Vancouver City Councillor Pulls Video Accusing Opponents of Being Drug Dealers

Vancouver City Hall is seen in Vancouver, on Jan. 9, 2021. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver City Councillor Lenny Zhou has removed a Mandarin-language video posted last week in which he accused his political rivals of being drug traffickers and drug users, saying his accusations were based on “incorrect information.”

Zhou, who was elected to council in 2022 along with Mayor Ken Sim as part of the A Better City (ABC) Party, said in the video that some non-ABC city councillors “are drug users themselves” adding that “right before Christmas, they were publicly distributing drugs on the streets.”

Councillors from various parties denounced the video after it was posted, saying it wasn’t true and harmed their reputations.

Zhou had shared the video on Chinese social media platform WeChat and urged viewers to oppose supportive housing at an upcoming council meeting. He said some of the plans for supportive housing were funding the construction of drug houses and accused several other city councillors of being involved in illegal drug use and trafficking.

Supportive housing is a type of subsidized housing that combines affordable living with on-site or nearby support services, assisting individuals, such as those with mental illness, substance use disorders, disabilities, or histories of homelessness, live independently.

Zhou said he was wrong in his accusations and issued an “unequivocal” apology after removing the video on Feb. 24. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement that he had thanked Zhou for taking responsibility and removing the post.

Several opposition councillors said Zhou’s post may have breached council’s code of conduct and could violate the defamation clause under Canada’s Criminal Code.

Non-ABC councillors Peter Fry, Sear Orr, Lucy Maloney, and Rebecca Blight said Zhou’s video spread “inflammatory and harmful misinformation” of “malicious and known falsehoods” that breaches Zhou’s oath of office.

Zhou ran on a campaign of public safety and financial prudence and is known for his close ties to Vancouver’s Chinese-Canadian community.

Sim and ABC have said they support supportive housing in principle, while reiterating the need for strong safety measures and choosing appropriate locations for such housing.

Vancouver has debated the merits of supportive housing for years due to ongoing incidences of drug use, crime and negative impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods tied to such housing in the city, particularly in the city’s Downtown Eastside.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.