Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim Denies Defamation Harm in Orr Drug Claim Lawsuit
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has formally denied acting with malice or causing reputational damage to Coun. Sean Orr by publicly accusing him of distributing illegal drugs on Christmas Day. In a response filed this week in B.C. Supreme Court, Sim contends that his now-retracted statements did not harm Orr's reputation, pointing to Orr's previous expressions of support for drug use and safe supply policies on social media, both before and after his election to council.
Legal Arguments and Context of the Accusation
Sim's response asserts that, given Orr's public stance on drug-related issues, the mayor's statements would not lower Orr's reputation in the community. The accusation was made in English to a group of Chinese-language media at Vancouver City Hall on February 6, 2025. Sim later apologized and retracted the claim, explaining it was based on an unverified photo shown to him. Coun. Lenny Zhou, a member of Sim's ABC party, who was present at the same media briefing, made similar claims in a video posted on the Chinese social media app WeChat, which he also later removed with an apology.
Orr's Lawsuit and Allegations of Political Motives
Orr filed the defamation lawsuit against Sim on March 10, 2025, alleging that the comments damaged his reputation and were intended to score political points. He argued that the claims, disseminated through Chinese-language media, reached potentially thousands of people who may not have heard Sim's apology or known the accusations were false. Orr has initiated a GoFundMe fundraiser to cover his legal bills, emphasizing that taxpayers are not funding the lawsuit. Sim, in turn, has accused Orr of using the controversy for political purposes, noting the lawsuit was announced at a staged presentation outside the courthouse.
Defense and Request for Dismissal
Sim denies that his comments were made maliciously or in bad faith, stating they were made in the context of addressing the opioid drug epidemic and related deaths in Vancouver, which he describes as a matter of public interest. He also argues that his apology and correction mitigate any potential harm. Sim has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit or award only nominal damages, rejecting claims that he repeatedly targeted Orr with false allegations. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the legal proceedings continue as both parties present their cases.
