WATCH: Health minister vows to 'push forward' on Vancouver overdose prevention site despite mayor's objection

VICTORIA — Health Minister Josie Osborne has vowed to "push forward" on a new overdose prevention site in Vancouver despite objections from Mayor Ken Sim and his council.

She argued that while concerns from residents and business owners are real, the services such a facility would provide are necessary.

"The work to establish this OPS is underway; Vancouver Coastal [Health] is doing the work," Osborne told reporters in Victoria on Wednesday. "The offer remains that we are happy to work with the city of Vancouver to address their concerns."

She pointed to the "minimum service standards that her ministry has developed to "make it very clear that "the concerns of neighbours, of businesses, of business improvement associations obviously need to be taken into account."

"The operator is responsible for a 'good neighbour agreement' essentially," Osborne added, "but we will push forward and we need to have these services in place."

The original Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site was shut down in January after nearly five years in operation as the only such public facility in the downtown core. During that time, it responded to 480 overdoses and recorded 149,603 visits.

It's new location will be 900 Helmcken Street, just across the street from the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel. The lease term is set to begin June 1, 2026, with services opening shortly afterwards.

Most of the city's opposition has been centred around the impact the facility could have on residents and nearby businesses.

"Vancouver will not support solutions that fail both those who are struggling and the communities around them," Sim said. "We have seen the disastrous impact when OPS sites are introduced without the right planning, oversight, and accountability."

He drew attention to concerns raised by those living and working in the area surrounding the now-closed overdose prevention sites at 1060 Howe Street and 1101 Seymour Street.

"Vancouver is ready to be part of real solutions that connect people to care, improve public safety, and rebuild trust with communities," Sim added. "Vancouverites deserve better. Unfortunately, until we see a significant shift from the Province and VCH, we're going to continue facing the same issues over and over again."

When asked about those claims about mandatory care beds, Osborne suggested Sim "doesn't have all the facts," and said 160 new beds have been provided in Vancouver.

"It is concerning that the Minister of Health doesn’t recognize the difference between the Road to Recovery program, and Mandatory Care," Sim retorted. "It’s been nearly two years since Premier David Eby stood at Vancouver City Hall and promised 400 mandatory care beds. Since then, not a single new bed IN or FOR Vancouver has been delivered."

In a letter to Osborne, Sim argued that there had not ben enough consultation with neighbouring residents and businesses, and called on the ministry to pause the lease commencement "pending genuine community approval."

"The City of Vancouver is prepared to work in partnership on solutions to the toxic drug crisis," he wrote. "But partnership requires early engagement — not notification after the fact. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you, or with senior officials in your Ministry ... to discuss these concerns in detail. I am also happy to facilitate a meeting with affected residents, strata councils, and small business owners in the neighbourhood."

On Tuesday, Sim and his fellow ABC councillors passed an "urgent motion" calling on city staff to "take all lawful steps available" to prevent the site from opening.