John Rustad’s B.C. Conservative plan for B.C. Ferries unveiled Thursday was overshadowed by a nasty old social media post from one of his candidates.

Brent Chapman unloaded some vicious remarks about Palestinians and Muslims 10 years ago, then apparently forgot all about them when he decided to run for the Conservatives. His post popped up again Thursday — as they always seem to do — by way of CKNW’s Jas Johal, and Rustad was forced again to the defensive on an incendiary, sensitive topic.

It turns out Chapman is now deeply sorry for the remarks, has apologized to the two Muslims in the party’s field of candidates, to Rustad, to Rustad’s Muslim chief of staff and to Muslims and Palestinians in general.

He said he no longer holds the beliefs, and the party says he has made meaningful relationships with Muslims in Canada.

That’s a good idea, given that a sizeable percentage of Surrey, where he’s trying to win a seat, is Muslim. Rustad has accepted the apology and will stand against hate “every step of the way … so all people can see B.C. as a welcoming place for them to be able to build a future.”

He plans to do that with Chapman still on his........

© Times Colonist