B.C. government removes majority of board overseeing Port Mann Bridge

Four of the five members of the Transportation Investment Corporation board, which oversees B.C.'s Port Mann Bridge, have been removed by the provincial government.

In an Order In Council formally approved on Friday, chair Daniel Doyle and directors Anne Stewart, Clifford Neufeldand former finance minister Colin Hansen had their appointments rescinded.

Irene Kerr, the current president and CEO of TI Corp, has been appointed a board member until the end of 2018, so that the board has aquorum, according to the government.

TI Corp was created by the government in 2008 to oversee the construction of the $3 billion Port Mann Bridgeand oversees tolling for it and the Golden Ears Bridge.

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Since opening, traffic on the bridge has consistently missed projections, and the2017 B.C. budget projected thePort Mann would lose $88 million in2016-17 and $90 million in 2017-18.

In the mandate letter issued for this year by the previous Liberal government, the TI Corp board was also asked to support "the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) on the implementation of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement (GMTR) Project" the future of which is unknown under the new NDP government.

The government, which has also promised the removal oftolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges, said it would provide more information on the changes to TI Corplater today.

In a statement, Transportation Minister Claire Trevenathanked the departed members for their service.