Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim Issues Apology for False Drug Distribution Claim Against Councillor
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has publicly stated that he apologized to Councillor Sean Orr for alleging that his fellow council member distributed illegal drugs during the Christmas holiday. The mayor made this announcement during a media scrum at an unrelated event on Friday, revealing that he had spoken with the COPE councillor on Thursday to express regret for his comments.
Lack of Details Surrounding the Apology and Accusation
When reporters pressed Mayor Sim for more information about how he came to make the serious accusation against Councillor Orr, he repeatedly offered the same statement without providing additional context. "At the end of the day, I called Coun. Orr and I did apologize for my comments," Sim stated, later adding, "I truly believe that I apologized — look, I called Coun. Orr and I apologized for my comments." This repetition left many questions unanswered regarding the basis for the original claim.
Origin of the Controversial Statement
The apology follows the emergence of a video showing Mayor Sim telling Chinese-language media at city hall on February 6 that "we have a councillor, Sean Orr, just this Christmas, who was handing out illegal drugs on Christmas Day to people on the streets." Sim made this comment in English, and the video from the news briefing was obtained by CityNews and published online, sparking widespread controversy.
Broader Context of Similar Incidents
This incident occurs shortly after another ABC Vancouver colleague, Councillor Lenny Zhou, apologized for making similar statements captured in a Chinese-language video that described non-ABC councillors as drug users and dealers. Zhou has since retracted those comments and issued an apology. At the time, Mayor Sim thanked Zhou for "acknowledging his mistake," highlighting a pattern of contentious remarks within the political landscape.
The situation underscores ongoing tensions in Vancouver's municipal government, with Mayor Sim's vague apology raising concerns about transparency and accountability. As the story develops, further details may emerge to clarify the circumstances behind the false allegation and the effectiveness of the apology in mending political relationships.
