VANCOUVER, B.C. — Green Councillor Pete Fry is expressing disappointment following City Council’s decision to defeat a motion calling for a review of the Vancouver School Liaison Officer (SLO) Program, despite years of concerns raised by students, families, educators, and civil liberties organizations.

The motion sought an evidence-based evaluation of the SLO program’s effectiveness, impacts on student well-being, and alignment with the City’s and School Board’s stated commitments to equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed approaches to youth safety. Council ultimately voted down all components of the motion.

“When credible concerns persist about how a program affects young people, particularly those from marginalized communities, the responsible response is to review the evidence,” said Councillor Fry. “Choosing not to even examine the program is a missed opportunity for transparency, accountability, and good governance.”

Strong Public Input, No Review

During the July 23 Council meeting, students, families, educators, and community advocates spoke about their experiences with police presence in schools and urged Council to take a closer look at whether the SLO program is achieving its intended goals.

Concerns raised included the disproportionate impacts on Indigenous, Black, and racialized students, as well as students with disabilities, and whether alternative, non-policing approaches could better support student safety and well-being.

“A review is not a predetermined outcome,” Fry added. “It’s a basic governance tool. Refusing to review a program doesn’t make concerns disappear, it simply delays addressing them.”

A Question of Accountability

Fry emphasized that the motion did not call for immediate changes to the program, but rather for an independent assessment to inform future decision-making.

“Council regularly reviews programs across the City to ensure they’re effective and aligned with our values,” said Fry. “It’s difficult to understand why this program should be exempt from that standard.”

Continuing to Advocate for Evidence-Based Decisions

While the motion was defeated, the Green Party of Vancouver will continue to advocate for approaches to school safety that prioritize care, prevention, and student well-being, and that are informed by data, lived experience, and best practices.

“Our responsibility is to young people and their families,” Fry said. “We owe it to them to be willing to ask hard questions, listen carefully, and base decisions on evidence, even when that’s uncomfortable.”

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