Election 2026 – Getting to Know the Parties: ABC Vancouver & Mayor Ken Sim

The next Vancouver civic election is on October 17, 2026.

As announced in “CityHallWatch launches civic party intro series, courtesy of FSGAC,” over the coming weeks, CityHallWatch will republish weekly excerpts of analysis of the main civic parties and mayoral candidates. The content is courtesy of the Fairview/South Granville Action Committee. We are starting the series today with ABC Vancouver, the current ruling party on Vancouver City Council, having 7 of 11 seats. Some of the bolding below is by CityHallWatch, for emphasis. For more election coverage and resources, please visit our election portal page is here.

FSGAC e-mailed the following analysis to their subscribers on August 18.

To help inform residents, we will publish a weekly election series introducing each of the major municipal parties and their mayoral candidates. Our goal is simple: Using publicly available news sources, provide factual summaries to help residents understand each party’s platform and mayor candidate. This week, we begin with ABC Vancouver.

Introduction

ABC Vancouver (official website) was founded in 2021 and swept to victory in the 2022 municipal election, electing Mayor Ken Sim, seven City Councillors, a majority of the Park Board and representatives to the School Board.

Because ABC has held a governing majority throughout this Council term, it has largely determined the City’s priorities, policies and direction over the past four years. Unlike opposition parties, ABC’s record is measured not only by its promises, but also by the decisions it has made while governing.

Supporters credit ABC with accelerating housing approvals, reducing permitting times, prioritizing public safety, strengthening relationships with senior governments and pursuing a more business-oriented approach to municipal government. Critics argue the term has been marked by diminished public consultation, increasing centralization of decision-making within the Mayor’s Office, inconsistent policy positions, a series of governance controversies and an increasing lack of transparency.

Ultimately, voters have four years of ABC’s record to evaluate.

Record in Office (2022 – 2026)

The following highlights some of the most significant policy decisions, governance issues, and controversies that shaped ABC’s first four years in office.

During its first term, ABC Vancouver presided over one of the busiest and most consequential periods in Vancouver’s recent history. The party’s majority enabled it to implement its agenda with relatively little opposition. While supporters point to decisive leadership and increased housing approvals, critics argue that the term has been characterized by repeated governance controversies, inconsistent policy decisions, and a willingness to prioritize rapid development over public consultation.

Among the more notable issues are the following:

Governance & Accountability

One of ABC’s most contentious initiatives was its attempt to abolish Vancouver’s elected Park Board.

During the 2022 election campaign, Mayor Ken Sim softened ABC’s earlier commitment to eliminate the Park Board and fielded a full slate of Park Board candidates during the 2022 election campaign. After taking office, ABC then launched a campaign to abolish the Board, surprising several of its own elected commissioners. Three ABC Park Board commissioners ultimately left or were removed from the party over the issue, costing ABC its majority on the Board. In July 2026, Mayor Sim announced that ABC would once again run Park Board candidates in the upcoming election, effectively abandoning its campaign to eliminate the Board.

Mayor Sim’s Absenteeism

Mayor Sim has been absent for approximately 36% of Council votes since he was elected in 2022, more than double the rates of previous mayors Kennedy Stewart and Gregor Robertson. Sim has missed 75% of Metro Vancouver board and committee meetings, and opted out of joining the TransLink Mayor’s Council meetings, choosing to send ABC councillors in his place.

ABC attracted criticism after moving to suspend the work of Vancouver’s Integrity Commissioner while Council was considering complaints under the City’s Code of Conduct. Critics argued that the move undermined independent oversight and accountability.

In May 2026, an independent investigator concluded that Mayor Ken Sim had breached Vancouver’s Code of Conduct by misusing the influence of his office and objectively harassing Councillor Sean Orr through statements that associated Orr with antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations. Council’s ABC majority subsequently voted against imposing sanctions. The report did not address separate defamation proceedings relating to false claims that Councillor Orr had distributed illegal drugs.

Since the 2022 election, five elected ABC officials have either left the party or been removed, raising questions about internal cohesion and leadership.

Mayor Sim’s former campaign manager, Kareem Allam, became Chief of Staff following the 2022 election. His subsequent departure followed a highly public falling-out with the Mayor that received significant media attention. Mr. Allam has since entered municipal politics independently, running for mayor this fall with his newly created party, Vancouver Liberals.

Another major controversy has been ABC’s decision to proceed with a 25-metre pool in the replacement for the Vancouver Aquatic Centre rather than replacing Vancouver’s existing 50-metre pool (one of only two 50-metre pools in the city). The decision has generated strong opposition from swimmers and other pool users, who argue that the smaller facility does not meet Vancouver’s needs. The controversy has deepened following FOI disclosures that have raised questions about whether City staff steered the planning process toward the 25-metre option and whether elected officials were provided with complete information about alternatives. The City has also faced criticism after allowing private events to take place in the facility after it had been closed to the public on safety grounds. A group of residents and pool users has launched legal action challenging the City’s decision.

