Vancouver mayoral candidates plan to take on public safety
An election plebiscite question asks whether the city should formally request the province to use part of the old St. Paul's Hospital for involuntary care beds.
Vancouver mayoral candidates are discussing how they intend to tackle public safety issues. One of the candidates, Kareem Allam from the ABC Party, has proposed converting parts of a hospital into an involuntary care facility, arguing that this would be more effective than a prison. However, Allam emphasized that this solution would not be a prison, but a treatment facility.
If approved, the question of converting the old St. Paul's Hospital for involuntary care beds will be put to a vote in the upcoming municipal election on October 17th.
Allam's proposal is part of a broader plan to address public safety, which also includes moving drug consumption sites away from schools and parks, and increasing police presence in public spaces. Other candidates have their own ideas for dealing with public safety concerns. The Green Party candidate, Pete Fry, wants to establish a new outreach team for addiction and mental health calls, focusing on non-police and non-medical interventions.
Team candidate Colleen Hardwick advocates for the revival of block watches and a shift towards enforcement and recovery. Vote Vancouver candidate Rebecca Bligh would advocate to the province for more psychiatric beds and a comprehensive response to repeat offenders.
All candidates agree that they plan to address public safety differently. The municipal election will be held on October 17th, and voters will have to decide which candidates' plans align best with their priorities.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
