Overview
- B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson removed Joachim Agou from the party on Thursday after NDP candidate Amna Shah and media circulated screenshots of Agou’s past social posts.
- The posts, dated 2024–2025, showed Agou endorsing violence toward pro‑Palestinian protesters and sharing a meme that used a slur to refer to Pakistan.
- Doerkson said the posts were inexcusable and that an elected Agou would not sit in the Conservative caucus, and the party deleted Agou’s bio and name from its website within hours.
- Reporters say Agou initially refused to answer questions, the contested posts were later deleted, and some outlets reported he has apologized and intends to run as an independent.
- Elections BC allows candidates to withdraw until Oct. 14 and advance voting begins Oct. 16, but ballot printing has started so Agou’s name will likely still appear, a situation that highlights limits on replacing candidates close to an election and raises concerns for communities targeted by the posts.