ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                      Date:  February 13, 1996


   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     City Clerk, in consultation with Corporation Counsel

   SUBJECT:  Eligibility Criteria for Civic Agencies


   RECOMMENDATION

        A.   THAT  Council  amend its  criteria  for  appointment to  Civic
             Boards, Commissions  and Committees to delete  the eligibility
             requirement for Canadian Citizenship.

        B.   THAT the Director  of Legal  Services be  instructed to  bring
             forward the necessary by-law amendments.


   CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

        The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.


   COUNCIL POLICY

   In order  to  be eligible  to  serve on  a  Civic Board,  Commission  or
   Committee an applicant must:

   -    be a Canadian citizen;
   -    be a  resident or  elector  within the  Greater Vancouver  Regional
        District  (with  the  exception  of  the  Library  Board  where  an
        applicant must be a resident or elector of Vancouver);
   -    not be  an elected  representative or  an employee  of the  City of
        Vancouver.


   PURPOSE

   At  present in order to serve on  a Civic Board, Commission or Committee
   an  applicant  must be  a  Canadian  Citizen.   This  appears  to be  an
   arbitrary condition  that excludes  qualified candidates  and may  be in
   contravention  of the  Charter  of Rights  and  Freedoms.   This  report
   presents,  for  Council's  consideration,  a  proposal  to  delete  this
   citizenship requirement.

   DISCUSSION

   The  criteria  for  Canadian  Citizenship  is  spelled  out  in  by-laws
   governing the following Civic Boards, Commissions and Committees:

        -    Vancouver Heritage Commission
        -    Vancouver City Planning Commission
        -    Public Art Committee
        -    Athletic Commission.

   In  addition, the City Clerk's  Office has applied  the same eligibility
   criteria  to  all appointments  to other  Civic  Agencies which  are not
   governed by by-law, such as the following:

        -    all Special Advisory Committees to Council
        -    Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee
        -    Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee

        -    Safer City Commission
        -    Fire Department Advisory Committee.

   At present, the City  Clerk's Office requires proof of  citizenship only
   when an individual's eligibility is challenged.

   Recently  this criteria has been  challenged by an  applicant, which has
   prompted  a  review  of the  qualifications  for  appointments  to Civic
   Boards,  Commissions and  Committees.   Given the  City's commitment  to
   remove  barriers  that  prevent   people  from  participating  in  civic
   activities,  the  citizenship requirement  appears  to  be an  arbitrary
   condition which excludes qualified  candidates.  The Corporation Counsel
   advises that  the requirement  may be  in  violation of  the Charter  of
   Rights and  Freedoms; even if it  is not, it is  an unnecessary criteria
   which is not reflective of an open and inclusive style of government.

   SUMMARY

   This  report recommends  that the  City of  Vancouver would  delete this
   Citizenship  requirement and instruct the Director  of Legal Services to
   bring forward the necessary by-law amendments.

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