Vancouver votes 68% yes on drug laws and treatment beds, but new council may resist the mandate
Both plebiscite questions passed overwhelmingly on Oct. 21, but the incoming Green-led majority campaigned against them as wasteful.
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Vancouver voters strongly backed two public safety measures on Oct. 21, but the city's newly elected left-wing supermajority has signaled it may not act on them.
Question 1, to strengthen laws prohibiting open-air use of heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack in public spaces, passed with 137,178 yes votes to 62,880 no votes — 68.6% approval. Question 2, to formally request the province convert the old St. Paul's Hospital or a similar site into a secure medical facility with acute voluntary care and 100-plus involuntary care beds for people whose addictions and mental health disorders put themselves or others at serious risk, passed 135,509 to 63,722 — 68% approval.
The results are non-binding and advisory. They do not change municipal law or authorize construction of a treatment facility. Mayor Ken Sim's ABC Vancouver party championed the plebiscite, but only Mike Klassen of that party won re-election to council. Greens, COPE, and OneCity Vancouver hold 10 of the other 11 seats, forming a left-wing and progressive supermajority that will decide how to respond.
Before the election, the three winning parties said the plebiscite was a bad idea and a waste of money. They offered alternative approaches focusing on crisis response teams, prevention and education over criminalization.
Mayor-elect Pete Fry told Business in Vancouver he was "not surprised that people are concerned about public drug use" but characterized the plebiscite as a political gimmick. He noted that St. Paul's Hospital has already committed to more than 100 secure care beds in a new hospital set to open next year near Main and Terminal, and that the provincial government is building another facility at First Avenue and Clark with additional secure care beds, treatment and detox services.
HighOnCity reported in September that Sim had anchored his campaign on both commitments: a ban on open-air hard-drug use in public spaces and a zero-per-cent property tax increase for 2027.
How will the Green-COPE-OneCity majority respond to a non-binding result they publicly opposed before the election?
What does Pete Fry's characterization of the plebiscite as a 'political gimmick' signal about his willingness to act on either question?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What did Vancouver voters decide on October 21, 2026?
Voters passed two advisory measures: one to strengthen laws prohibiting open-air use of heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack in public spaces (68.6% approval), and another to request the province convert the old St. Paul's Hospital or a similar site into a secure medical facility with 100-plus involuntary care beds (68% approval).
How many city council seats do the Greens, COPE, and OneCity Vancouver hold?
The three parties hold 10 of the other 11 council seats, forming a left-wing and progressive supermajority.
What existing secure care bed commitments did Mayor-elect Pete Fry cite?
Fry noted that St. Paul's Hospital has already committed to more than 100 secure care beds in a new hospital set to open next year near Main and Terminal, and that the provincial government is building another facility at First Avenue and Clark with additional secure care beds, treatment and detox services.
