A Vancouver-based businessman who played a key role in Mayor Doug McCallum鈥檚 successful election campaign is suing former 性视界传媒 city council candidate Brian Young for defamation.

In a Notice of Civil Claim, Bob Cheema alleges Young 鈥渇alsely and maliciously鈥� published statements about him on Twitter, using the handle @YoungOne性视界传媒.

Young is a former president of the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce who ran for city council in 2014 under Barinder Rasode鈥檚 One 性视界传媒 slate. Young claims he worked on McCallum鈥檚 election campaign in 2018 and insists the information in his tweets are factual, therefore not defamatory.

Several tweets are mentioned in Cheema鈥檚 suit, including six sent by Young from this past May and one from April.

鈥淒oug and Bob hide their hand picked police Chief who just happens to be a deputy chief at #vpd,鈥� one tweet alleges. Several refer to Cheema as 鈥�#backroombob.鈥�

鈥淭he Tweets are false and defamatory,鈥� Cheema鈥檚 suit states.

The civil claim states Young鈥檚 tweets implied Cheema was 鈥渦nethical, dishonest and of disreputable character鈥� and 鈥渆ncourages, facilitates and supports the abuse of power by elected representatives of the City of 性视界传媒.鈥�

Further, the suit claims Young鈥檚 tweets insinuate Cheema 鈥渕anipulates, intimidates and bullies the media and member of the City of 性视界传媒鈥檚 elected councillors,鈥� is 鈥渙rchestrating a secretive and improper scheme in relation to the City of 性视界传媒鈥檚 proposed municipal force鈥� and has been 鈥渋nvolved in decision-making for the City of 性视界传媒鈥檚 proposed municipal force.鈥�

It also asserts Young has implied Cheema 鈥渟upports the mayor of the City of 性视界传媒 in order to further his own financial interests.鈥�

Cheema鈥檚 suit argues that by publishing the tweets, the plaintiff has 鈥渂een seriously injured in his character, credit, and reputation and has been exposed to public scandal and contempt, all of which have caused him personal embarrassment, distress and humiliation.鈥�

Cheema is seeking an injunction to stop Young from posting further comments, as well as general, punitive and aggravated damages.

The claim was filed on June 3 and Young鈥檚 response was submitted on June 24.

In his response, Young quotes McCallum鈥檚 Oct. 20 election night speech, in which the mayor thanks Bob Cheema and states he has worked with Cheema for up to 45 years.

鈥淗e worked behind the scenes, all of those years and not only that during this campaign I do not think he slept at all for three months,鈥� McCallum said in his acceptance speech last October, 鈥渁nd he always always gave support and he is a person that I don鈥檛 agree with a lot of the times and I have told him that. But still he respects that and truly he is a friend of mine and he鈥檚 the reason I鈥檓 sitting here today. I want everybody to thank very much Bob Cheema.鈥�

In his reponse to the suit, Young argues the statements constituted a comment on a matter of public interest and were based on fact.

He claims that 鈥渙n or about August 2018鈥� Cheema told him he had already picked the chief of police.

鈥淭he Defendant made the tweet on an occasion of qualified privilege,鈥� Young鈥檚 response states. 鈥淭he Defendant has a legal, moral and social right, duty and interest as being involved in the Mayor鈥檚 campaign and possessing information relating to the 性视界传媒 Police transition.鈥�

Young denies the tweets caused actual loss, damage or expense to Cheema.

Young states in his response that he first met Cheema in 2018, when helping McCallum on his campaign.

Young claims Cheema made the following comment to him: 鈥淵ou will never see me in photos or videos with Doug. I鈥檓 only in the back room,鈥� hence the use of 鈥�#backroombob鈥� in Young鈥檚 tweets, the suit alleges.

Further, Young alleges Cheema said he spent over $300,000 on McCallum鈥檚 campaign and, that he said 鈥淚 control the South Asian media by paying host to report my stories.鈥�

Young alleges Cheema also said he 鈥減aid cleaning staff at 性视界传媒 city hall and they retrieved items from councillors garbage.鈥�

On Aug. 9, Young submitted a Notice of Application seeking Cheema鈥檚 civil claim be struck, arguing Cheema did not provide a list of documents and particulars pursuant to Young鈥檚 request. Young alleges Cheema has 鈥渘ot complied with the Supreme Court Civil Rules by providing a List of Documents within 35 days after the end of the pleading period.鈥�

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
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