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Groups who support sex workers are calling on the City of Vancouver to reverse recent cuts that they say could put lives at risk.<\/p>\n
The city has cut one of its two sex worker safety planner positions, as it looks to shave costs in response to a direction from Mayor Ken Sim\u2019s ABC council majority to freeze property taxes<\/a> this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n The two positions, advocates say, were a key recommendation of the provincial inquiry into missing and murdered women<\/a> convened in the aftermath of serial killer Robert Pickton<\/a>‘s conviction. <\/p>\n The roles are key to preventing violence and to improving communication and trust between community groups, sex workers, police and the city, they say.<\/p>\n WATCH | Loss of support services worry Vancouver sex workers: Vancouver sex workers frustrated over loss of supportive service PACE Society<\/p>\n The closure of the PACE Society and the Wish Drop-In Centre leaves sex workers in Vancouver with even fewer options to turn to when they need support. The Early Edition\u2019s Stephen Quinn spoke with sex workers Olive Bing and Sarah Moon on what the loss means to the people who used PACE\u2019s services.<\/p>\n Angela Wu, executive director of non-profit SWAN Vancouver, called the cuts a \u201chuge blow,\u201d adding that it comes during one of the most violent years for sex workers in memory.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt does send a message to predators that it’s not a priority anymore,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wu said it has historically been difficult for sex workers to report violence to police, and the loss of the safety planner position risks cutting a \u201cvital pipeline” to the city and, by extension, the Vancouver Police Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s just incredibly dangerous for our community,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat it’s saying is that the city prioritizes, you know, money and other issues over people’s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n WATCH | Vancouver budget freezes property tax, hikes police funding: Vancouver passes 2026 budget with property tax freeze, $50M more for police<\/p>\n Vancouver city council passed its heavily debated budget today. It includes a property tax freeze, $50 million more for police and cuts to several departments. Our Justin McElroy was at city hall today.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a concern echoed by PACE Society board member Sarah Resendes.<\/p>\n She said the move risks driving sex workers underground and into riskier situations, particularly as the city gears up for the FIFA 2026 World Cup \u2014 including by boosting police and security resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt will absolutely erode the trust that sex workers have with city institutions \u2026 namely the police, which we already have an incredible distrust with,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The cuts also come as resources for sex workers are already under pressure. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776392289_894_default.jpg\")
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