Vancouver council votes Friday on public safety plebiscite for October election

Vancouver City Council will vote Friday, Aug. 14 at 8 a.m. on whether to place a public safety plebiscite on the October 17 municipal ballot.

If approved, voters would answer two questions: whether the city should strengthen laws prohibiting open-air use of heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and crack cocaine in public spaces, and whether the city should formally ask the Province to convert portions of the former St. Paul's Hospital site—or another similar location—into a secure medical facility with more than 100 involuntary treatment beds for people with severe substance use and mental health disorders.

"This is my top priority," Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement. "A 'Yes' vote will deliver tangible change in how open-air hard drug use is enforced in our city and tangible change in how healthcare is delivered for those who need it."

Sim released a policy paper outlining the plebiscite's rationale alongside jurisdictional considerations and potential actions if voters support the measures.

Opposition parties quickly criticized the move. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver accused the mayor and ABC Vancouver of failing to address public health and safety during their four-year term. "Ken Sim and ABC had four years to deal with this crisis but failed to deliver solutions," the statement said. "Their proposed plebiscite is just a cynical attempt to distract from their four years of ineffective government." TEAM mayoral candidate Colleen Hardwick called for "a recovery-oriented approach that provides lasting solutions, not short-term political stunts." Vancouver Liberals candidate Kareem Allam said a plebiscite would solve nothing. "He's had his four years," Allam said.