Brian Montague: Residency and Attendance Questions

ABC Councillor Brian Montague has faced criticism over both his residency and attendance during his term. Montague lived in North Vancouver while running for office and throughout most of his time on Council, and subsequently sold his North Shore home and purchased property in Kelowna. He has said that he continues to rent accommodation on the North Shore while carrying out his Council duties. While B.C. law does not require a municipal councillor to live within the municipality they represent, his move to the Okanagan has raised questions about whether a Vancouver councillor should live outside the city and about his attendance at Council meetings.

Public Safety Plebiscite: Governing or Campaigning?

The ABC Vancouver-led Council has voted to put two non-binding questions about public drug use, addiction and involuntary treatment on the October 17 municipal election ballot. While public safety and the addiction crisis are unquestionably serious issues requiring action, using an election-year plebiscite to ask voters to endorse measures that elected officials can already pursue, or that require provincial action, raises legitimate questions about governance and accountability. Critics, including other mayoral candidates, argue that Vancouverites do not need a $500,000 ballot question to tell City Hall that open-air drug use and street disorder are unacceptable; they need their elected officials to act.

Planning & Development

ABC presided over one of the busiest periods of planning reform in Vancouver’s history. Among the major initiatives approved or advanced during the current term were:

implementation and expansion of Transit-Oriented Areas;

expansion of the Broadway Plan;

the Vancouver Official Development Plan;

the Jericho Lands redevelopment;

the Holborn Super Tall redevelopment of the Bay Parkade property;

numerous high-rise rezonings throughout the city.

Supporters argue these initiatives significantly increased housing capacity, reduced regulatory barriers, and responded to Vancouver’s housing shortage. Critics argue that Council increasingly approved major developments despite substantial neighbourhood opposition, shortened consultation processes, and decreased public confidence in City Hall.

One example familiar to many Fairview residents was 2538 Birch Street, where Council recently approved an amendment removing approximately 80% of the purpose-built rental housing that had originally been presented as the principal public benefit supporting the rezoning.

In 2023, Councillor Peter Meiszner successfully initiated a review of Vancouver’s long-standing View Protection Guidelines, arguing that some protected view corridors unnecessarily limited housing opportunities. The review ultimately resulted in Council removing or modifying several view cones to permit additional development capacity. Supporters viewed the change as a pragmatic way to unlock housing and employment space, while critics argued it primarily increased land values for affected properties and questioned whether sufficient safeguards existed to ensure meaningful public benefits or affordable housing. The initiative also prompted public discussion about Councillor Meiszner’s previous association with UrbanYVR, a publication covering Vancouver real estate and development.

Below-Market Housing Policies

ABC also introduced a number of changes intended to improve the financial viability of rental housing projects, including amendments to City rental policies and development requirements. Supporters argued these changes were necessary to keep projects economically feasible amid rising construction costs. Critics, however, argued that successive policy changes weakened below-market housing requirements and reduced the amount of affordability secured through rezonings, describing the trend as a gradual erosion of commitments made to the public in exchange for increased development rights.

ABC directed staff to undertake the Villages Planning Program, promoting it as a key component of its housing strategy. Following extensive public opposition, Council voted to abandon the initiative, prompting criticism that residents and staff had invested years of work into a process that Council ultimately rejected.

Financial Management

Under ABC Vancouver, property taxes have increased a cumulative total of 22% across the first four budget cycles. For the 2026 budget, ABC introduced its “Zero Means Zero” budget initiative, directing staff to prepare a budget with no property tax increase. Critics questioned the practicality of the target without corresponding direction regarding service reductions.

Council also established a Budget Task Force to identify long-term efficiencies. While the Task Force produced recommendations, critics argue many have yet to be fully implemented.

The City’s Auditor General also reported significant losses in development-related revenue arising from administrative errors. Critics questioned whether Council’s response adequately addressed the underlying governance issues.

Mayor Ken Sim also made Vancouver’s potential adoption of Bitcoin a priority, introducing a 2024 motion directing staff to explore making Vancouver a “Bitcoin-friendly city,” including accepting Bitcoin for taxes and fees and potentially converting a portion of the City’s financial reserves into Bitcoin. The motion was passed by Council despite warnings about the volatility of cryptocurrency and questions about whether municipalities could legally hold it. In March 2026, City staff recommended abandoning the initiative after a legal review concluded that Bitcoin is not an allowable investment asset for the City under the Vancouver Charter. Critics raised questions about the prudence of asking City staff to pursue a potentially high-risk investment strategy that, under existing law, the City could not ultimately implement.

Housing Policy

Housing has been the defining issue of ABC’s first term.

The party strongly supported implementation of the Province’s Transit-Oriented Areas legislation and, in several instances, adopted policies exceeding provincial minimum requirements.

Supporters argue these reforms are essential to increasing housing supply. Critics contend the City increasingly prioritized the speed of approvals over neighbourhood planning, infrastructure capacity and meaningful public consultation.

