National

BC United sources leak 'extremism' file on B.C. Conservatives' executive Isidorou

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Sep, 2024 02:35 PM

Sources in the Official Opposition BC United party have leaked a file on the "extremism" of the B.C. Conservatives' executive director, Angelo Isidorou, less than two weeks after the parties' leaders announced a deal to work together.

The document depicts Isidorou's involvement in the People's Party of Canada as a founding member, his "admiration" of right-wing figures including Donald Trump, and includes what it calls a "white power" photo of him wearing a Make America Great Again cap while making a hand gesture it says is associated with the alt-right movement.

The seven-page report titled "Angelo Isidorou's Extremism" was intended for use in the province's Oct. 19 election, but was compiled before BC United Leader Kevin Falcon suspended his party's campaign last month, urging support for the B.C. Conservatives instead.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says of the claims that Isidorou is a "capable individual," and he's more concerned with defeating Premier David Eby's New Democrats than about the people working behind the scenes in his own party.

Isidorou, who describes himself as a Canadian conservative who abhors all forms of extremism, says in a statement he was being a "dumb" first-year university student when he wore the MAGA hat at the opening of the former Trump International Hotel and Tower in 2017.

He says the hand gesture is "innocuous" and he "utterly" rejects it having a meaning other than "OK."

The opposition research document also included screenshots of Isidorou's social media activity, including a post saying, "Buckle up, it's riot season," in connection to Black Lives Matter protests.

It also shared a post from Isidorou about the 2023 election success of anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, saying: "First it was Argentina — today it's the Netherlands. Tomorrow it will be Canada."

Isidorou resigned from the People's Party of Canada in 2019.

The file about Isidorou was provided to The Canadian Press by BC United sources on condition of anonymity.

The future of the party has been in doubt since Falcon's Aug. 28 announcement, with some of its MLAs now running as B.C. Conservative candidates and others as Independents.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

LNG company's plan for floating work camp is rejected by Squamish, B.C.

Plans to use a renovated cruise ship to house more than 600 workers as they build a liquefied natural gas facility near Squamish, B.C., have been voted down by the local council. The ship arrived in B.C. waters in January after a 40-day journey from Estonia, where it had sheltered Ukrainian refugees, but Woodfibre LNG didn't obtain a permit from the district to operate the so-called "floatel."

LNG company's plan for floating work camp is rejected by Squamish, B.C.

Second pro-Palestinian protest camp set up at UVIC

A second pro-Palestinian protest camp has been set up at a university in B-C, two days after the establishment of the first camp at U-B-C in Vancouver. Protesters say students at the new encampment at the University of Victoria are demanding that the school divest itself from investments linked to Israel.

Second pro-Palestinian protest camp set up at UVIC

B.C. to provide $155.7 million to recruit and retain specialized health workers

The British Columbia government is spending more money to recruit and retain health-science workers, especially those in rural and remote communities. Health Minister Adrian Dix says $155.7 million has been set aside at a time when B.C. has a "significantly increasing population" and more skilled health-care staff are needed, particularly in remote communities.

B.C. to provide $155.7 million to recruit and retain specialized health workers

Ottawa 'urgently' waiting for info from B.C. before deciding on drug criminalization

The province is one year into a three-year pilot project to decriminalize possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. A Health Canada exemption was issued to allow the pilot to proceed. Last week, B.C. Premier David Eby asked Health Canada to recriminalize the use of those drugs in public spaces, such as hospitals and parks. Possession in private spaces would still

Ottawa 'urgently' waiting for info from B.C. before deciding on drug criminalization

Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors

Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan. He says 1 million seniors received their benefits card and are eligible to make claims under the program as of today.

Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors

B.C. woman arrested over speech that praised Hamas attack

Police say a 44-year-old woman has been arrested in a hate-crime investigation over a speech in Vancouver that praised the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. A statement from the Vancouver Police Department says the woman "referred to a number of terrorist organizations as heroes."