ABC, Sim accused of partisan ads in tax bill
Opposition says property tax mailer crosses line with 'zero means zero' messaging ahead of October civic election.
Vancouver's opposition is calling out the city's majority party for using public resources to promote its political agenda. OneCity Vancouver says a property tax mailer sent to all residents this week contains partisan messaging that goes well beyond the routine technical information taxpayers usually receive.
The mailer includes lines like "By implementing a 0% property tax increase for 2026, Council is taking a back-to-basics, back-to-community approach" and "Zero means zero." That last phrase is directly tied to Mayor Ken Sim's budget platform—a plan that passed on a party-line vote in April.
OneCity councillor Lucy Maloney and other opposition members voted against the budget, arguing it would lead to cuts in services residents depend on. The party says taxpayer dollars should never be used to promote a political message, especially with the civic election just five months away in October.
William Azaroff, OneCity's mayoral candidate, is calling on Sim and ABC Vancouver to reimburse the city for the cost of the mailer. "Siphoning away public dollars to deliver partisan messages is poor stewardship," he said.
The city hasn't responded to requests for comment. The reaction on social media has been split, with some defending the mayor's framing and others agreeing it crosses an ethical line.