National

Vancouver council votes against sanctioning Mayor Ken Sim after harassment finding

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Jun, 2026 09:11 AM

Vancouver's city council has voted not to sanction Mayor Ken Sim after he was found to have misused the influence of his office and harassed a councillor.

All six of Sim's ABC party members voted on Tuesday against acting on the findings of the Integrity Commissioner's investigation into Sim's actions against Councillor Sean Orr.

The other four councillors, including Orr, voted for sanctioning Sim, while the mayor did not vote after declaring a conflict in the matter.

The investigator's report released in May centred on a news conference by Sim at City Hall in April 2025 and a social media post by the mayor later that year, which represented Orr as antisemitic.

The report found Sim's criticisms violated the council's code of conduct as they were akin to a personal call-out of Orr rather than protecting Vancouver's Jewish community.

The investigator, Jamie Pytel, recommended that council to ask Sim to apologize, or to consider possible sanctions, but Sim said he disagreed with the findings and his comments were part of his duties to "stand shoulder-to-shoulder" with the Jewish community.

Sim is being sued for defamation by Orr over a different news conference at City Hall in which he falsely claimed Orr had handed out drugs on Christmas Day.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada's forestry sector faces uncertainty with 25 per cent U.S. tariffs

A wide shadow of uncertainty has been cast over Canada's forestry sector by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on its lumber products. Several industry groups have released statements criticizing the tariff as unnecessary and harmful for both sides, a sentiment echoed by British Columbia Premier David Eby who vows full support for the provincial sector.

Canada's forestry sector faces uncertainty with 25 per cent U.S. tariffs

Trump mistaken, U.S. banks can and do operate in Canada says finance professor

A finance professor at the University of Toronto says American banks do operate in Canada despite assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that they are not allowed to do business in the country. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions lists Amex Bank of Canada, Citibank Canada and J.P. Morgan Bank Canada on Schedule II, all having U.S. parent companies.

Trump mistaken, U.S. banks can and do operate in Canada says finance professor

B.C. critical minerals being diverted away from United States: David Eby

Companies in British Columbia are in the process of redirecting critical minerals and energy products to markets outside the United States, Premier David Eby said, as the reality of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs sets in. Eby noted B.C. has opened new trade offices in Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines over the last 18 months.

B.C. critical minerals being diverted away from United States: David Eby

Winter's first widespread snowfall hits Metro Vancouver, with more on the way

The first widespread snowfall of winter has hit Metro Vancouver, with Environment Canada warning the ongoing wintry blast could eventually bring up to 25 centimetres to start off a frigid week. The weather agency says in a snowfall warning for the region that "intense flurries" could bring heavy accumulation and cut visibility on roads.

Winter's first widespread snowfall hits Metro Vancouver, with more on the way

BC politicians react to Cdn US tariffs

BC politicians are calling on the premier to do more as the province prepares to face U-S tariffs on Canadian goods. City of Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she wrote to David Eby yesterday urging him to roll out a comprehensive relief package, similar to what was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, to support businesses and families.

BC politicians react to Cdn US tariffs

Arctic cold descends over B.C., bringing snow and school closures

A bitter cold spell sweeping over coastal and northern British Columbia has brought snow and prompted school and college closures. Environment Canada has issued extreme-cold or arctic-outflow warnings for numerous areas in the province, saying wind-chill temperatures could drop to minus 45 in the north and reach minus 25 on the coast.