Vancouver Charter

[SBC 1953] CHAPTER 55

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Contents
Section
 1. Short title
 2. Interpretation
 2.1 Application of specified municipal enactments
 3. Provision for publication in newspaper
 4. Deputies may be appointed
 5. Procedure if no deputy
 6. The city a corporation
  Boundaries of the city
Part I — Electors and Elections
 Division(1) —  Interpretation
 7. Definitions
 8. Time not extended for voting days
 8.1 This Act applies
 Division(2) —  Arrangements for Elections
 9. General local election every 3 years
 10. By-elections
 11. Minister's order for election to be conducted
 12. Election by-laws
 13. Costs of elections
 14. Appointment of election officials
 15. Chief election officer duties and powers
 16. Presiding election official duties and powers
 Division(3) —  Election Proceedings Generally
 17. Public notices
 18. Solemn declarations
 19. Keeping order at election proceedings
 20. Adjournment of election proceedings
 21. Exceptional assistance in election proceedings
 Division(4) —  Electors
 22. Who may vote at an election
 23. Resident electors
 24. Non-resident property electors
 25. Rules for determining residence
 26. When a person may register as an elector
 27. Voting day registration only
 28. Application for registration
 29. How to register in advance
 30. How to register as a resident elector at the time of voting
 30.1 How to register as a non-resident property elector at the time of voting
 31. Non-resident property elector certificate
 32. Automatic registration by inclusion on Provincial list of voters
 33. Effect of registration
 34. Register of electors
 35. List of registered electors
 36. Objection to registration of an elector
 37. Resolving objections
 Division(5) —  Qualifications for Office
 38. Who may hold elected office
 39. Disqualification of Council and regional district employees
 40. Only one elected office at a time on Council
 Division(6) —  Nominations
 41. Nomination period
 42. Notice of nomination
 43. Who may make nominations
 44. Nomination documents
 44.1 Nomination deposits
 45. Nomination by delivery of nomination documents
 46. Declaration of candidates
 47. Challenge of nomination
 48. Declaration of election by voting or acclamation
 49. Notice of election by voting
 50. Appointment if an insufficient number of candidates are elected
 Division(7) —  Candidates and Representatives
 51. Ballot showing candidate endorsement by elector organization
 52. Withdrawal, death or incapacity of candidate
 53. Appointment of candidate representatives
 54. Presence of candidate representatives at election proceedings
 Division(8) —  Campaign Financing
 55. Definitions
 56. Election campaign
 57. Appointment of financial agent
 57.1 Campaign accounts
 58. Restrictions on accepting contributions and incurring expenses
 59. Restrictions on making campaign contributions
 60. Financial agent must record contribution and expenses
 61. Valuation of campaign contributions and election expenses
 61.1 Transfer of candidate's surplus campaign funds
 62. Duty to file disclosure statement
 62.1 Duty to file supplementary reports
 62.2 Late filing of disclosure statements
 63. Court order for relief from filing obligations
 64. Candidate disqualification for failure to file disclosure statement
 64.1 Elector organization disqualification for failure to file disclosure statement
 64.2 Public notice of failure to file
 64.3 Candidate disqualification for false or incomplete reports
 64.4 Elector organization disqualification for false or incomplete reports
 65. Disclosure statements and supplementary reports to be available for public inspection
 Division(9) —  Voting Opportunities
 66. Voting opportunities for electors
 67. Required general voting opportunities
 68. Additional general voting opportunities
 69. Required advance voting opportunities
 70. Additional advance voting opportunities
 71. Special voting opportunities
 72. Mail ballot voting
 Division(10) —  Arrangements for Voting
 73. Voting places
 74. Use of voting machines
 75. Voting divisions
 76. Form of ballots
 77. What must and must not be included on a ballot
 78. Order of names on ballot
 79. Order of names on ballot determined by lot
 80. Ballot boxes
 Division(11) —  Conduct of Voting Proceedings
 81. Persons who must be present at voting places
 82. Persons who may be present at voting places
 83. Sealing of ballot boxes containing ballots
 84. Time for voting extended
 Division(12) —  Voting
 85. Voting to be by secret ballot
 86. Each elector may vote only once
 87. Requirements before elector may be given a ballot to vote
 88. Challenge of elector
 89. If another person has already voted under an elector's name
 90. Replacement of spoiled ballot
 91. How to vote by ballot
 92. One person to a voting compartment
 93. Persons needing assistance to mark their ballots
 94. Persons unable to enter a voting place
 Division(13) —  Counting of the Vote
 95. When and where counting is to be done
 96. Who may be present at counting
 97. Who does the counting
 98. Opening of ballot boxes
 99. Combination of ballots for counting
 100. Procedures for counting
 101. Rules for accepting votes and rejecting ballots
 102. Objections to the acceptance of a vote or the rejection of a ballot
 103. Ballot account
 104. Packaging of ballots
 105. Delivery of election materials to chief election officer
