VANCOUVER: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has issued a formal public apology for leveling unsubstantiated drug distribution allegations against his colleague and City Councilor, Sean Orr. The controversy began during a press conference held for Chinese-language media on Christmas Day, where the Mayor claimed that Orr had been involved in the illegal distribution of drugs on the streets. Facing mounting pressure, Mayor Sim expressed regret during a press briefing on Friday, admitting that the information he acted upon was “incorrect.” However, he declined to disclose the source of the false information when questioned by reporters.
Councilor Sean Orr categorically dismissed the claims as entirely baseless, noting that he was not even in the city during the Christmas period. Orr described the Mayor’s accusations as defamatory and a direct assault on democratic values. Opposition councilors have characterized the Mayor’s actions as a serious breach of administrative conduct, while some members of the ruling party have also voiced their dissatisfaction with the Mayor’s public statements.
