There are times politicians do their best to not get to the bottom of things.

Like when it might be embarrassing or impede their careers.

To wit: the 41-member Metro Vancouver board of elected officials, on a Friday afternoon in the middle of summer when our attention might be muted, shut down with a secret vote behind closed doors an independent inquiry into the scandalous runaway budget for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Its rationale begs credulity—that the longstanding civil suit brought by the project’s original contractor, Acciona Wastewater Solutions LLP, and a counterclaim by Metro Vancouver against the company, were still before the courts. It said proceeding now was “not in the public interest” and its legal advisor said that the review “would be in a better position” to do its work if the legal battles were first resolved.

Well, yes, of course, who would disagree that lawsuits can be a nuisance to a review? But the Acciona claim for $250 million in costs and damages didn’t sudden spring upon Metro Vancouver on Friday morning. The review under former provincial deputy finance minister Peter Milburn has been underway for months. Independent reviews are at times structured to avoid interfering with legal proceedings, especially if the terms........

© Vancouver Is Awesome