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Vancouver city council voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose new "draconian" provincial legislation that would "trample on the rights" of city residents by overriding any municipal decision, from land use to services and taxation.

Councillor Ellen Woodsworth, who moved the motion, said the provincial cabinet is taking an "unprecedented" step with Bill 75, which would allow the cabinet to override local and regional government decisions in the name of cutting red tape.

The motion also calls on the government to withdraw the legislation and negotiate changes with the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

Deregulation Minister Kevin Falcon says the legislation, which the government plans to pass this week, is aimed at expediting small rural resource projects that get bogged down in red tape.

But he conceded Tuesday it could also be used on larger projects that are deemed to be of provincial significance, such as time-sensitive Olympics-related projects. He agreed it was "very possible" Bill 75 could be applied to major projects like the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit line.

"We are desperately trying to get Mr. Falcon to remove this bill," Woodsworth, Vancouver's representative on the UBCM, told council. "It has serious implications for all matters of local government and contravenes the basic community charters that have just been signed between local government and the province."

Councillor Tim Stevenson, who called the legislation a "draconian bill," noted that Falcon claims Bill 75 is only for small matters.

"Of course, if that was the case, you wouldn't need it," he said. "The danger is he can step in at any time he wants and, for instance, decide the RAV line is provincially significant and override any of our bylaws or any input that we would have of any kind.

"This would basically trample on the rights of Vancouverites, not to mention local governments, and that's of course why local governments throughout the province are so concerned."

Vancouver councillors worry about funding for the RAV Line falling short of the $1.7 billion needed to build it underground along Cambie Street. If more of the line goes above ground to save money, residents along Cambie can be expected to complain, and Vancouver's current administration has a policy of seeking maximum public input.

Delays could spur the cabinet into designating the RAV line a significant project, allowing Victoria to dictate its future course. Vancouver's second convention centre could be another designated project if planning bogs down.

The UBCM warned Falcon last week the government risks poisoning its relationships with local governments throughout B.C. if it passes the legislation without limiting its scope.

But Falcon rejected the protests and said Tuesday the legislation -- Bill 75, the Significant Projects Streamlining Act -- will likely get third and final reading Thursday.

The UBCM wants the scope of the bill limited to cutting through red tape in provincial jurisdiction, but Falcon said that's "not acceptable."

"We've got to make sure that when significant investments or opportunities that could create broad benefits for British Columbians are knocking on the door, that we're not going to let process and red tape get in the way of making that happen."

Falcon rejected Woodsworth's suggestion that Bill 75 appears to clash with the Municipal Charter process because the cabinet already has powers under the Local Government Act to override municipal governments.

"All this bill does is make sure that when cabinet designates a project as being provincially significant, the purpose of the public designation is to signal to all of the approval authorities," he said.