Glico ol. the Chatronan GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT

2294 WEST to™ AVENUE, VANCOUVER, GRITISH COLUMBIA VOR 2Ho TELEPHONE 731-0185

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29 March 1982

Mayors and flembers of Council
Municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District

Dear Council Members:

Re: LAND USE ACT, Bill 9

You have received a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs requesting
that you "vote" on one of three of his proposals for land use Planning in

the Lower Mainland.

I would advise you that Mayor Kirstein will be recommending to the GVRD
Planning Committee and the Regional Board that they advise the Minister that
none of his proposals is workable or appropriate in Greater Vancouver nor,
do I think, in the Lower Mainland. The reason for Mayor Kirstein's and my
conclusions are that the Minister's proposals are based on misconceptions

and misinformation.

For example: the Minister has stated there is "much duplication of effort".
This was not substantiated by the Farmer Committee. This contention has
been reviewed by the GVRD Planning Committee each year in respect to the
Program and has not been found to exist. .

For example: the Minister has written to the press that there are over 50
planners in the GVRD planning staff when in fact there are eight.

For example: the Minister alleges that there are unanswered questions about
responsibilities, The GVRD planning activities-are carried out under the
terms of the present Municipal Act which Clearly establishes’ the respons-
ibilities for regional and municipal planning. While the Minister may
question the results politically, the responsibilities in the current act

are clear.

For example: the Minister alleges that there js insufficient political
accountability. The Regional Board is very accountable for its decisions.
The issues are fully debated in Committee, the Committee and Board meetings
are advertised beforehand, reported in the press and open to Public input.
Further, the recommendations of the Committee are subject to Municipal

Council and Board scrutiny for several weeks before being adopted or rejected.