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

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 Friday, where non-ABC councillors accused the governing party of pulling an election stunt to distract from its failures.

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.

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.

“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 prohibited. “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.”

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.

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.

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.