Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s proposal for two plebiscite questions regarding drug use and the addition of involuntary care beds has received approval from the city council. The questions will be presented to voters in the upcoming municipal election in October.
Sim’s initiative to include these plebiscite questions in the election has faced criticism from opponents who view it as a strategic move to garner support. The mayor aims to seek public input on enhancing the city’s regulations concerning open-air hard drug use and advocating for increased involuntary care services at a soon-to-be-shuttered hospital location.
During a news conference, Mayor Sim, accompanied by members of the majority ABC Vancouver slate, announced plans to convene an emergency council meeting to incorporate the plebiscite questions into the ballot for Vancouver voters on October 17. He emphasized that engaging voters through official channels would provide a stronger mandate for the city’s future administration to tackle drug-related issues.
Responding to queries from CBC News, Sim did not specify the specific bylaws that would be reinforced if the plebiscite questions receive voter approval. He highlighted the plebiscite as a crucial step in improving the city and promised to provide further details on the proposed laws.
Apart from addressing drug-use regulations, the second plebiscite question proposed by Sim aims to urge the province to transform sections of the St. Paul’s Hospital site in downtown Vancouver into a secure medical facility offering acute voluntary and over 100 involuntary care beds. St. Paul’s Hospital is scheduled to move to a new location in the False Creek Flats area next year.
In response to queries about the necessity of locating involuntary care beds within the city, Mayor Sim stressed Vancouver’s urgent need for such facilities. He emphasized the benefits of proximity to one’s community and loved ones in achieving better treatment outcomes.
Critics, including Vancouver Liberals mayoral candidate Kareem Allam, have questioned the lack of specifics in Sim’s proposed questions. Allam, formerly Sim’s chief of staff, accused the mayor of inconsistency on social service location issues and labeled the plebiscite as a political distraction with no substantial progress.
City council, reconvened from summer break, deliberated on Sim’s plebiscite proposals during the emergency meeting. Councillor Pete Fry, also a mayoral candidate with the Green Party of Vancouver, expressed concerns about the lack of detailed plans for utilizing the St. Paul’s Hospital site, which was purchased by developer Concord Pacific in 2020 for nearly $1 billion.
Overall, Mayor Ken Sim’s initiative for plebiscite questions on drug use and involuntary care beds has sparked debates and skepticism among opponents regarding its transparency and effectiveness.