Premier David Eby said he is going to reflect Selina RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 decision to quit his partyB次元官网网址檚 caucus after she claimed the party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a humbling moment to know that I didnB次元官网网址檛 create the space for her to be able to bring that forward and I will have to reflect on that,B次元官网网址� Eby said, while speaking with reporters Thursday morning at the legislature.

Eby comments come after Robinson resigned from caucus Wednesday (March 6). In a letter to the NDP caucus, she said it has consistently shown a double standard when it comes to anti-Semitism.

B次元官网网址淲hen any of my colleagues have made (anti-Semitic) remarks it was expected that apologies should suffice,B次元官网网址� she said, before listing past anti-Semitic statements by members of the NDP caucus.

While RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 letter cites several of her former colleagues, she has been especially critical of Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington and Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives to the Attorney General.

RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 letter cited comments Elmore had made in March 2004 as well as November 2023, when she commented on the current conflict between Hamas and Israel. ElmoreB次元官网网址檚 comment does not mention HamasB次元官网网址� role as the instigator of the conflict, while calling for the release of all the hostages.

RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 letter claims that Elmore never apologized for her comments in 2004 and ElmoreB次元官网网址檚 comments B次元官网网址渁larmed the community again of MableB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渁ntisemitism.B次元官网网址� According to RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 letter, the Jewish community B次元官网网址渁sked for her resignationB次元官网网址� but B次元官网网址渨as merely told that (Attorney-General Niki Sharma) would now be the point of contact for anti-racism work in the Jewish community.B次元官网网址�

Elmore disagreed with RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 characterization.

B次元官网网址淚 know that Selina is in a very difficult situation,B次元官网网址� she said, adding she is B次元官网网址渧ery sadB次元官网网址� about her decision to leave caucus. B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檓 known to have dedicated my life to really upholding human rights and social justice for all people and I stand by that. I continue to support that and work every day to bring British Columbians together.B次元官网网址�

Eby said the NDP caucus will feel the loss of RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渋mportant voice,B次元官网网址� adding caucus members feel quite hurt. He added he disagrees with RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 characterization of a number of their colleagues, who every day B次元官网网址渇ight racism and discrimination, but he has to accept that Robinson didnB次元官网网址檛 feel safe as a Jewish woman.

B次元官网网址淎lthough I disagree with many of these issues (raised in the letter), itB次元官网网址檚 still cause for me to reflect on why she didnB次元官网网址檛 feel comfortable bring that forward, so we can deal with it.B次元官网网址�

Eby said he will have a long-scheduled meeting with the Rabbinical Council of British Columbia Friday to engage with the Jewish community.

B次元官网网址淪o we are going to be guided by the Jewish community about how we can address rising anti-Semitism in our province, hope to make them feel safe and support them in this moment of increased hate.B次元官网网址�

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad spoke before EbyB次元官网网址檚 scrum with reporters and called on Eby to resign.

RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 resignation from the NDP caucus also dominated Question Period with BC United Leader Kevin Falcon calling for a B次元官网网址渇ull and independent inquiryB次元官网网址� into RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 allegations.

B次元官网网址淲hat the long-time senior member and former (former finance minister) of this NDP government has confirmed is that there is systemic anti-Semitism that requires more than just the empty words that we just heard from this Premier.B次元官网网址�

Eby responded by saying he agreed with the need for actions to support the Jewish community in pointing on-going initiatives, but did not commit to an inquiry.

Falcon reiterated his call during his weekly media availability after having described the last 24 hours in provincial politics as B次元官网网址渟tunning to say the least.B次元官网网址�

Falcon said Eby needs to address the accusations in RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 letter directly.

B次元官网网址淭here is still an opportunity for the Premier to do the right thing,B次元官网网址� Falcon said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why IB次元官网网址檓 asking the Premier again, B次元官网网址楬old a full independent investigation of his cabinet, his caucus, his party and indeed in government about the systemic anti-Semitism that a former senior member, former finance minister has alleged are rife within his government.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Robinson announced she was leaving caucus Wednesday (March 6). She said her reason for resigning was the BC NDP was not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.

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B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just saying there has been anti-Semitism in caucus,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址�(If) you pay attention to our conventions, there is a lot of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment, certainly around the state of Israel.B次元官网网址�

The Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA plans to sit as an independent for the rest of her term after having already announced in December that she wonB次元官网网址檛 run again.

Robinson had resigned from cabinet on Feb. 5 following days of furor including pressure from extra-parliamentary groups aligned to the NDP after she called Gaza a B次元官网网址渃rappy piece of land with nothing on it.B次元官网网址�

She had made that comment Jan. 30 during an online forum with Jewish public leaders, during which she also lamented the state of historical knowledge among 18-to-34-year-olds about the Holocaust. Her comments also drew criticism from First Nations leaders for perpetuating colonial ideas, namely the concept of Terra nullius.