---
title: "Vancouver plebiscite results: 137,178 voted yes on drug use question"
description: "The City of Vancouver released the results of the two plebiscite questions added to the October 17 ballot. A majority of voters said yes on both."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/vancouver-plebiscite-results-drug-use-october-22"
last_updated: "2026-10-22T16:59:41.204Z"
---

The City of Vancouver released the results of two non-binding plebiscite questions on October 21. CTV News reported that on the first question, 137,178 people voted yes and 62,880 voted no.

The first question asked whether the city should strengthen its laws to forbid open-air drug use. The second asked whether the city should formally request that the provincial government convert parts of the current St. Paul's Hospital building, or a similar site, into a secure involuntary care facility after the hospital moves.

On the second question, CTV News reported that 135,509 people voted yes and 63,722 voted no. The City of Vancouver said a total of 207,489 plebiscite ballots were cast.

## What the plebiscite cost

The two questions were added to the October 17 ballot by then-mayor Ken Sim. A memo from city clerk Jason Twa put the estimated cost of adding them at between $400,000 and $550,000. Before the election, Pete Fry, who went on to win the mayor's race, called the initiative political theatre and said there was no need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to poll residents.

## What Fry says he will do

Now that the results are in, CTV News reported that [Mayor-elect Pete Fry](/candidates/pete-fry) said his party is already committed to addressing the same issues. "It is certainly a temperature check," he said. He added that he is personally committed to addressing open-air drug use and making streets safer.

Fry described three specific plans. He said he will reverse the ban on net new supportive housing. He will approve locations for overdose prevention sites with regulations. He will introduce a Community Response Outreach Workers Team to respond to non-emergency calls about homelessness, public intoxication, and mental health crises.

"They will see a tangible difference, because that is the intention, and the first question to address folks who are unwell and unhoused on our streets," Fry said. "That is a priority for me."

On the second question, CTV News reported that Fry pointed to two existing commitments. The provincial government has already committed to 90 secure mental health beds at the new St. Paul's Hospital, which can be used for both voluntary and involuntary care. Construction has also begun on a new detox and secure treatment facility at First Avenue and Clark Drive.

## What the new council says

[Councillor Mike Klassen](/candidates/mike-klassen), the only member elected under the ABC Vancouver banner, told CTV News he wants to work with council to find a solution. He said the public is frustrated by outdoor drug use and that council should discuss the results and state a clear position. "People are struggling with drug use and using drugs outdoors," he said. "I think it's important the council talks about it."

Both Fry and Klassen said to CTV News that whoever forms the next provincial government will be a key partner on mental health and supportive housing.

You can follow how the new council votes on these questions at the [promise tracker](/tracker).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.