Vancouver voters back drug plebiscites that Fry disavowed

About two-thirds of Vancouver voters backed two non-binding plebiscite questions on drug use put on the ballot by outgoing mayor Ken Sim, even as they voted him out of office, the City of Vancouver’s official results show.

About 137,000 people voted in favour of stronger laws on open-air hard-drug use, and about 136,000 voted for the city to ask the province to provide “100-plus” involuntary care beds in Vancouver, The Canadian Press reported, citing the city. CBC News and CTV News also reported that both questions passed.

The questions are not binding. Mayor-elect Pete Fry said during the campaign that he did not think they needed to be on the ballot, and criticized them as cynical and lacking detail.

Fry has said he supports managing drug use in public spaces, but unlike Sim, he believes people should be diverted to supervised consumption sites or shelters. Sim had said a “yes” vote would give the city a stronger mandate to deal with drug use.

Fry defeated Sim in the Oct. 17 election, in which progressive parties swept Sim’s ABC party from all but one council seat. Voters also approved a $790-million borrowing plan in the same vote.

Involuntary care falls under provincial law in British Columbia, so any new secure care beds would need action from the provincial government.

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With files from The Canadian Press.