---
title: "Vancouver Liberals say ABC drug-use plebiscite is unnecessary"
description: "Kareem Allam and the Vancouver Liberals say the ABC-proposed ballot question on open-air drug use should not be on the October 17 ballot because the VPD already has authority to enforce existing laws."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/vancouver-liberals-plebiscite-opposition-september-29"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:01:15.540Z"
---

The Vancouver Liberals launched a campaign on September 29 against two ballot questions that ABC Vancouver placed on the October 17 election ballot. CTV News reported that the party says neither question should be there.

Mayoral candidate [Kareem Allam](/candidates/kareem-allam) said the plebiscite on open-air drug use is redundant. Speaking to CTV News, he said open-air drug use is already illegal under existing laws, and the Vancouver Police Department already has the authority to act on it. "The VPD already has the authority to enforce current drug laws on open-air drug use. Rather than ask the public to strengthen the laws that already make this illegal, Ken Sim should utilize the powers at his disposal to get the VPD to enforce the existing laws," Allam said.

On the second ballot question, which would ask voters whether the city should pressure the province to place 100 involuntary care beds at St. Paul's Hospital, Allam called the location wrong. "It is a prison. Let me be clear. The worst place for a prison is between Davie Village and our central business district," he told CTV News.

**How the plebiscite questions got on the ballot**

CTV News reported that ABC Vancouver, which held the council majority in the last term, called an emergency council meeting before the term ended and used its majority to add both questions to the October 17 ballot. They will appear on every voter's ballot alongside the races for mayor, city council, park board, and school board.

Incumbent mayor [Ken Sim](/candidates/ken-sim) has said the plebiscite is necessary to give the city the tools it needs to strengthen laws around public drug consumption, and to pressure the province on involuntary care. ABC launched a dedicated campaign in support of the questions.

**Property taxes also in dispute**

The CTV article also covered a separate platform announcement from OneCity. Councillor Lucy Maloney said ABC's "Zero Means Zero" property tax freeze is not sustainable and will lead to higher fees for other city services. CTV News reported that ABC raised property taxes 10.7 per cent in 2023, 7.3 per cent in 2024, and 3.9 per cent in 2025, before freezing them in the most recent budget. OneCity says it would instead set predictable, moderate annual increases.

Both plebiscite questions will be on the ballot on October 17. Voters who want to compare where all parties stand can visit [/parties/vancouver-liberals](/parties/vancouver-liberals) and [/parties/abc-vancouver](/parties/abc-vancouver). Advance voting locations and dates are at [/where-to-vote](/where-to-vote).

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