ABC’s candidates show the Mayor’s desperation as his governing coalition falls apart
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20th, 2025
Nobody likes Ken Sim anymore
ABC’s candidates show the Mayor’s desperation as his governing coalition falls apart
VANCOUVER, BC – COPE candidate Sean Orr responded to ABC’s announcement that they have named professional police lobbyist Ralph Kaisers as a candidate along with local BC United candidate Jaime Stein.
“ABC’s governing coalition is falling apart, as Sim has alienated elected members of his own party on Council, School Board, and Park Board.” Said Orr, “There is no question that Ken Sim’s hand-picked backbenchers were picked for their deference to Sim.”
ABC did not hold a nomination meeting or a members’ vote, but rather named the two candidates after a backroom process.
“In 2022 the Police Union took the unprecedented step of intervening in the election to endorse Ken Sim and ABC,” said Orr. “Since then, Sim has rewarded the VPD with nearly $100 million more per year to their bloated budget, putting a strain on the basic city services we all depend on like swimming pools, green bin pick-up, and community centres.”
A recent study found that Vancouver has the highest per-capita spending on police in Canada: $495.84 per person. That’s significantly above the mean spending of $342.28 per person, and more than double what Quebec City spends per person. The same study found no correlation between increases in police budgets and decreases in crime.
“Ken Sim has been an absentee Mayor who lied about keeping the park board, lied about a lobbyist registry, and lied about hiring 100 mental health nurses to win power.” Said Orr, “This time, voters know who he really is. We’re going to evict Ken Sim from City Hall in 2026.”
The Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) has been Vancouver’s progressive party since 1968.