New Metro Vancouver chair Greg Moore has trimmed the regional district's committees to 12 from 15.

Maple Ridge Ernie Daykin will chair the new aboriginal affairs committee.

Trimming the number of committees is meant to more closely align the committees with the district's business but also save money, Moore said Sunday.

For example, the liquid waste and water committees have been combined because that's how they are organized in Metro Vancouver, said Moore.

Solid waste was also given its own committee because that's a major file in Metro Vancouver, said Moore.

The Port Coquitlam mayor was acclaimed as Metro Vancouver chair last month, replacing Delta Mayor Lois Jackson, who stepped down after six years as chair.

The number of members on each committee has also been capped at 11.

Moore said he had not tabulated a cost savings for the committee changes.

Metro directors received just under $850,000 from meetings in 2010. They are paid $330 per meeting, and receive double if meetings run longer than four hours.

"Just having fewer committees, as well as having fewer members on committees will be a cost savings," said Moore. "And when you start that cost-savings initiative at the board level it sends a message that the finances of Metro Vancouver are important."

Other changes include merging agriculture and regional planning, and eliminating the committee on policing issues.

Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal becomes the environment and parks committee chair, and North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton will head TransLink. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts will chair the ports cities committee.

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan heads the regional planning and agriculture committee and is also vice-chair of the mayors' committee and the zero waste committee.

Continuing in their chairmanship roles include Surrey Coun. Judy Villeneuve (regional culture) and New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright (housing).