Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s proposal for a plebiscite on public drug use and involuntary care beds has been approved by the city council. The plebiscite questions will be included in the upcoming municipal election in October.
Sim’s initiative to seek public input on enhancing the city’s regulations concerning open-air drug use and advocating for more involuntary care facilities at a soon-to-be-closed hospital site has faced criticism from opponents who view it as a strategic move ahead of the election.
During a news conference, Mayor Sim, supported by councillors from the majority ABC Vancouver slate, announced plans to hold an emergency council meeting to add the plebiscite questions to the ballot for Vancouver voters on October 17. He emphasized that involving the public in these crucial matters would provide a solid mandate for the future municipal administration to tackle drug issues effectively.
Regarding the specifics of the proposed changes to existing bylaws, Sim did not provide detailed information but highlighted the importance of taking steps to improve the city. He mentioned that the plebiscite was part of a larger strategy to make positive changes.
In addition to addressing drug-related laws, the second plebiscite question put forward by Sim aims to urge the province to transform parts of the St. Paul’s Hospital site into a secure medical facility offering both voluntary and over 100 involuntary care beds. St. Paul’s Hospital is scheduled to relocate to a new location in False Creek Flats next year.
Sim defended the need for these care beds within the city, citing the benefits of proximity to the community and loved ones in achieving better outcomes for individuals in need of treatment.
Critics, including mayoral candidate Kareem Allam, formerly Sim’s chief of staff, raised concerns about the lack of details in the proposed questions. Allam accused Sim of inconsistency in his approach to social services in Vancouver and labeled the plebiscite move as a mere distraction tactic.
City council, reconvened from a summer break, deliberated on Sim’s proposals during the emergency meeting. Councillor Pete Fry, also a mayoral candidate with the Green Party of Vancouver, expressed reservations about the St. Paul’s Hospital site’s utilization, pointing out the absence of comprehensive plans for the site purchased by developer Concord Pacific in 2020.
Fry criticized the plebiscite as a ploy to stimulate voter turnout, branding it as a calculated election maneuver.
