Two Non-Partisan Association councillors have mixed feelings about legislation introduced by B.C.’s Liberal government that would amend the Vancouver Charter.

The amendment would allow members of city council who were absent at a public hearing on an application for land-use changes to vote on the proposed rezoning. Under the current law, a councillor who misses one hearing loses the right to cast a vote.

“I have some problems with that,” Coun. Peter Ladner said of revising the rule. “I don’t know why we would have a public hearing if people could not appear, not listen, and still make a vote.”

Ladner told the Straight that he didn’t know whether council had asked the provincial government to revise the city’s charter.

“The lawyer in me says that public hearings are like a judicial process,” Coun. Suzanne Anton told the Straight. “It does seem odd to me that they [councillors] don’t have to be there all the time.”

The amendment is contained in Bill 43, which also seeks changes to a number of other laws. The bill went through first reading on April 30.

However, Ladner and Anton noted in separate interviews that the amendment would make Vancouver conform to rules already applied in other municipalities. “In terms of making us the same as the rest of the province, I think that’s probably wise,” Anton said.