Vancouver’s mayor has made his first big move in trying to hold on to his job after October’s municipal election, pushing for a “public safety” plebiscite, and attacking British Columbia’s premier in the process. Ken Sim’s ABC party introduced the idea on social media ahead of a news conference in downtown Vancouver where he defended the two proposed questions dealing with issues largely in provincial jurisdiction. The first question would ask voters whether they’re in favour of strengthening city laws forbidding public use of hard drugs; when asked for details, Sim replied, “When it comes to specific laws, sure, can take a look and make it a little clearer.” The second question is the more controversial, gauging support for the city to “formally ask” the provincial government to convert the historic St. Paul’s Hospital site in downtown Vancouver into a “secure medical facility that provides acute voluntary and 100-plus involuntary care beds” after the hospital moves to its new location. An updated version provided to journalists after a 16-page proposal was printed adds “or another similar site” to the wording. When CTV News pointed out that the Burrard Street location is some of the highest-value real estate in the province, Sim said that “it’s the most turnkey solution out there,” and acknowledged it would be a short-term solution, since the land was sold to a developer in order to help finance the new hospital near Main Street and Terminal Avenue. Sim goes after Eby Sim kept discussing “beds,” so CTV News pointed out that it’s people who care for people, and that the province has previously said that staffing is the main limiting factor in providing more drug treatment and mental health services, and that there are critical human resource shortages leading to emergency department closures and delays in cancer treatment. “With all due respect, (the province) should do their job, that’s what they were elected to do—they are in charge of health care, we’re giving them solutions,” he replied, pointing out there’s compassion fatigue among health-care workers. Sim went on to say: “Being the premier is a hard job and we’re holding them accountable, and if that’s the response from the premier, then maybe the premier should be looking at other things to do.” David Eby’s NDP administration has been adding drug treatment and mental health services across the province, which has also angered Sim. Strategy over substance? Two of Sim’s challengers launched swift attacks against the proposed plebiscite, which voters would review alongside their ballots in October’s municipal election. “When we work with the province, we have to have a productive working relationship,” said William Azaroff, mayoral candidate for OneCity Vancouver, who described being embarrassed by the questions and the provincial jurisdiction those issues are under. “It’s just a total lack of leadership and governance knowledge.” Kareem Allam, who was Sim’s campaign manager in 2022 and is now running against him under the newly formed Vancouver Liberals banner, was even more critical. “A plebiscite won’t solve anything, and neither will Ken Sim,” he told CTV News. “I see this as nothing more than a cheap election trick to try to distract from his four years of poor governance of the City of Vancouver.” At the Thursday afternoon news conference, Sim defended his record on public safety and related issues as a willingness to work with the province and being “willing to try things.” He claimed the non-binding questions “represent the most significant policy and culture shifts this city has considered in decades.” British Columbia already has the highest rate of involuntary detainment under its Mental Health Act of any province in Canada, and B.C.’s chief justice struck down public consumption laws, warning of “irreparable harm” if they were upheld.