 106. Preliminary election results
 107. Determination of official election results
 108. Declaration of official election results
 109. When elected candidates may take office
 Division(14) —  Judicial Recount
 110. Application for judicial recount
 111. Judicial recount procedure
 112. Results of judicial recount and orders as to costs
 113. Determination of results by lot if tie vote after judicial recount
 114. Runoff election if tie vote after a judicial recount
 Division(15) —  Declaration of Invalid Election
 115. Application to court
 116. Hearing of the application
 117. Power of the court on an application
 118. Costs of an application
 119. Status of an elected candidate
 Division(16) —  Final Proceedings
 120. Report of election results
 121. Publication of election results
 122. Retention and destruction of election materials
 Division(17) —  Election Offences
 123. Vote buying
 124. Intimidation
 124.1 Prohibition against certain election advertising on general voting day
 125. Other election offences
 125.1 Prosecution of organizations and their directors and agents
 126. Penalties
 Division(18) —  General
 127. Powers of minister in relation to elections
 128. Regulations
Part II — Other Voting
 Division(1) —  Interpretation
 129. Definitions
 130. Other voting to be conducted in same manner as an election
 Division(2) —  Assent of the Electors
 131. How assent is obtained
 132. Each by-law to be voted on must be for a distinct purpose
 Division(3) —  Proceedings for Other Voting
 133. Who may vote at other voting
 134. General voting day for other voting
 135. Arrangements for other voting
 136. Notice of other voting
 136.1 Ballots for other voting
 136.2 When counting for other voting is to be done
 136.3 Other general matters
 Division(4) —  Scrutineers
 136.4 Scrutineers for other voting
 136.5 Notice of applications to volunteer as a scrutineer
 136.6 Applications to volunteer to act as scrutineer for other voting
 136.7 Appointment of scrutineers for other voting
Part III — The Council and Its General Powers
 137. Size and quorum of Council
 138. Councillor elections: at large unless on a neighbourhood constituency basis
 139. Term of office for Mayor and Councillors
 140. Oath of office
 141. Circumstances in which a person is disqualified from office on Council
 142. Resignation from office
 142.1 Application to court for declaration of disqualification
 142.2 Status of person subject to an application
 142.3 Costs of an application
 143. Time of Council meetings
 144. Validity of Council proceedings
 145. City's powers exercisable by Council generally
 145.1 Voting at Council meetings
 145.2 Disclosure of conflict
 145.3 Restrictions on participation if in conflict
 145.4  Restrictions on inside influence
 145.5 Restrictions on outside influence
 145.6 Exceptions from conflict restrictions
 145.7 Restrictions on accepting gifts
 145.8 Disclosure of gifts
 145.9 Disclosure of contracts with council members and former council members
 145.91 Restrictions on use of insider information
 145.92 Court order for person to give up financial gain
 146. Quorum for conducting business
 147. Continuing bodies
 148. Unreasonableness no bar
 149. Time within which by-laws may be questioned
 150. Good faith test of sales
 151. Exercise of Council powers by by-law and resolution
 152. Power to accept property
 153. Exceptional grants only upon assent of electors
 153A. Franchise for telegraph, steam-heat, or hot-water service
 154. Power of Provincial Government to confer added powers in emergency
 155. Settlement of claims
 156. Witnesses may be required to attend
 157. Declaratory judgments may be sought
 158. Recovery of costs in certain cases
 159. Council may set up committees
 160. Discharge of committees
 161. Delegation of powers
 161A. Delegation of authority to issue permits
 161B. Suspension, revocation, etc., of permits
 162. Council's power to set up departments, etc.
  To appoint employees
 162A. To appoint a Board of Administration
 163. Termination on one month's notice
 164. Provision for bonding
 164.1 Meeting procedures
 165. By-laws covering —
  Conduct at Council meetings
  Quorum
  Notice of meetings
  Minutes
  Delegation of powers
  Other regulations
  Destruction of documents
 165.1 General rule that meetings must be open to the public
 165.2 Meetings that may or must be closed to the public
 165.21 Other persons attending closed meetings
 165.3 Requirements respecting closed meetings
 165.4 Repealed
 165.5 Expulsion from meetings
 165.6 Repealed
 165.7 Application to other city bodies
 165.8 Regulations respecting open meetings
 166. Special vote
 167. How by-law to be completed
 168. Inspection by public of records
 169. Execution of contracts
 170. Signing of cheques
 171. By-law provable by production
 172. Taxes, etc., are a debt due the city
 173. Council may declare emergency
 174. Repealed
 175. Union label may be required
  Special provision in collective agreements
 175A. City may join employers' organization
 176. Inquiry by barrister
 177. Barrister's powers
 178. Barrister's fees
 179. Acquisition of parks, etc.
 180. Indemnification of employees
 181. Metric regulations
 182. Repealed
 183. Repealed
 184. Questions may be submitted for the opinion of the electors
 185. Council to provide for upkeep of city property
 186. Power to watch legislation
