BC Conservatives drop Victoria-Beacon Hill candidate Joachim Agou over social media posts
Interim leader Lorne Doerkson removed Agou from the Conservative slate on October 8 after posts targeting the Pakistani community and pro-Palestinian protesters were made public by the NDP.
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The BC Conservatives removed Victoria-Beacon Hill candidate Joachim Agou from their slate on October 8, 2026, after old social media posts targeting the Pakistani community and pro-Palestinian protesters were made public by the NDP.
NDP candidate Amna Shah called out the posts as "horrific racism" on the morning of October 8, and the BC NDP followed with a news release. About 90 minutes after Shah's post, interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson confirmed Agou was no longer a Conservative candidate.
What the posts said
The Globe and Mail and CP24 reported that the posts included a reference to Pakistan as a "sh*thole," a comment that a driver who struck pro-Palestinian protesters "should have reversed too," and reposts of content from prominent white supremacists. The posts were made before the election campaign began and were not part of any election-period statement.
What Doerkson said
Doerkson said: "There is no excuse for this. I will not tolerate it. The candidate in Victoria-Beacon Hill is no longer a Conservative candidate. If elected, he will not serve in the Caucus." He added that he had not seen the posts before learning of them, but said he "of course would never support the comments."
Agou's response
When CTV News reached Agou for comment, he said: "I'll look into it." Global News sought a response and received none before publication. By October 8, Agou had deleted his X account and been removed from the BC Conservative website.
What this means for voters in Victoria-Beacon Hill
Ballots for the October 24 vote are printed in advance, so Agou's name likely remains on the ballot in Victoria-Beacon Hill. The Globe and Mail reported that the NDP has held the seat in every provincial election since 2005. Voters in the district who want current information on the ballot can check Elections BC at electionsbc.ca.
Voters elsewhere in BC can read about the provincial candidates and their parties at voche.me.
Questions this story answers
Why was Joachim Agou dropped from the BC Conservatives?
Interim BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson removed Agou from the party's slate on October 8, 2026, after social media posts by Agou came to light. The posts included a reference to Pakistan as a 'sh*thole' and a comment that a driver who struck pro-Palestinian protesters 'should have reversed too.' Doerkson said there was 'no excuse' for the posts and that Agou would not serve in the Conservative caucus even if elected.
What district was Joachim Agou running in?
Joachim Agou was the BC Conservative candidate in Victoria-Beacon Hill, a district in the City of Victoria. The NDP has held the seat in every provincial election since 2005, according to the Globe and Mail. The district is one of 93 across British Columbia each electing one MLA on October 24, 2026. Voters in the district can find candidates listed at Elections BC, electionsbc.ca.
Who first raised Agou's social media posts publicly?
NDP candidate Amna Shah, who is running against Agou in Victoria-Beacon Hill, called out the posts on October 8, 2026. Shah described the posts as 'horrific racism.' Shortly afterward, the BC NDP issued a news release with further details of the post content.
What did Joachim Agou say when confronted about the posts?
When CTV News reached Agou for comment on October 8, he said 'I'll look into it.' Global News also sought comment and reported no response from him. By the time Global News published its article, Agou had deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account and been removed from the BC Conservative website.
What did Lorne Doerkson say about removing Agou?
Doerkson said: 'There is no excuse for this. I will not tolerate it. The candidate in Victoria-Beacon Hill is no longer a Conservative candidate. If elected, he will not serve in the Caucus.' Doerkson also said he had not seen the posts before being told of them, but that he 'of course would never support the comments.'
What exactly did Agou's posts say?
According to reporting by the Globe and Mail and CP24, the posts included a reference to Pakistan as a 'sh*thole,' a statement that a driver who struck pro-Palestinian protesters 'should have reversed too,' and reposts of content from prominent white supremacists. The posts were made before the election campaign and surfaced on October 8 when the NDP publicized them.
Can voters in Victoria-Beacon Hill still vote Conservative?
After a candidate is removed from a party, their name typically remains on the ballot because ballots are printed in advance. Voters in Victoria-Beacon Hill who cast a ballot for Agou would be voting for an unaffiliated candidate who no longer has Conservative party support. Elections BC is the authority for final ballot information, and voters can confirm details at electionsbc.ca.
Is this the first candidate dropped in the 2026 BC provincial election?
No. Earlier in the campaign, Amelia Boultbee, who had moved from the Conservatives to the NDP, announced she would not seek re-election. Brent Chapman, a former BC Conservative MLA, also withdrew from the Surrey South race. Agou's removal on October 8 is a mid-campaign expulsion by the party rather than a voluntary withdrawal.
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