WHEN PROVINCIAL BOLTS OUT OF THE BLUE IMPACT LOCAL AUTONOMY: “Those with a land economics mindset say, if you want stuff done then get government out of the way. They want to take away all the restrictions and all the flexibility that municipalities have to negotiate for better development,” stated Ken Cameron, regional planning trailblazer and thought leader in British Columbia
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective, and the Story Behind the Story.
The edition published on February 10, 2026 featured Ken Cameron, a regional planning thought leader in British Columbia. The Partnership purpose in sharing his story is to put a legacy resource on the record about 75 years of planning in the Metro Vancouver region. This edition complements that published in October 2024 and titled Understand why the Livable Region Strategic Plan matters. It also featured reflections by Ken Cameron.
Ken Cameron was the first Manager of Policy and Planning with the Greater Vancouver Regional District. He had a leadership role in the original process for developing a vision and then delivering the Livable Region Strategic Plan.
ONE MINUTE TAKEAWAY for the extremely busy reader
Ken Cameron provides an invaluable historical perspective on the context and evolution of regional planning in British Columbia. In this edition, he draws a parallel between draconian actions by the Province in two eras: elimination of regional planning in the 1980s; imposition of housing legislation in the 2020s.
Draconian actions produce unintended outcomes
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / CONTEXT FOR BUSY READER
“Ken Cameron is a treasure trove of lived experience. During his local government career he guided two landmark plans across the finish line. The first was Metro’s Livable Region Strategic Plan. Exactly thirty years ago in February 1996, the plan was blessed by the Province. Second across the finish line was the region’s first Liquid Waste Management Plan in 2001,” stated Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director and Waterbucket News Editor.
For the Imagining Canada in 2100 project, Ken Cameron looked back 75 years in order to look ahead 75 years
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STORY BEHIND THE STORY:
When provincial bolts out of the blue impact local autonomy – quotable quotes from a conversation with Ken Cameron, regional planning thought leader
Ken Cameron was the first Manager of Policy and Planning with the Greater Vancouver Regional District. He had a leadership role in the original process for developing a vision and then delivering the Livable Region Strategic Plan. Later in his career, Ken Cameron was CEO of the provincial Homeowner Protection Office, which is now part of BC Housing.
“The regional system in BC depends on passion and commitment and voluntary willingness to cooperate,”
states Ken Cameron in providing big picture context
Living Water Smart in British Columbia Series
To download a copy of the foregoing resource as a PDF document for your records and/or sharing, click on Living Water Smart in British Columbia: When provincial bolts out of the blue impact local autonomy.
