Vancouver Coun. Sean Orr is suing Mayor Ken Sim for allegedly defamatory comments Sim made in February that Orr handed out “illegal drugs on Christmas Day.”

Since the comments came out, Orr has repeatedly denied Sim’s claim as false.

The COPE city councillor filed a civil claim alleging defamation in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver Tuesday.

Orr said in the claim that Sim made the statements in English, which were then translated by the mayor’s ABC party-mate Coun. Lenny Zhou, at an event for members of Chinese-language media in February.

The alleged defamatory statement, according to the claim, was: “We have a councillor — Sean Orr — just this Christmas — who was handing out illegal drugs on Christmas Day, to people on the streets. So if you like getting free illegal drugs, you probably don’t like me or ABC.”

Orr said he has never handed out illegal drugs.

In his civil claim, Orr said Sim “acted deliberately, maliciously and in bad faith” in making the statement, damaging Orr’s reputation. He alleged that Sim made the statement “for the dominant purpose of injuring or delegitimizing Orr, out of spite or animosity.”

Orr is claiming punitive and aggravated damages and a permanent injunction prohibiting Sim from making similar statements like the one from February.

“Sim used his platform and position as mayor of the City of Vancouver to baselessly attack Orr’s integrity as a public official for his own perceived political benefit,” said the claim.

“Sim’s conduct in that regard was malicious, highhanded, and callous, and has caused significant distress and harm to the plaintiff.”

The mayor’s office released a statement in response to the court filing Tuesday afternoon, saying Sim “is aware of the litigation.”

“As this matter is now before the courts, the mayor will not be commenting further,” the statement read.

Sim has previously apologized for his comments, saying he made them after he was shown a picture that he didn’t verify.

Orr said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that he wants Sim to face accountability through the legal process.

Reporters asked for details of how Sim’s remarks harmed Orr or his reputation.

“That’ll come out, for sure, in discovery too…. It’s really hard to quantify that kind of thing,” Orr said. He added comments on social media and some Chinese-language news media have had “some negative consequences.”

Reporters asked if Orr wants Sim to resign.

“I’m not going to go there,” he said.

Orr was elected in the 2025 byelection on a platform that included the slogan, “Evict Ken Sim.”

Orr said he has also started a campaign to fundraise for his legal fees.