WATCH: Eby 'surprised' Sim holding plebiscite on issue with '100% support — including from our govt'

VANCOUVER — Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC majority on council recently approved adding a public safety plebiscite to the ballot in October.

One question asks whether the city should strengthen its laws on open-air drug use, while the other asks whether the city should ask the province to convert part of St. Paul's Hospital into a facility that provides voluntary and involuntary care beds.

ABC Vancouver calls for public safety plebiscite on ballot — opps decry ‘glorified opinion poll’

Adding two questions to the ballot is expected to cost around $55,000.

Sitka MediaJarryd Jäger

During a press conference on Friday, Premier Eby reacted to the move, making it clear that his government is committed to working with the city on those issues.

"I was a little surprised to see the proposal for a vote question on which I suspect there would be 100% support — including from our government," he said. "The mayor knows we've been looking for a site in Vancouver for this kind of care, we know that Vancouver requires it, especially with the intense epicentre of the Downtown Eastside."

Eby noted that former mayor and senator Larry Campbell has been "engaging the city" on the issue in his role as Downtown Eastside provincial advisor.

"If [Sim] wants to go out and ask Vancouverites if they're supportive of something we know they support, and that our government supports, that's his prerogative," he added. "He's pushing on an open door, and I invite him to walk through with us."

Newly-minted health minister Ravi Kahlon shared the premier's sentiments, reiterating that "we support the idea" of bringing such care to Vancouver.

"I was surprised to see there was a plebiscite on something that's so unanimously agreed upon," he said. "I think there are some tough questions that can be asked, so if they do want to do a plebiscite, perhaps they should ask questions that are probably more meaningful and will actually help improve the lives of people in Vancouver."