Vancouver mayor slams B.C. government over lack of involuntary care beds

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has publicly criticized the British Columbia government, accusing it of ignoring the city's critical need for involuntary care beds. Sim expressed frustration that while the province announced funding for new facilities in Prince George and Surrey, Vancouver was left without any new beds.

“

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.

"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," Sim stated in a letter posted on social media. He emphasized that Vancouver has shouldered a disproportionate share of the province's most complex social challenges for years.

“

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.

Premier David Eby announced two new involuntary care facilities, one with 72 beds in Prince George and another with 60 beds in Surrey, totaling an investment of $149 million. While the province has approximately 2,000 involuntary care beds statewide with plans for more, Vancouver was notably absent from this latest funding announcement.

“

This is an ongoing piece of work and we’re working with other regions of the province, including the Okanagan and Vancouver Island, to identify facilities and opportunities in those communities.

Critics, including the official Opposition critic for mental health, addictions, and social housing, Claire Rattée, echoed Sim's concerns. Rattée stated that Vancouver, particularly the Downtown Eastside, is in dire need of mandatory care, and it is a significant problem that the city has been excluded again. The province indicated it is working with other regions, including the Okanagan and Vancouver Island, to identify suitable facilities, but critics argue the need is immediate and Vancouver must be part of the solution.

“

We know that if there’s an area anywhere in this province that was in dire need of mandatory care, it’s probably Vancouver and the Downtown Eastside. So I do think it’s definitely a problem that Vancouver has once again been left out of this.