Greater Vancouver Regional District 2204 WEST TENTH AVENUE VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUM BLY Vek 2be@ TELEPHONE 731-1155 Chairman and Members GVRD Planning Committee W.T. Lane Commissioner - Regional Development The Proposed Regional Economic Development Department May 15 1981 BACKGROUND In February.of 1380 the Planning Committee established a seven-member Task Force to examine the need and potential role for a reagional economic development body. Chaired by Mayor Blair of Richmond, the Task Force brought together highly regarded individuals representing a broad range of regional interests’ to take an independent look at the proposal that a regional economic development function be created. The Task Force conducted an intensive four-ionin Stucy in which they examined the need for a regional economic development body, reviewed the experience of other Canadian jurisdictions, and sought the opinions of officers in key organizations currently involved with the economic development of Greater Vancouver. In its Final Report and Recommendations, submitted in June 1980, the Task Force unanimously concluded that: ® there is a clear need for a regional economic development body; ® a regional body could efficiently provide services which are not currently available in the region; and @ the needed services could be provided without intruding into provincial or municipal jurisdictions. The Task Force report recommended the principal roles and operating policies for the proposed regional body as well as specifying an administrative structure and an estimated budget. The Board approved the Task Force recommendations in principle, circulated the Task Force report and asked the councils of member municipalities to decide if they approved the addition of an economic development role to the GVRD's functions. Nine of the region's fifteen councils supported the proposed new department. However, since the function would be urea- wide in impact, approval of two-thirds of the region's member councils is required in order to apply for the supplementary letters patent whieh would establish the new regional function. In October the Board referred the proposal back to the Planning Committee for further refinement.