BC Conservatives remove Victoria candidate Joachim Agou

Joachim Agou, the British Columbia Conservative Party candidate for Victoria-Beacon Hill, has been removed from the party following the resurfacing of several social media posts. The posts, which were brought to light by Surrey Centre NDP candidate Amna Shah, included comments regarding the Pakistani population in London, sympathy for right-wing political figures, and a response to a video of a vehicle driving through a pro-Palestine protest in Switzerland, where Agou suggested the driver ‘should have reversed’.

BC Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson stated that there is ‘no excuse for this’ and confirmed that Agou would not serve in the caucus if elected. NDP Leader David Eby characterized the incident as a disgrace.

Agou has issued an apology, stating he is ‘truly sorry’ and takes responsibility for his words, though he categorically rejected accusations of racism. He maintained that his comments regarding the protest were an emotional reaction to chaos rather than an attack on faith or nationality. Agou indicated he intends to continue his campaign as an independent candidate.