丁果独家专访温哥华市长沈观健 Ding Guo’s Exclusive Interview with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim

在特朗普一日三变对加拿大征收关税的乱云飞渡中，从外面匆忙赶回市长办公室接受我采访的沈观健市长，显得轻松和胸有成竹。一段时间没有跟市长畅谈市政国政，感觉市长愈发老成持重，与他运动家式的体态和一贯年轻活力的精神，形成一种奇妙的对比辉映。虽然参选时是政治素人，毕竟在誉满全球的大都会温哥华执掌市政两年半，面对各种毁誉，能够做到荣辱不惊，全心贯彻初衷，要让城市换新貌，没有两把刷子，谈何容易。首当其冲，我当然问他特朗普关税对市政可能带来的冲击，这是当下的热点，也是任何专访的起点。沈观健没有痛骂特朗普，也没有高喊保加卫国，只是沉着地表示，既然不能左右外国政客如何做，那就把自己做强做好，乘着这个机会，反省加拿大和各省市在经济架构和经贸发展上的痼疾，全力突破改善，那自然就会将危机转化成难得的机遇。沈观健将声调稍稍拉高，“温哥华已经走在正确的轨道上，我们要做的就是加快速度，比如更快地打破繁文缛节的旧规管限制，让新企业、新项目快速上马，让土地审批变得更快，解决房屋危机，繁荣经济，这样就可以做到任凭风浪起，稳坐钓渔船”。我问他，作为百年来温哥华第一个华裔市长，两年半来到底取得那些成绩？沈观健幽默地表示，你闭起眼睛，静下心来，回想对比一下，两年半前的温哥华是什么景象，现在是怎么景象？你走在市中心的街上，哪怕是走在无家可归者集聚的市中心东端喜士定地区，会感觉怎样的变化？沈观健自豪地给出他的答案，城市街区的安全在他和整个ABC执政团队、以及警方的努力下，已经大幅提升。是的，在沈观健当选前，市中心的“随机攻击”事件就层出不穷，唐人街经常遭遇涂鸦，搞得人心惶惶，如今这些治安情况已经迅速得到改善，这不能不说是一种城市治理的“常识回归”。沈观健强调，他上马后迅速改变温市警察局拨款不足的现象，让VPD拿到市政计划中的全部拨款，增聘警员，提升士气，让温市中心回到安全祥和，这是城市发展应有的面貌，也是城市经济再度起飞的基础。沈观健所言不虚，我在采访前的一天，特地跟两个朋友去缅街和喜士定街一带的流浪汉集中地，大家一致感觉情况好转，市容大幅改善，商店橱窗的亮度和可观度不错，在我们行过的一段时间里，没有听到平常频繁且震耳欲聋的警车呼叫，显示治安有了很大起色。尽管沈观健当初强制铲除帐篷城的时候引发争议，但事实胜于雄辩，温哥华市中心的治安良好回来了。

种族歧视出于无知

改善唐人街问题是沈观健选举时的五大议题之一，也是他对华裔支持者和华人社区的庄严承诺。对此，沈观健也是娓娓道来。不说市长在唐人街设立了直接倾听民意的办公室，市长列举唐人街的街容、新开的商业店铺、游客的增加人数，都远远超过前任市长四年任期的状况。沈观健指着办公室墙上挂的太平洋铁路修建完成时的亚裔劳工照片说，当年华工对温哥华建设付出诸多，不公平 的人头税缴纳，也成为省政和城市发展的重要经济来源。因此，市政府在唐人街建设和文化保存上，投入多一点的资源，对整个温哥华的城市来讲意义重大。沈观健强调，一个亚裔市长，不是因为肤色而被称道，市长的执政是否带来城市的积极变化，才是衡量的标准。他希望自己无论执政四年、八年或者更长时间，在离开政坛的时候，市民认可并记住他在这个伟大城市发展的道路上，留下值得被记住的脚印，就无愧选民对他的信任。

我问市长，他曾经感慨地说，如果他是一个“欧裔白人”市长，可能就不会遭遇一些不符合事实的攻击。执政至今，政绩可观，是否这些无聊的抨击，已经减少或者消失。沈观健淡然回应，城市治理的成功，是市议会和市政团队的共同努力，而市长作为公众人物，承担一些过度的批评和抱怨，是理所当然的，尽管有时候有些批评难免有“种族歧视”的色彩。他风趣地举了一个例子，卑诗水电公司三百六十四天给市民成功服务，人们习以为常；但一天因为各种差错出现断电断水，肯定遭遇大量批评，这是生活的常态。作为市长，要谦卑对待批评，这是公众人物的必要功课。至于种族歧视，除了极少数别有用心的人，大部分情况也是出于无知，因此，市府支持华人社区各种弘扬传统文化的活动，让社区之间良性互动，彼此支持，铲除种族歧视滋生的土壤，才是市府反歧视工作的重点。

