Vancouver mayor demands involuntary mental health beds in the city, not Surrey

Mayor Ken Sim is accusing the BC NDP-led government of overlooking Vancouver after the province announced plans for 132 new involuntary mental health and addictions treatment beds in Surrey and Prince George.

The provincial government will spend up to $149 million renovating and expanding two properties into secure treatment facilities for people with severe mental illness, addictions, and brain injuries. The projects are expected to open in phases between late 2027 and the end of 2028.

However, none of the newly announced beds will be located within Vancouver's municipal borders—the epicentre of the mental health and addictions crisis not only in British Columbia, but in Canada. "Once again, the Province has chosen to ignore the city carrying the greatest burden of British Columbia's addiction, mental health, and public safety crises," Sim said in an unusually pointed statement issued July 14.

The mayor argued Vancouver has been disproportionately affected by the province's overlapping mental health, addictions, and public safety challenges, but has not received the treatment infrastructure needed to respond. Nearly two years have passed since Premier David Eby committed to expanding involuntary care following calls from municipal leaders, including Vancouver's elected officials. According to Sim, Vancouver has yet to receive any new beds arising from that commitment.

"The Province cannot continue to acknowledge the need for involuntary care while refusing to build the very infrastructure required in the community where the need is greatest," Sim continued.