Province drops downtown Vancouver overdose prevention site plan

The province has abandoned plans for an overdose prevention site at 900 Helmcken St. in downtown Vancouver after opposition from local businesses, residents and City of Vancouver.

Mayor Ken Sim welcomed the decision and said the province had listened to the community. He had publicly opposed the proposal in May alongside members of the Downtown BIA, arguing the area had already experienced problems associated with two previous sites.

The proposed site was intended to replace service lost when a similar facility on Howe Street closed last year after community complaints. Health Minister Ravi Kahlon said the vacant location does not end the broader discussion over how to provide overdose-prevention supports.

Harm-reduction advocate Garth Mullins said closing supervised consumption services could worsen public safety and criticized the political framing of the issue. Sim has advocated for more secure-treatment and involuntary-care beds, a question he plans to put to voters in an October plebiscite.