Mayor slams Province for not providing new involuntary care beds for Vancouver

VANCOUVER Mayor Ken Sim on Monday, in response to Premier David Eby’s announcement of new involuntary care beds across British Columbia, none of which are located in Vancouver, said in a statement: “Once again, the Province has chosen to ignore the city carrying the greatest burden of British Columbia’s addiction, mental health, and public safety crises.

“For years, Vancouver has shouldered a disproportionate share of the province’s most complex social challenges. Yet with the Province announcing new involuntary care capacity, Vancouver is again left with nothing, not a single new bed.

“Nearly two years have passed since Premier Eby first committed to expanding involuntary care following sustained calls from Vancouver and other mayors across British Columbia. Despite repeated commitments and countless announcements, Vancouver has not received a single new involuntary care bed to date.

“Not one.

“That is unacceptable.

“The Province cannot continue to acknowledge the need for involuntary care while refusing to build the very infrastructure required in the community where the need is greatest.

“What makes this even more frustrating is that Vancouver has repeatedly demonstrated that we can deliver results despite the Province failing to do its part.

“Vancouver hosting seven games of the FIFA World Cup 2026 was a tremendous success. Our city welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and showcased Vancouver at its very best. City staff, Vancouver Police and Fire and Rescue Service, local businesses, volunteers, and countless community partners worked tirelessly to make that happen.

“But they did so despite significant provincial failures.

“The Province failed to relocate the Single Room Occupancy (SRO) population along the Granville Entertainment District that they had committed to in the lead-up to the games and as many residents and businesses had hoped.

“Instead of investing in treatment capacity, the Province tried to move forward without any community engagement on a drug consumption site at 900 Helmcken Street, less than 500 feet from the Granville Pedestrian Zone.

“The message could not be more clear.

“When it comes to locating drug consumption services, Premier Eby and the Province push to place them in Vancouver.

“When it comes to providing treatment, recovery, and involuntary care for those suffering from the most severe mental illness and addiction in Vancouver, Premier Eby and the Province do nothing.

“That is the wrong priority.

“Vancouver residents deserve the same level of commitment to treatment that the Province has shown toward harm reduction. Families who are watching loved ones suffer deserve real options. Frontline workers deserve resources that match the scale of the crisis. And our city deserves a provincial government that recognizes where the need is greatest.

“If the Province continues to exclude Vancouver from involuntary care, the City of Vancouver will be forced to act in unprecedented ways.

“If the Province continues to exclude Vancouver from involuntary care, the City will have to consider every available option to ensure the health and safety of all Vancouverites.”

Sim added that he was calling on Eby to immediately commit to establishing involuntary care beds in Vancouver and to work with the City to ensure those suffering from severe mental illness and addiction have access to treatment where it is needed most.

He said: “The status quo is failing vulnerable people, failing neighbourhoods, and failing Vancouver. Enough is enough.”