B.C. judge rules Vancouver city candidates can use Chinese names on ballot

Seven Vancouver city candidates who included Chinese characters in their “usual” name can have them on the ballot for the municipal election, after the city lost a court challenge on Friday.

Judge Roger Cutler of the B.C. provincial court said each of the seven applicants would be allowed to use their usual names on the ballot for the Oct. 17 election and that he would issue his reasons for his decision at a later date.

Cutler said his decision should not be taken as a statement that the city’s application wasn’t appropriate, and his written reasons will provide guidance for future elections.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

Lawyers for the city and for the candidates submitted arguments to Cutler on Wednesday and on Friday morning, and Cutler took five minutes after lunch to announce his decision.

The “usual names” in all seven cases included Chinese characters in addition to their “English” names, and the candidates argued the Vancouver Charter allowed that.

The city took the case to court, saying it wanted guidance on whether the Chinese character names were their “usual” names and whether they should be allowed on the ballots.

Cutler presided over the hearing by video from Duncan to eliminate any perception of bias from a Vancouver-based judge.

City lawyer Grant Murray told the court he would inform the chief election officer of the decision and that the decision had come in time for the lottery draw to determine the order of names on the ballots that was scheduled to be held at 5 p.m. Friday.

“I’m relieved by the decision,” Iona Bonamis, who’s running for city council under the OneCity party banner, said by phone.

She said hopefully it will mean candidates in future will be able to include the names they are known by in their community without having to go through a court battle.