Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s proposal to include plebiscite questions in the upcoming municipal election regarding public drug use and the addition of involuntary care beds has faced criticism from opponents who view it as a strategic move for the election.
Sim expressed his intention on Thursday to seek input from voters on strengthening the city’s regulations concerning “open-air hard drug use” and advocating for increased involuntary care facilities at a hospital site that is scheduled for closure. He plans to convene an emergency council meeting on Friday to incorporate these questions into the ballot for Vancouver voters on Oct. 17, emphasizing that seeking public opinion officially would provide a more robust mandate for the next municipal administration to tackle drug-related issues.
While Sim did not specify the specific bylaws that would be reinforced if the proposed plebiscite questions are approved, he highlighted the importance of taking steps to enhance the city’s conditions. Vancouver already has regulations prohibiting smoking in various public areas and the possession of small quantities of illegal drugs is against the law in Canada.
The second proposed plebiscite question by Sim involves urging the city to urge the province to convert parts of the soon-to-be-closed St. Paul’s Hospital site in downtown Vancouver into a secure medical facility with both voluntary and involuntary care beds. Responding to queries regarding the necessity of locating these involuntary care facilities within the city, Sim emphasized the acute demand for such treatment centers in Vancouver and highlighted the benefits of proximity to one’s community and loved ones for better treatment outcomes.
Critics, including Vancouver Liberals mayoral candidate Kareem Allam, who previously served as Sim’s chief of staff, have raised concerns about the lack of details in the proposed questions. Allam accused Sim of inconsistency on the issue of the location of social services in Vancouver and labeled the move as a diversionary tactic rather than a genuine solution.
Approval from the City Council, currently on a summer recess, will be required for Sim’s plebiscite questions to proceed. Councillor Pete Fry, also a mayoral candidate with the Green Party of Vancouver, questioned the lack of specifics in the proposal related to the utilization of the St. Paul’s Hospital site, which was acquired by developer Concord Pacific for a significant sum in 2020 without a clear disclosure of future plans. Fry criticized the plebiscite as a political maneuver to create division and drive voter turnout, labeling it as a cynical election strategy.