 187. City may be represented before Boards, etc.
 188. Intermunicipal bridges
 189. Good rule and government
 190. Council may acquire property
  Disposal of real property
 191. Power to buy and sell commodities
 192. City may enter into agreements pursuant to Statutes
 192.1 Joint exercise of powers with other municipalities
 193. Power to undertake housing development
 193A. Power to acquire property for commercial or industrial development
 193B. Power to acquire property for improvement or rehabilitation
 193C. Power to achieve heritage purposes
 193D. Single room accommodation permits
 194. Daylight saving
 195. Insurance may be contracted for
 195A. Employee and officer expenses
 196. Council members' remuneration and expenses
 196A. Reporting of remuneration and expenses
 197. By-laws may be revised
 198. Provision for civic holiday
 199. Added powers of Council
 200. Expenditures to be kept within estimates
 201. Investment of city funds
 201A. Property acquisition fund
 202. Expenditures prior to adoption of estimates
 202A. Social planning
 203. Powers of Council re businesses, trades, etc.
 204. Authorized expenditures
  Recognition of guests
  Celebrations
  Disaster relief
  Rewards may be offered
  Training to meet emergencies arising out of war, etc.
  Awards to employees
  Heritage recognition
  Civic periodical authorized
  Acquisition of property for public purposes
 204A. Operation of public auditorium or museum
 205. Freedom of the city may be bestowed
 206. Council may make grants and provide assistance
  Charity
  Animal society, etc.
  Preventing cruelty to animals
  Archives
  Bands, orchestras, etc.
  Hospital
  Assisting conventions in the city
  Athletic sports, etc.
  Association of municipalities
  Welfare organizations
  Municipal ferries
 206A. Sunday sport
  Proclaimed for June 18th, 1958, by O. in C. No. 1465/58
 206B. Further relief from provisions of Lord's Day Act (Canada)
 206C. Pensions for Council members
 206D. Time as M.P. included
Part IV — Duties of Mayor, Director of Finance, City Clerk, City Treasurer, and Auditors
 Mayor
 207. Status of Mayor
 208. Mayor's duties
  To enforce law for government of city
  To make recommendations to Council
  Oversee employees' conduct
  Power to suspend
 209. Acting-Mayor
 Director of Finance
 210. Director of Finance
 211. Duty to advise Council
 212. To have control —
  Over revenue
  Debentures and sinking fund
  All financial matters
 213. How money disbursed
 214. Examination of accounts before warrant issued
 215. Council to authorize disbursements
 216. Provision for advance authorization
 217. Deduction where payee indebted to city
 218. Fund to be adequate
 219. Director of Finance to report on revenue and expenditure
 City Clerk
 220. City Clerk
 221. Making and custody of records
 222. And of by-laws
 223. To attend meetings
 224. Proof of documents in Court
 225. Seal in custody of City Clerk
 City Treasurer
 226. City Treasurer
 227. Receives and disburses all moneys
 228. To keep complete accounts
 229. To hold sinking fund securities
 Auditors
 230. Appointment of Auditor
  Limitations of appointment
  Removal of auditors
  Remuneration to be paid auditors
 231. Duties and powers of auditors
 232. Duty to report in certain cases
 233. Added duties
 234. Duty of Council and officers to assist auditors
 235. Powers of auditors, call for books and documents
 235A. Restriction on removal of records, books, and other documents from city office
 235B. Rights of electors
Part V — By-laws for Contracting Debts
 236. Limit of borrowing power
 237. When by-law takes effect
 238. When debt repayable
 239. Issue of securities to cover debt
 239A. Borrowing from Greater Vancouver Regional District
 240. Recitals in money by-laws
 241. Debt may be callable
 242. What borrowing to be submitted to electors
 243. Valid after expiration of month
 244. Provision for amendment or diversion
 245. Borrowing over a period of years
 245A. Expenditure for providing information to electors
 246. Conditions of borrowing
 247. Issue of debentures to repurchase or redeem earlier debentures
 247A. Debt repayment fund
 Debentures
 248. How executed
 248A. Issue and servicing of debentures
 249. Coupons
 250. How payable
 251. Payable in full
 252. Provision for registration
 253. How authorized
 254. Effect of endorsement
 255. Provision for cancellation
 256. City not concerned with trusts
 257. Lost debenture may be replaced
 258. Sale of debenture
 259. Expenditure may be delayed
 260. Application of securities held as investments from sinking funds
 261. Sinking fund accounts
 262. Provision for transfer of surplus to sinking fund
 263. Borrowing pending collection of real-property taxes
 264. Borrowing pending sale of debentures
 265. Repealed
 266–267A and 268. Repealed
Part VI — Licences
 269. Chief Licence Inspector
 270. Powers of inspection
 271. Duty to give access and information
 272. By-laws for —
  Licensing
  Fixing fees
  Enforcement
  Regulating fuel-dealers, hours of delivery, weigh-scales
  Special licence re vehicles
  Extent of regulation
  Weight to be fixed, to be labelled, and wrapped, and regulated as to delivery
  Licences in respect of dogs
  Transfer of licences
  Revocation
  Delegation of power to grant licences
  Fixing times for payment
  Vending-machines
  Members' clubs
  Solicitors for charity, etc.
