UBC faces possible amalgamation with Vancouver

The University of B.C. could become part of the City of Vancouver,according to a new planning report by the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

The 5,000 residents of the University Endowment Lands have no elected government, a situation that has led to conflicts over the rapid expansion and development on the Point Grey campus.

The regional district currently oversees development at UBC, and occasionally acts as the local government.

But according to GVRD board member Suzanne Anton—who is also aVancouver city councillor—that can't continue.

"UBC itself is now building a lot of residential units, so there will be about 18,000 people out there over the next few years. We are just not equipped to be the local council for UBC," she said.

"So really the only two choices are that it become its own municipality or it become amalgamated with the City of Vancouver."

But not everyone wants to change the governance of the Point Grey community. A spokesman for UBCsays residents have rejected the idea of local government in the past.

"My own view is that the status quo that we've had with the GVRD has worked well," said university vice-president Dennis Pavlich.

However, Pavlichadds that if the GVRD wants to make a change, the university will look at all the options.