A plebiscite proposal being put to Vancouver voters during this fall’s municipal election already has the support of the B.C. government, Premier David Eby said Friday. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced plans this week for two plebiscite questions on this year’s ballots, one of which asks whether the city should “formally ask” the province to convert parts of the current St. Paul’s Hospital building or a similar site into a secure involuntary care facility. Speaking at an unrelated news conference, Eby questioned whether the plebiscite was necessary—as he suspects “there would be 100 per cent support, including from our government.” “The mayor knows we’ve been looking for a site in Vancouver for this kind of care,” the premier added. “If he wants to go out and ask Vancouverites if they’re supportive of something we know they support, and that our government supports, that’s his prerogative.” Ravi Kahlon, who became health minister in a cabinet shuffle Friday, said he’s ready to work with Sim—or whoever is elected in October—on getting involuntary care beds into the city. He also questioned the use of the plebiscite. “If they do want to do a plebiscite, perhaps they should ask questions that are probably more meaningful and will actually help improve the lives of people in Vancouver,” Kahlon said. “But on this question, there’s no question: We can work together and get the outcomes that we both want.” Sim’s suggestion to use the aging St. Paul’s Hospital site was met with some skepticism this week, partly because of the high value of its downtown real estate, and also because the land has already been sold to a developer to help finance the building of a replacement hospital near Main Street and Terminal Avenue. Sim told reporters that the site remains “the most turnkey solution out there,” even if it’s short term. At Friday’s event, Eby laughed off the mayor’s suggestion that he should be looking for another job if he can’t deliver health-care staffing for new involuntary care beds in the city, and said his government remains engaged in addressing the problems Sim has highlighted, including in the Downtown Eastside. “It’s a municipal election season, I understand,” the premier said. “He’s pushing on an open door, so I invite him to walk through with us.” Sim’s second plebiscite question will ask voters if they support Vancouver “strengthening its laws to forbid open-air hard drug (heroin, meth, fentanyl and crack) use in public spaces.” Asked for details on which laws could be changed, Sim said: “When it comes to specific laws, sure, can take a look and make it a little clearer.” Members of Sim’s ABC party approved the plebiscite questions at an emergency meeting Friday—which saw several opposition councillors walk out in protest. Pete Fry, who is running for mayor under the Green Party, slammed the entire endeavor as “electioneering by punching down on folks in health crisis,” and a “misguided frustration of the democratic process.” He then stormed out of the meeting, along with councillors Sean Orr and Rebecca Bligh. “Their comments were political theatre,” Sim said after the plebiscite questions passed. “We’re actually trying to solve something. We are asking the tough questions and we are debating those issues—and we’re voting on them.” With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Martin MacMahon and Penny Daflos