  Charitable and other shows, etc.
  Licensee not to discriminate
  Juveniles in poolrooms, etc.
 273. Term of licence
 274. Payable in advance
 275. Powers discretionary
 276. Licence for each place of business
 277. Power to suspend
  Appeal from suspension
 277.1 Delegation of Council hearings and appeals
 278. Procedure where suspension or revocation recommended
 279. Certain provisions of Liquor Control and Licensing Act not to apply
 279A. Shops regulation
 279A.1 Business premises regulation areas
 279B. Regulation of "burglar alarms"
 279C. Regulation of fire alarm systems
Part VII — Business Tax
 279AA. Government activities
 280. By-laws to be made
  Business tax
  Rates
  Regulations
  Times and penalties
  Exemptions
  Complaints against assessments
  Changes to tenancy to be notified
 281. Access and information to be given
 282. Interest on unpaid taxes
 283. Status of owner-occupier
 284. Tax a debt
 285. Services included
 286. Basis of assessment
 287. Certain companies liable for tax
Part VIII — Public Works
 288. City Engineer's status
 289. Streets and parks vested in city
 289A. Use of streets and adjacent property
 290. Protection of streets
 291. Provision of Council for
  Establishing streets
  Stopping up
  Diverting
  Prohibiting obstructions
  Grades
  Bench-marks
  Access to and from streets
  Encroachments on streets
  Snow and ice removal from roofs
  Snow and ice removal from sidewalks
  Cleanliness of streets
  Ornamental trees
  Their trimming
  Watercourses not to be obstructed
  Maps may be used
 291A. Access to property and right to purchase
 291B. Appeal against decision of Registrar
 292. Subdivision control
 293. Appeal and procedure
 294. Limitation of actions
 294A. Repealed
 295. Remedy over
 296. Third-party procedure
 297. If claim paid by city
 298. When validity of judgment applies
 299. Condition of recovery
 Water
 300. Powers of Council
  Acquisition and distribution of water
  Water system
  Recovery of charges
  Collectable as taxes
  Water-main rental
  Water connections
  Abutting parcels to be connected
  Supply may be interfered with
  Inspection
 Wharves
 301. Provision of wharves
 Sewers and Drains
 302. Powers of Council
  Sewerage and drainage system
  Course of sewers and drains
  Basic sewer and drainage levy
  Sewer and drainage use charges
  Connection may be required
  Provision for installation
  Terms of unstopping connections
  Connection to new sewers
  Charges payable in annual amounts
  Levy and charges to be paid
  Septic tanks
  Sewage and surface-water disposal
  Watercourses
  Their position
  Sewage-disposal plant
  Flood control
 Solid Waste
 303. Powers of Council
  Solid waste disposal system
  Requiring persons to use system
  Terms and conditions of use
  Basic solid waste levy
  User charges
  Compelling payment of levy and charges
  Exemptions
  Delegation to City Engineer
  Contracting for solid waste disposal services
  Regulation of solid waste services
  Regulation of direct disposal
Part IX — Buildings
 304. Interpretation
 305. City Building Inspector
 306. By-laws for —
  Regulating construction
  Scaffolding
  Use of street during construction
  Classification of buildings
  Permit to be obtained
  Conditions of permit
  Certification of fitness
  Powers of inspection
  Standards for dwellings
  Removal of non-conforming structures
  Plumbing and heating facilities
  Sewer and water connections required
  Tests for plumbers
  Gas or oil appliances
  Fire limits
  Unsafe buildings may be removed
  Off-street parking for other buildings
  Off-street loading and parking for commercial buildings
  Excavations to be guarded
  Undue cost of services may prevent certain uses
  Non-conforming building may be acquired
  Adopting by reference
  Street numbers may be assigned
  Sale of goods and chattels
  System established re Building By-law
  Elevators
  Assessing costs to owner
  Withholding of permit
  Where owner unavailable
 306A. Repealed
 306B. Building Board of Appeal
 307. Eviction of tenants may be effected
 308. Taxes may be remitted
 308A. Regulated by by-law
Part X — Fire Prevention and Control
 309. Fire Department established