Should UBC endowment lands join Vancouver or become a new municipality?

A provincial study suggests the B.C. government wants out of responsibility for the University of B.C. Endowment Lands, possibly opening the door for the community to join the City of Vancouver or become a new municipality.

The study says the current system, under which the province provides administration, is not a “best-fit and long-term sustainable governance model” for the community, nor is a move to a regional district system with Metro Vancouver stepping in to fill the role.

It presents the case for two “municipalization” scenarios: Joining Vancouver, or going it alone.

On Wednesday, Metro Vancouver’s electoral area committee will vote on whether it agrees with the province’s assessment.

Governance has long been a sticky question for the community of 3,200 people living on a slice of land sandwiched between Vancouver and UBC, with the population expected to increase to 7,300 by 2050. Unlike the more populous UBC lands, which are governed by the university, the endowment lands fall under direct provincial administration, with Metro Vancouver handling emergency management and liquor and retail cannabis applications.