Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Conference under fire amid spending concerns

As Metro Vancouver examines ways it tin prevention money, determination are calls for it to cancel the 2025 Zero Waste Conference scheduled for this coming November.

The league is focused connected discarded prevention, circular solutions and climate. Metro Vancouver says it volition outgo $360,000, not including unit hours.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim believes it should beryllium cancelled.

“I enactment pulling retired of this year’s Zero Waste Conference arsenic a cost-saving measurement truthful Metro Vancouver tin absorption connected delivering halfway services and improving governance and accountability,” helium told Global News.

Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation agrees

“Metro Vancouver should perfectly beryllium cancelling this conference,” helium said.

“For a zero-waste conference, this is already shaping up to discarded a full boatload of payer cash. Metro Vancouver needs to beryllium looking for savings close now.”

Metro Vancouver past held the lawsuit 2 years ago. The 2023 Zero Waste Conference outgo $465,500.

That sum included a networking reception costing $8,078.32.

“This was not an unfastened barroom event,” the determination territory told Global News.

It noted costs were covered done sponsorship, registration fees, and backing from the Metro Vancouver Regional District and Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District.

Metro Vancouver says it has already paid a $50,000 non-refundable deposit connected the venue for the 2025 Zero Waste Conference, but registration hasn’t opened.

A determination connected whether it volition hap whitethorn travel astatine a gathering aboriginal this month.