Metro Vancouver directors are squabbling over how to present the regions best face to 2,000 delegates at a Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference this summer.
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, for instance, was upset that Delta farmer and Coun. Ian Patton was chosen to speak at the Terra Nova site about Metros food strategy, saying his city has put a lot of money into the project.
Metro board chairman Greg Moore argued the idea was to offer a Metro-wide view of farming to the delegates.
But Delta Mayor Lois Jackson argued Terra Nova wasnt even a real farm, and Metro should be touring a blueberry farm instead. She questioned why Terra Nova Rural Park was chosen as a tour location on farming and food strategy.
Meanwhile, Burnaby believes Metrotown and not Surrey or New Westminster centres should be the focus of transit-oriented growth.
And theres a general concern that Vancouver, which is hosting the trade-show event with a $100,000 sponsorship deal with Metro, will hog all the glory.
A lot of us help Vancouver. Theres a place in Delta where the garbage goes and a place in Richmond where the sewer goes ..., Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan told directors at Metros Intergovernmental committee Thursday. Were going to watch how Vancouver manages this partnership with Metro Vancouver.
The conference, slated for May 30 to June 3 in Vancouver, aims to provide seven regional tours, which include the Seymour-Capilano water filtration plant, the Burnaby incinerator development at Lonsdale Quay, the Annacis Island sewage treatment plant and a four-hour SkyTrain tour to New Westminster and Surrey to view transit-oriented growth.
Corrigan argued his city has been a leader in transit-oriented growth motivating development through amenity bonus densities and it should have been chosen to highlight communities such as Brentwood, Edmonds and Metrotown.
My nose is a little out of joint, he said.
Jackson backed up Corrigan and warned Metro Vancouver to be careful about showing off Surrey, especially areas like Scott Road.
Theyve done a beautiful job throughout Burnaby, she said. You go out and walk around Metrotown and youre fine.
Metro staff agreed to look into perhaps stopping in Surrey and New Westminster before taking the Millennium back and offering details about Burnabys development while on board.
