Vancouver Councillor Warns Budget Cuts Endanger Sex Workers Ahead of World Cup

Vancouver Councillor Pete Fry is urging the city council to restore critical safety supports for sex workers, warning that recent budget cuts have left the community vulnerable as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. Fry introduced a motion requiring the council to hear directly from sex workers and advocates regarding growing safety concerns. The controversy stems from the elimination of one of two dedicated sex-worker safety planner positions, a role established in 2013 following the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. While the city claims these duties have been redistributed across departments, advocates argue this restructuring undermines essential peer infrastructure. With Vancouver preparing for its largest police deployment ever for the tournament, groups like Pivot Legal Society caution that heightened policing and anti-trafficking campaigns will increase scrutiny and displacement for sex workers. Historical precedents from the Olympics suggest increased police pressure during major events, raising fears of elevated violence and harm. The motion aims to highlight the human cost of these efficiency measures before the global event begins.