Mayor Sim anchors ABC Vancouver's October campaign on drug-use ban and zero tax increase pledge
Ken Sim committed Monday to banning open-air hard-drug use in public spaces and freezing property taxes in 2027 if voters re-elect ABC Vancouver to a majority on October 17.
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Mayor Ken Sim committed Monday to two "anchor commitments" for Vancouver voters ahead of the October 17 municipal election: a ban on open-air hard-drug use in public spaces and a zero-per-cent property tax increase for 2027.
Sim made the announcements from Dunbar Community Centre alongside party colleagues and ABC Vancouver candidates as the party seeks a second term with a majority.
The open-air drug-use ban is contingent on voters answering yes to a ballot question asking: "Are you in favour of the City of Vancouver strengthening its laws to forbid open-air hard drug use—like heroin, meth, fentanyl and crack—in public spaces?" If approved, Sim said the ban would "re-establish social norms" and give police "a way simpler way to issue these bylaw tickets and to confiscate the hard drugs, if they're being used in public."
Voters will also see a second ballot question asking whether Vancouver should formally ask the province to convert portions of the old St. Paul's Hospital or a similar site into a secure medical facility providing acute voluntary and 100-plus involuntary care beds for individuals posing a serious risk to themselves or others due to severe substance use and mental health disorders. The plebiscite is non-binding.
Sim has made the plebiscite a centerpiece of the campaign. In his 2022 election, public safety was the top priority: he promised to hire 100 police officers and 100 nurses. The Vancouver Police Department hired 97 net new officers between November 2022 and September 15 of this year. However, Sim and ABC colleagues deferred the 100-nurse commitment to Vancouver Coastal Health, which set up mental-health worker teams and bolstered existing police-nurse programs. Fewer than 50 City of Vancouver staff were hired as nurses, according to a July city staff memo to council.
Sim committed to a zero-per-cent property tax increase for 2027 in an April "state of the city" address and during a 2025 council debate. Since approving a zero-per-cent tax increase for 2026 in November 2025, at least 40 City of Vancouver exempt staff lost jobs, and 50 CUPE 15 employees chose to leave through a "voluntary departure program."
Quoted plainly, Sim said: "Our commitment over the next four years is to keep building, keep renewing, keep making Vancouver safer, stronger and more affordable."
What enforcement mechanisms will the city use if the drug-use ban passes, and what penalties will apply?
How many city positions are the zero-tax-increase budgets likely to cut in 2027?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What two commitments did Mayor Sim announce for ABC Vancouver's campaign?
A ban on open-air hard-drug use in public spaces and a zero-per-cent property tax increase for 2027.
How many new police officers did Vancouver hire under Sim's 2022 election promises?
The Vancouver Police Department hired 97 net new officers between November 2022 and September 15, 2026.
What does the second ballot question ask voters about?
Whether Vancouver should formally ask the province to convert portions of the old St. Paul's Hospital or a similar site into a secure medical facility providing acute voluntary and 100-plus involuntary care beds for individuals with severe substance use and mental health disorders.
