Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says his unfounded claim that Coun. Sean Orr distributed illegal drugs didn't damage his reputation, because Orr's own previous statements showed he "supported drug use."
Sim's response this week to a defamation suit by Orr says the mayor didn't act "deliberately, maliciously or in bad faith" when he told Chinese-language reporters in February that Orr had handed out drugs on Christmas Day.
The response, filed with the B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday, says Sim's comments wouldn't lower Orr's reputation in the community, given the councillor's "words, actions and statements regarding the use and supply of drugs" both before and since his election to Vancouver's council.
"The plaintiff's reputation, through statements he published on social media, including before his election as a COPE councillor, in the fall of 2025, was that he supported drug use and he supported safe supply of drugs," the response said.
WATCH | Few precedents for Sim's unfounded claims:
The Office of the Mayor said in an email that Sim would not have any further comments at this time due to the matter being before the courts, while Orr did not respond to calls requesting an interview.
The mayor's legal response asks the court to dismiss the defamation lawsuit or that it "attract nominal damages," with costs awarded to Sim.
Orr launched the lawsuit in March after learning about Sim's false comments that he made during a media roundtable with Chinese-language reporters at City Hall...
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says his unfounded claim that Coun. Sean Orr distributed illegal drugs didn't damage his reputation, because Orr's own previous statements showed he "supported drug use." S...