其实，对市长的不满批评，也并非都来自非华裔社区。我传递周围朋友的抱怨，称市长很少在华裔举办的社区各种活动出现，好像选完就不认人了。尽管我自己常常批评华人社区对华裔政治人物的期待“失准”，认为政治人物参加自己举办的红白喜事，就是看得起华人，不然就是“忘恩负义”。要知道，华裔政治人物是立法者，是行政首长，衡量他们的标准最重要的就是看他们的政绩。沈观健对我的“愤愤不平”淡然一笑，称自己还是积极参加华人社区的活动，这样就是接地气、直接听到他们对市政的呼声。无奈整个温哥华，光华人社区就有三百多个活动要找市长参加，肯定分身无术。市长要应付市内各个族裔的活动，难免挂一漏万。他诚恳请求华裔朋友们谅解他的苦衷，而他则尽量多参见活动，他也喜欢跟大家互动。我感觉，沈观健讲这些话的时候，诚恳谦卑，并无冠冕堂皇的搪塞，显见他在社区服务观念上的长足进步。他十分感谢，有时候走在街区，会有人特意趋前打招呼，感谢他对城市的付出，这也坚定他从政的信心。

与尹大卫省长互动良好

温哥华补选在即，明年也是大选年。我问市长，挑战何在？对ABC这个新政党的成长是否满意？沈观健坦诚说，补选因为投票率低，支持者可能不踊跃投票，反对者则相反，所以执政党要加倍努力。他说，ABC是一场改造城市、繁荣温哥华的市民运动，远远超出政党运作这样的政治常态。作为市长，沈观健强调发展是硬道理，是提升城市竞争力的关键。上任之初，面对警力不足、治安败坏、经济萧条，市府提出了地税增加十个百分点以上的预算，来满足城市重新起步的需要。通过一系列良政治理措施，尤其是放松对经济发展不必要的规管和限制，温哥华经济出现了蓬勃向上的生机。经济好了，市府各项服务在量和质上都大幅提升，地税也降到了今年不但三个百分点，可见发展就是硬道理。沈观健说，作为中间偏右的执政团体，ABC团队跟中间偏左的维多利亚省府合作相当默契，他自己也跟省长尹大卫互动良好，彼此在改善唐人街和市中心东端的积弊上立场一致。至于联邦，无论谁在今年大选中胜出，沈观健期待渥太华能堵住刑法的漏洞，因为这对温哥华对付犯罪问题至关重要。

我问沈观健，温哥华市议会至今只有周楠一个华裔议员，这次补选两位候选人也都是非华裔。在明年大选中，是否会网罗更多华裔参选？沈观健肯定地说，希望大家推荐有能力的华裔候选人参与下次选举，也希望华裔社区在投票率低下的四月五日补选中发力，提升投票率，让温哥华见证华裔参与市政建设的重要性。而他自己，不但会在下次大选中带领ABC团队争取连任，更要完成对温哥华选民的承诺，持续将温哥华建设成全球瞩目的大都会，可以应对各种内外危机。

A Calm and Confident Leader Amid Trump’s Tariff Chaos

Amid the whirlwind of Trump’s erratic tariff policies against Canada, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim hurried back to his office for our exclusive interview, appearing calm and confident. It had been some time since we last had an in-depth conversation about municipal and national affairs, and I immediately noticed a change—he had become more seasoned and composed, a striking contrast to his ever-youthful energy and athletic demeanor.

Despite being a political outsider when he first ran for office, Ken Sim has now spent two and a half years leading one of the world’s most globally recognized cities. Navigating both praise and criticism while steadfastly pursuing his vision to transform Vancouver is no easy feat.

Naturally, I began by asking about the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs on the city—a pressing topic and the starting point for any meaningful discussion. Ken Sim didn’t resort to angry rhetoric against Trump, nor did he engage in over-the-top nationalistic declarations. Instead, he remained composed, emphasizing that since Canada cannot control foreign politicians' actions, the focus should be on strengthening itself. He sees this as an opportunity to reevaluate and improve economic structures at all levels—national, provincial, and municipal.

Raising his voice slightly, he asserted,"Vancouver is already on the right track. What we need to do is accelerate our progress—cut through outdated bureaucratic red tape, fast-track new businesses and development projects, speed up land approvals, tackle the housing crisis, and boost economic prosperity. If we do that, we can weather any storm.”

Tangible Improvements: A Safer and More Livable Vancouver

I then asked, as Vancouver’s first Chinese Canadian mayor in over a century, what are his biggest achievements so far?

