Ousted B.C. Conservative candidate Joachim Agou apologizes for posts deemed racist

B.C. election candidate says sorry for posts
B.C. election candidate says sorry for posts
The British Columbia provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Friday, July 24, 2026 in Ottawa.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Writer

A candidate for British Columbia's provincial election, kicked from the Conservatives over online posts the NDP called racist, says he is truly sorry.

Victoria-Beacon Hill candidate Joachim Agou says on social media that he takes responsibility for his words but rejects any accusation of racism.

In one post, Agou said a car that drove through a pro-Palestine protest "should have reversed" over demonstrators, while another showed him sharing a meme that used an expletive to describe Pakistan.

Interim Conservative Party leader Lorne Doerkson said the posts are inexcusable and that, if Agou is elected Oct. 24, he will not be part of the Conservative caucus.

Regarding the protest post, Agou says he should have expressed himself "more clearly and calmly," stating that such demonstrations "should not bring a city to a standstill or put lives at risk."

He also says he understands why the Tories withdrew their support and will run as an independent in the riding considered to be an NDP stronghold.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2026.

Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

  • The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms. From breaking regional, national and international stories to the biggest events in politics, business, entertainment and lifestyle, The Canadian Press is there when it matters, giving Canadians an authentic, unbiased source, driven by truth, accuracy and timeliness.

Lotto Max winning numbers for Tuesday, October 6 are out and there's a $75 million jackpot

Maxmillions and MaxPlus prizes have been won across the country!

The northern lights are forecast almost everywhere in Canada tonight

Most provinces could get a "more intense" aurora in the night sky!

14 products that I always buy at Costco even though I hate shopping there

A few Kirkland Signature items are better than name brands!