--- title: "ABC Vancouver on public safety | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver/platform/public-safety" last_updated: "2026-09-23T06:08:00.321Z" meta: description: "ABC would ban hard drug use in public spaces, push the province for more than 100 involuntary care beds, and move drug consumption sites away from schools..." "og:description": "ABC would ban hard drug use in public spaces, push the province for more than 100 involuntary care beds, and move drug consumption sites away from schools..." "og:title": "ABC Vancouver on public safety | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "ABC would ban hard drug use in public spaces, push the province for more than 100 involuntary care beds, and move drug consumption sites away from schools..." "twitter:title": "ABC Vancouver on public safety | Vancouver 2026" --- ABC Vancouver · Vancouver 2026 # Ban open-air hard drug use and give police a seizure tool ABC would ban hard drug use in public spaces, push the province for more than 100 involuntary care beds, and move drug consumption sites away from schools and parks. [Compare all parties on this ](https://voche.me/parties/issues/public-safety) [All ten issues](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver/platform) [**24**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver/candidates) [**9/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver/platform) [**8**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver/money) **9**Questions answered POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY ## ABC Vancouver on public safety Public safety is the first heading on ABC’s published platform, and it is the area where the party has put the most specific commitments in writing. Two of these reach beyond what a city council can do on its own. Involuntary care beds and drug consumption site rules are provincial decisions. ABC’s own wording is that it will "fight for" the beds, which is a request to the province rather than a promise the city can keep by itself. ABC also placed two questions on the October 17 ballot alongside the candidate races. One asks whether the city should strengthen its laws against open-air hard drug use. The other asks whether the city should formally request that the province convert part of the old St Paul’s Hospital, or a similar site, into a secure facility with voluntary and involuntary care beds. 5 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS ## What they say they will do - ### Ban open-air hard drug use in public spaces ABC would change city bylaws to forbid using hard drugs in public. A plebiscite question on the same subject appears on the October 17 ballot.
Who has the power
City Council sets bylaws. Drug possession law is federal and provincial.
[ABC Vancouver](https://abcvancouver.ca/platform) [City of Vancouver](https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/council-adds-plebiscite-question-to-vancouver-election-ballot-august-2026.aspx) - ### Give police a streamlined tool to seize hard drugs The platform commits to "give police a streamlined tool to seize hard drugs". The wording of the tool is not published.
Who has the power
The Vancouver Police Board directs the police department. Council approves its budget.
[ABC Vancouver](https://abcvancouver.ca/platform) - ### Fight for 100 plus involuntary care beds in Vancouver ABC would press the province to fund more than 100 involuntary care beds for people with severe substance use and mental health disorders.
Cost
Not published
Who has the power
Health care, including involuntary care, is a provincial responsibility.
[ABC Vancouver](https://abcvancouver.ca/platform) [ABC Vancouver](https://abcvancouver.ca/) - ### Move drug consumption sites away from schools and parks The platform commits to "mandate provincial drug consumption sites away from schools & parks".
Who has the power
These sites are approved and funded provincially.
[ABC Vancouver](https://abcvancouver.ca/platform) - ### Good neighbour agreements for public housing with street disorder ABC would add non-profit oversight and require a good neighbour agreement for all public housing where street disorder is an issue. [ABC Vancouver](https://abcvancouver.ca/platform) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about this
Can a city council ban drug use in public by itself? A council can pass a bylaw about behaviour in public space, and it can direct city staff to enforce it. It cannot change the criminal law, and it cannot order the police, because the Vancouver Police Board directs the department. ABC also put the question to voters as a plebiscite on October 17, which does not by itself change any law. ABC VancouverCity of Vancouver
What are involuntary care beds? These are hospital or facility beds where a person can be kept and treated without agreeing to it, under provincial mental health law. Vancouver city council does not run them, fund them or decide who goes into one. A city can ask the province for more of them, which is what ABC has committed to do. ABC Vancouver
## Sources A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true. 1. [ABC Vancouver home page ](https://abcvancouver.ca/)SAYS SO ITSELFABC Vancouver · checked September 22, 2026 2. [ABC Vancouver platform ](https://abcvancouver.ca/platform)SAYS SO ITSELFABC Vancouver · checked September 22, 2026 3. [Council adds plebiscite question to Vancouver election ballot ](https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/council-adds-plebiscite-question-to-vancouver-election-ballot-august-2026.aspx)City of Vancouver · checked September 22, 2026 4. [Vancouver mayor says he will not try to eliminate the park board if re-elected ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ken-sim-park-board-stays-9.7268871)CBC News · checked September 22, 2026 5. [Who is running: official 2026 candidate list ](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/2026-candidate-information.aspx)City of Vancouver · checked September 22, 2026 6. [Local elections disclosure statement search ](https://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/LESearch.aspx)Elections BC · checked September 22, 2026 7. [Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting duties ](https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/elector-organizations/)Elections BC · checked September 22, 2026 8. [Making a campaign contribution ](https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/making-a-campaign-contribution/)Elections BC · checked September 22, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.