Bob Mackin
Despite charging taxpayers $9.55 monthly for an X subscription, the Vancouver city hall freedom of information office says content from Mayor Ken Sim’s public-facing account is private.
Since late spring, Sim has primarily used the @kensimcity account for political messages about his ABC Vancouver party, rather than non-partisan information about civic services, events and policies. In 2022, the ABC platform promised to limit partisan activity in the Office of the Mayor.
Under the freedom of information law, theBreaker asked for records about the script and production for two of Sim’s September re-election videos, featuring retired Vancouver Fire Department Chief Karen Fry as a guest.
Two of the access and privacy office’s employees, Kevin Tuerlings and April Miller, said in a letter that “requested records do not relate to the business of the city.”
“The referenced video was not produced by the Mayor’s Office.”
Mayor as influencer
theBreaker noticed Sim producing a campaign video at a May 28 event in the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel where speakers demanded the NDP government rethink the 900 Helmcken overdose prevention site.
Sim interviewed local salon owner Denise Meikle while Adam Beattie, a Conservative social media consultant also known as Robin Skies, recorded the interview on a smartphone. Rory Clouden, a videography consultant to the Mayor’s Office, stood nearby.
In fact, Sim spent more time conducting the interview for his campaign (at least five minutes) than he did being interviewed by reporters who were covering the event (three minutes). After questions from two CBC reporters, Sim answered one question from theBreaker and then abruptly departed with his press secretary, Ogi Radoicic, and Vancouver Police Department bodyguard. Watch the video below.
In mid-August, Sim’s ABC city council majority voted to spend $500,000 for a non-binding plebiscite on the Oct. 17 civic election ballot. The first question is whether to ban public use of hard drugs. The second question is whether to ask Victoria to convert part of the old St. Paul’s Hospital into an involuntary care facility for addicts and the mentally ill.
At the end of August, NDP health minister Ravi Kahlon directed Vancouver Coastal Health to cancel the 900 Helmcken project.
Sim’s opponents say city council could have passed the two measures and referred them already to the provincial government without the added cost.
