Vancouver mayoral candidates outline public safety plans

Vancouver mayoral candidates are putting public safety at the center of their campaigns ahead of the Oct. 17 municipal election. One of the main debates involves a plebiscite question asking whether the city should request the province to use part of the old St. Paul’s Hospital for involuntary care beds. Mayor candidate Kareem Allam criticized the idea, saying the site should focus on treatment rather than what he called a prisonlike approach. Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Party say the proposal is part of a broader public safety strategy that also includes moving drug consumption sites away from schools and parks and increasing enforcement against public drug use. Other candidates offered different approaches. Pete Fry of the Greens said he wants nonpolice outreach teams to respond to addiction and mental health calls. Colleen Hardwick of TEAM emphasized enforcement and recovery, while Rebecca Bligh of Vote Vancouver said the city should push the province for more psychiatric beds and a stronger response to repeat offenders.