Opening of Vancouver overdose prevention site halted by province

An overdose prevention site in downtown Vancouver will not be opening, B.C.’s health minister says.

Josie Osborne announced the move in a statement Wednesday, reversing the position she held on the matter just weeks ago, when she said the plan to open an OPS would proceed despite vehement opposition from Mayor Ken Sim.

• Related: Vancouver council votes to fight downtown overdose prevention site

The site was planned for 900 Helmcken St., a location the health authority said was chosen to balance the need for life-saving services in a hard-hit area with community concern.

“There is currently no planned date for opening,” Osborne’s statement said.

Osborne said Wednesday that the decision to reverse course came after hearing from “the city, local businesses and community partners.”

CTV News has requested an interview with the minister—who issued her statement at 4:30 p.m.

Previous iterations of an overdose prevention site in the area, which the health authority has said recorded the second-highest number of toxic drug deaths in the city in 2025, have closed in large part to concern over street disorder, open drug use, and a perceived decrease in public safety.

Vancouver Coastal Health, in a statement earlier this month announcing the new location for the Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site, said it has been visited 149,603 times since 2021, and staff have responded to 480 overdoses.

No deaths have been recorded.

Chief Medical Health Officer Patricia Daly said 94 people died from toxic drugs in the area that will be served by the OPS last year, and that the deceased lived in the neighbourhood.

“Vancouver City Centre has one of the highest rates of death in the province. It’s higher than many other places like Prince George, Surrey and Victoria. All those places have overdose prevention sites,” she said.

“There’s a clear need.”

Sim introduced an urgent motion at council earlier this month directing the city to “use all tools available” to stop Vancouver Coastal Health from opening the doors of the OPS downtown.

It passed on party lines.

The mayor was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but a spokesperson said he will be speaking about the province’s decision at a rally Thursday.