Vancouver

Premier David Eby says his BC NDP-led provincial government already supports creating involuntary care capacity in Vancouver and has been searching for a suitable site, questioning the need for the City of Vancouver to hold a plebiscite on an idea he says has broad agreement.

One of the two public safety plebiscite questions will ask voters whether Vancouver’s municipal government should formally call on the provincial government to convert portions of the old St. Paul’s Hospital — or another similar site — into a secure medical facility providing voluntary care and at least 100 involuntary care beds for people posing a serious risk to themselves or others because of severe addictions and mental health issues.

Asked whether the provincial government would consider Mayor Sim’s old St. Paul’s Hospital proposal if Vancouver voters support it, Eby said he was surprised the City was putting the matter to a public vote because the provincial government already agrees that Vancouver needs such a facility.

“I was, you know, I’ll admit a little surprised to see the proposal for a vote question on which I suspect there would be 100 per cent support, including from our government,” said Eby.

“The mayor knows we’ve been looking for a site in Vancouver for this kind of care. We know that Vancouver requires it, especially with the intense epicentre of the Downtown Eastside.”