Council also declined to extend the Empty Homes Tax to certain unsold residential units and vacant rental properties, a decision criticized by many housing advocates.

Election Finance

After the 2022 election, ABC Vancouver became the subject of an Elections BC investigation into campaign financing and returned $116,000 in prohibited donations. Elections BC ultimately required the party’s financial agent to pay an administrative monetary penalty for accepting prohibited contributions and failing to return them within the required timeframe. Critics argued that the party benefited from the use of those funds during the campaign, while supporters noted that Elections BC dealt with the matter through its established enforcement process. This isn’t the first time Sim has run into campaign finance issues. During his first run for office in 2018 with the NPA, he accepted prohibited loans before the election.

Mayoral Candidate 

Ken Sim

Ken Sim is the incumbent Mayor of Vancouver (LinkedIn) (Biography).

Prior to entering politics, he co-founded Nurse Next Door Home Care Services and Rosemary Rocksalt Bagels. He also worked as an accountant with KPMG and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Mayor Sim was first elected in October 2022 after previously running for Mayor in 2018.

Supporters credit him with:

prioritizing public safety;

hiring additional police officers and mental health nurses;

advancing housing construction;

improving permit processing;

strengthening relationships with senior governments.

During his term, however, several controversies have attracted significant public attention. Among them:

an independent investigation concluded that Mayor Sim violated the City’s Code of Conduct and harassed Councillor Sean Orr in relation to public comments concerning antisemitism. Council ultimately declined to impose sanctions;

debate surrounding the Mayor’s governance style and concentration of decision-making within the Mayor’s Office;

criticism from some residents and community organizations regarding the lack of public consultation on major planning initiatives;

Sim and ABC proposed two non-binding questions on open-air drug use and involuntary treatment for the October ballot. Opponents accuse ABC of using an election-year plebiscite as a political tactic rather than addressing problems within its existing mandate.

Like any incumbent seeking re-election, Mayor Sim’s record provides voters with four years of leadership to evaluate.

ABC Vancouver’s 2026 Priorities

ABC Vancouver’s 2026 campaign is organized around four themes: Public Safety, Affordability, Core Services, and a Strong Economy. The party is asking voters for another four-year mandate to continue the direction it has taken since 2022.

Platform Highlights

ABC’s key commitments include:

Increase public safety through continued investment in police, mental health nurses and community safety initiatives.

Continue clearing encampments from parks and public spaces.

Freeze property taxes in 2026 and 2027 and limit future increases to inflation.

Focus City spending on core municipal services.

Continue reducing permitting delays and regulatory barriers.

Support local businesses, job creation and downtown economic recovery.

Invest in roads, sidewalks, parks, community centres and recreation facilities.

Continue expanding housing supply throughout Vancouver.

Support families through initiatives such as free swimming lessons and community programs.

Continue working with senior governments to deliver housing and infrastructure.

Read the complete platform: (click here)
 

Editorial Observation [by FSGAC]: Compared with the detailed 93-point platform ABC released during the 2022 election (click here), this 2026 campaign is organized around the four broad themes but with a smaller number of headline commitments. Rather than introducing an extensive list of new initiatives, the platform focuses primarily on continuing or expanding policies implemented during ABC’s first term in office. Voters may therefore wish to consider not only the party’s priorities for the next four years, but also its record over the past four years in delivering on its promises.

Questions Voters May Wish to Consider

As you evaluate ABC Vancouver’s and Mayor Sim’s performance over the past 4 years and consider who you will support in October’s election, ask yourself:

Do you support Ken Sim’s leadership and his work with other municipal leaders on the Metro Vancouver and TransLink boards?

Has Vancouver become more affordable over the past four years?

Has the City’s approach to public consultation improved or declined?

Has Council appropriately balanced housing growth with neighbourhood planning?

Has ABC delivered on its promises regarding public safety and service delivery?

Has City Hall become more transparent and accountable?

Do you support the overall direction Council has taken since 2022?

Ultimately, these are questions every voter must answer for themselves.

The Election Is Yours to Decide

We hope this first “Getting to Know the Parties” profile has given you a useful introduction to ABC Vancouver, Mayor Ken Sim, their record over the past four years, and their priorities for the next term.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll continue this series with profiles of the other major municipal parties and their mayoral candidates. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to do your own research, compare the choices, and make an informed decision.

Don’t forget the following important election dates:

Vote-by-mail applications open: September 8

Advance Voting: October 3, 7, 10 and 13

Election Day: October 17

Save the Date: Mayoral Candidates Town Hall

The Fairview/South Granville Action Committee will host a Mayoral Candidate Town Hall Meeting the evening of September 28th, 2026. You will have the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and ask questions about the issues that matter most to you. 7 of the 8 declared mayoral candidates have agreed to participate. We’ll provide more information including participating candidates, location, registration and event details in the coming weeks. We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be an informative and engaging evening.