Ken Sim and ABC think the rules don’t apply to them
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28th, 2025
Ken Sim and ABC think the rules don’t apply to them
New campaign ad for ABC by-election candidate Ralph Kaisers appears to violate City’s Code of Conduct by using civic employees, property, and resources
VANCOUVER, BC – “ABC appears to have broken the law in their new ad promoting their ‘Law and Order’ candidate,” said Sean Orr, COPE’s candidate in the City Council by-election scheduled for April 5th. This comes on the heels of this week’s report from the Integrity Commissioner finding that ABC members had flouted civic policies “intended to preserve democracy” by meeting in private at Ken Sim’s home.
“ABC and Ken Sim have consistently shown contempt for the very laws and norms they’re sworn to uphold,” added Orr.
Section 4.11 of By-Law 12886 outlining the City of Vancouver’s Code of Conduct reads as follows: “A member must not use, or permit the use of, city land, facilities, equipment, supplies, services, employees or other resources for any election campaign or campaign related activities” The Code of Conduct By-Law applies to the Mayor and all members of City Council.
The ad promoting Ralph Kaisers, posted to social media networks including X on Thursday, includes staged scenes of Kaisers chatting outside City Hall with Mayor Ken Sim as well as the candidate speaking with a Vancouver Police Department officer in front of a VPD service vehicle.
Since Sim was elected with the unprecedented endorsement of the Vancouver Police Union, the Vancouver Police budget has been increased by almost $100 Million per year. Evidence shows no correlation between increased police budgets and a decrease in crime.
“Since 2022’s unprecedented intervention by the Police Union endorsing Ken Sim and ABC, I have been very clear that police should stay out of politics,” said Orr. “It’s unethical and a threat to our democratic institutions if the people and agencies charged with enforcing the laws are putting their thumbs on the scales to determine who is elected to make the laws. It undermines public trust in Vancouver’s institutions.”