VANCOUVER, B.C. - Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has declined Green Party candidate Pete Fry’s invitation to a one-on-one debate on the steps of City Hall, days before Saturday’s municipal election.
The Greens announced the refusal Wednesday, October 14, saying it follows a pattern of Sim skipping public forums. ABC Vancouver campaign manager Trevor Ford told Business in Vancouver that Sim has already taken part in six debates and is focused on a phone town hall Thursday instead.
“This isn’t about one debate. It’s about a pattern of Ken Sim and ABC consistently choosing controlled settings over open, public questions,” Fry said. “A phone town hall with screened questions is not a debate.”
The Greens say Fry leads Sim in recent polling, citing Leger (23% to 19%) and Canada Pulse Insights (28% to 27%). A CityHallWatch analysis notes the Canada Pulse poll shows the two “neck and neck” with overlapping statistical ranges, and the Leger survey is from October 9 with 36% undecided.
Fry said he wanted the debate to counter what he called “knowingly fraudulent claims” by Sim’s campaign and to answer ABC attack ads directly.
Sim has also been absent from more than ten other mayoral events, according to the Greens, including forums hosted by UBC, The Tyee, the Metro Vancouver Alliance and neighbourhood houses.
Vancouver votes Saturday, October 17.
This story is based on a Green Party of Vancouver media release. Apna News has not independently verified the poll claims or the debate-skipping count. ABC Vancouver’s response, via campaign manager Trevor Ford to Business in Vancouver, is included above.
Correction (October 16, 2026): The Greens announced the refusal on Wednesday, October 14, not Tuesday. A timing reference was softened to “days before Saturday’s municipal election.”
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