Ken Sim responded with a touch of humor:"Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and recall what Vancouver looked like two and a half years ago. Now, look around—what do you see?"

He pointed out that street safety has dramatically improved under his leadership, a major policy goal for his ABC Party administration and the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

Before Sim’s election, random attacks were frequent in downtown Vancouver, and Chinatown had become a prime target for vandalism. People felt unsafe walking the streets. Today, these security concerns have significantly diminished.

Indeed, before our interview, I purposely walked through Main Street and Hastings—Vancouver’s most notorious area for homelessness and crime—and I saw noticeable improvements. Storefronts looked cleaner and more vibrant, and for the first time in a long while, there were no blaring police sirens during my visit.

Sim acknowledged that his decision to clear out the encampments in downtown Vancouver was controversial, but he stood by it: “Facts speak louder than words. Public safety has returned to downtown Vancouver.”

On Racism: Education Is the Key

Revitalizing Chinatown was one of Sim’s top five campaign promises, and he remains committed to this pledge. He detailed direct city investments in the district, including improvements in infrastructure, new businesses, and increased tourism—all surpassing the progress of his predecessor’s four-year term.

Gesturing toward a historical photo of Chinese laborers who built the Canadian Pacific Railway, Sim underscored the longstanding contributions of Chinese Canadians to Vancouver’s development. He firmly believes that supporting Chinatown is not just about preserving history, but about recognizing the integral role Chinese Canadians have played in building Vancouver.

Sim is also candid about the racial bias he has faced as an Asian mayor. I asked him whether the baseless criticisms against him have subsided now that his achievements are evident.

He responded with measured calmness, saying,"As a public official, I accept that criticism—sometimes excessive—is part of the job. However, some attacks do have racial undertones. But racism, for the most part, comes from ignorance rather than malice. That’s why our city supports cultural initiatives that foster cross-community understanding—because the best way to combat racism is through education and engagement.”

Balancing Community Expectations

Interestingly, some of the most vocal criticisms of Sim don’t come from non-Chinese groups, but from within the Chinese community itself. Some complain that he doesn’t attend enough community events, leading to perceptions that he has “forgotten his roots” after being elected.

I challenged this notion, arguing that Chinese Canadians sometimes have unrealistic expectations of their elected officials—believing that if a politician doesn’t show up at their banquets and ceremonies, they’re being neglected. But a mayor’s real job is governance, not just attending social events.

Sim chuckled at my frustration, acknowledging the challenge of balancing expectations."There are over 300 events within the Chinese community alone, not to mention all the other ethnic groups in Vancouver. It’s physically impossible to attend them all. But I genuinely enjoy engaging with the community, and I will continue to do my best."

A Strong Partnership with Premier David Eby

As Vancouver prepares for a by-election, and with a federal election on the horizon next year, I asked Sim about the challenges ahead and the growth of his ABC Party.

He was candid: by-elections are tricky because turnout is low, meaning opponents are often more motivated to vote than supporters. But he is confident in ABC’s governance model, which he describes as a movement for revitalizing Vancouver, not just another political party.

Sim also emphasized his pragmatic approach to governance, stressing that economic growth is the key to urban prosperity.

"When I took office, we inherited a city plagued by underfunded law enforcement, rising crime, and economic stagnation. That’s why we proposed a 10% property tax increase to jumpstart a citywide recovery. But now, thanks to our pro-growth policies, Vancouver’s economy is booming. We’ve been able to lower the property tax increase to just 3% this year, proving that growth is the real solution."

Despite leading a center-right administration, Sim enjoys a strong working relationship with BC Premier David Eby, a center-left leader. They have worked together effectively, especially in revitalizing Chinatown and addressing downtown safety issues.

At the federal level, Sim hopes that whoever wins the upcoming election will address loopholes in the criminal justice system, which is crucial to Vancouver’s fight against crime.

The Future of Chinese Representation in Vancouver Politics

Currently, Vancouver City Council has only one Chinese Canadian councilor, Peter Meiszner, and neither of the two by-election candidates is Chinese. I asked Sim whether he plans to recruit more Chinese candidates for next year’s general election.

He answered without hesitation:"Absolutely. We encourage the community to recommend strong Chinese candidates. And in the meantime, I urge all Chinese Canadians to turn out and vote in the upcoming by-election on April 5. A higher turnout will showcase the political strength of the Chinese community."

As for his own future? Ken Sim is determined to run for re-election.

"My goal is to continue transforming Vancouver into a world-class metropolis that can withstand any internal or external challenges. And I am committed to delivering on that promise."

With that, our conversation ended. As I left his office, one thing was clear—Ken Sim is not just Vancouver’s first Chinese mayor; he is a leader determined to shape its future.