Vancouver council approves ABC's public-safety plebiscite questions for October ballot

Mayor Ken Sim, at the podium, and several ABC councillors speak against a proposed overdose prevention site on Helmcken Street in downtown Vancouver on May 28, 2026. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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ABC Vancouver’s push to put two plebiscite questions on the October municipal election ballot is moving ahead after a tense and combative special council meeting on Friday, where non-ABC councillors accused the governing party of pulling an election stunt to distract from its failures.

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Council voted to approve the non-binding plebiscite questions, which ask voters whether the city should strengthen bylaws prohibiting open-air hard drug use in public spaces and whether Vancouver should formally ask the province to create a secure medical facility with at least 100 involuntary treatment beds for people with substance use and mental health disorders.

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Mayor Ken Sim and ABC councillors voted in favour, with Coun. Lucy Maloney opposed. Councillors Pete Fry, Sean Orr and Rebecca Bligh attended the debate but were absent for the vote.

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Calling for a plebiscite on the two questions is a piece of political theatre, Orr said during the debate, accusing ABC of creating a wedge issue.

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“I believe this is a $500,000 get-out-the-vote strategy,” he said, questioning the need for a vote on public drug use when consuming illicit drugs in public spaces is already illegal.

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“I don’t know what else do we want to put on the ballot to make other things that are currently illegal, illegal. I think it’s no different that Karl Rove putting gay marriage on the ballots to drive people to the polls. This is intended to divide.”

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In biting comments, Bligh blasted ABC for picking on some of the city’s most vulnerable residents and reminded the mayor and his party that they were not running against Premier David Eby and the NDP, a reference to repeated criticism from Sim and ABC of provincial policies.

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Bligh was interrupted after a councillor called a point of order. Voices can be heard telling Bligh to calm down before the meeting was briefly adjourned.

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Blight argued Sim and ABC’s adversarial approach to senior governments was a reason why the city was getting “iced out” of investments in affordable housing and mental health beds.

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“All we have seen from the mayor and ABC are news conferences and press releases, throwing the very people under the bus that we need to help us deal with our biggest challenges,” she said.

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Coun. Peter Meiszner defended the party, saying council has been advocating for the provincial government to act to deal with the severe addiction and mental health issues visible on city streets.

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“Despite the seriousness and human toll of this crisis, their response has been incredibly slow and ineffective and lacks urgency,” said Meiszner.

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ABC councillors repeatedly said the plebiscite was a way for Vancouver residents to make their voices heard and would give a future council a stronger mandate to advocate for action and change in Victoria.

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They said there are people who feel intimidated to speak out about the issue for fear of being trolled on social media.

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More to come…

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