting plus food.
I would like to see more of an investigation into what they are allowed.
What about all the time outside the meeting reading documents getting familiar with a situation.
Sure that amount for a small meeting seems outrageous. I’d agree.
But if you have ever been a kid of a teacher you know that they never just work 9-3 they work so many more hours that you never see.
FIRE EACH OF THESE BASTARDS!
Taxpayer abuse.
These aren’t politicians or civil servants, they are hard core criminals (in suits) robbing all of us slaves.
@bill you mean hang them from their heads I believe
Metro Vancouver’s 4‑minute meeting nets members more than $500 and this is exactly why people are fed up with our political culture. We watch elected officials collect generous payouts for doing virtually nothing, while ordinary residents struggle with housing costs, taxes, and basic services. Then, when these same politicians leave office or pass away, we’re expected to ‘honour’ them by naming trails, buildings, and public spaces after them, as if wasting public money is some kind of legacy worth celebrating.
This cycle of rewarding mediocrity and glorifying political insiders has to end. Public service should mean accountability, transparency, and actual work and not cashing in on a 4‑minute meeting and later being immortalized with plaques and trail names. Taxpayers deserve better than symbolic tributes to people who treated public office like a personal benefit package.
The whole board should be disbanded and the members should hang their heads in shame !!! They are supposed to be representing their communities but obviously they are representing themselves SHAMEFUL
the scam of metro, pigs at the through, its all government bodies
Geez, No wonder BC has such a deficit. Locals got their hand in the kitty. Provincially, They must have their hands in a bigger kitty and then we have to keep indigenous happy. Wow. Fun times ahead