“Misuse of Office and Harassing Conduct”: Integrity Commissioner Rules Against Ken Sim’s Baseless Attacks on Sean Orr
“There is sufficient information that Mayor Sim objectively harassed Councillor Orr”
May 14th, 2026
Vancouver, BC - Today, the Integrity Commissioner ruled that Mayor Ken Sim abused his office to personally attack and harass an elected City Councillor, creating a hostile work environment. That harassment included heinous accusations of being a terrorist sympathizer and an anti-semite.
“This behavior from Sim, which is part of a pattern of harmful and personally targeted conduct against Sean Orr, is unacceptable for any leader” said COPE Co-Chair Sam Smart today, “Ken Sim must apologize and retract his harmful comments against not only Sean Orr, but everyone who speaks out with integrity against the genocide in Gaza.”
“This ruling shows that Ken Sim has created a hostile work environment for his co-workers, but more importantly, he’s also created a hostile work environment for city staff,” said COPE Co-Chair Nate Stanley, “ABC’s widely-opposed slash-and-burn 2026 budget has created fear, uncertainty, and anxiety for the people who make our city work.”
"A pattern emerging from Ken Sim is making stuff up to stoke anger in ethnic communities," said COPE School Trustee Suzie Mah, "He's using the city's diversity to divide people, instead of bring people together. That needs to stop."
The investigator ruled that the “grave nature” and “wide-ranging impact of making the comments at the Press Conference” should be considered in any penalties levied by Council, and that Sim’s conduct “objectively harassed Councillor Orr.”
The Integrity Commissioner ruled on three areas where Mayor Sim violated the Code of Conduct: Misusing the influence of his office, harassing conduct, and continued harassing conduct.
“There is sufficient information that Mayor Sim violated section 4.1 A of the Code of Conduct when he held the April 8, 2025 Press Conference which requires Council Members to only use the influence of their office for the exercise of their duties. Holding the Press Conference was not part of Mayor Sim’s duties. Using the influence of his office to personally attack Councillor Orr was a misuse of the influence of his office. This allegation is substantiated.”
“There is sufficient information that Mayor Sim objectively harassed Councillor Orr at the April 8, 2025 Press Conference when he personally attacked Councillor Orr by suggesting he was antisemitic or would incite violence or hatred. This created a hostile environment for him as a newly elected Councillor. This was without fairness as to the context and sarcastic nature of the Previous Orr Posts that were several years prior, and without notice to him of the impending Press Conference. This is harassing conduct that is contrary to sections 2.A e) and 3.4 c) of the Code. These allegations are substantiated.”
“There was sufficient information that Sim’s October 4, 2025 Post was a continuation of the harassment of Councillor Orr that suggested he was is support of terrorist organizations and antisemitism. This extended an unfair narrative and encouraged negativity towards Councillor Orr in his role as Councillor. This allegation is substantiated.”
“Ken Sim stooped to abusing his authority to harass an elected councillor. Under the current rules the Integrity Commissioner is powerless to hold Ken Sim accountable without the approval of the ABC council majority,” said COPE Mayoral Candidate Stephanie Allen today, “When I’m Mayor, we’ll give the Integrity Commissioner the power to independently levy meaningful penalties against politicians and work to repair against misconduct.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
COPE@copevancouver.ca