The MVRD is under the direction of 23 local authorities and delivers regional services, sets policy and acts as a political forum.

[2] The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) is located east of the Strait of Georgia and north of the State of Washington and is bisected by the Fraser River.

Most of the area is in the northernmost part of the district, including residential areas and isolated dwellings on Howe Sound between Lions Bay and Horseshoe Bay, on Indian Arm to the north of Deep Cove and Belcarra/Anmore and on the west side of Pitt Lake to the north of Port Coquitlam.

[17] There are also seventeen Indian reserves within the geographical area that are not subject to governance by local authorities or the regional district; they have a combined population of 7,550 (2006).

[citation needed] The principal function of Metro Vancouver is to administer resources and services which are common across the metropolitan area.

[citation needed] They collectively serve 2.8 million residents in the region and provide 1.5 billion litres (400,000,000 US gal) of water during peak summer days.

Metro Vancouver controls the Cleveland Dam on the Capilano reservoir, which supplies 40 percent of the district's water.

[citation needed] A similar project nearby adjacent to the town of Cache Creek, British Columbia has almost reached capacity.

Environmental concerns about the area's sensitive shrub–steppe climate and ecology are strong, while Highland Valley Copper, near Logan Lake, has offered the use of its mine-pit instead.

The goals are to: In 2018, the organization's board also adopted the Ecological Health Framework,[41] which encapsulates Metro Vancouver’s collective efforts around ecological health and provides guiding principles, goals, and strategies to help achieve the vision of a "beautiful, healthy, and resilient environment for current and future generations."

[7] The organization is committed to the goals and strategies in the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan,[42] as approved by the board.

The service is structured around three functions: fostering collaboration, conducting regional data collection and research, and attracting investment.

In these areas, the organization commits to "contribute to the effective and efficient performance of our regional roles through leadership and collaboration with our members and other stakeholders."