Former cabinet minister Selina Robinson resigned Wednesday (March 6) from the B.C. NDP caucus saying she feels the party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.
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
British Columbians of Jewish faith are hiding their Stars of David (jewelry) and Jewish businesses have had to hire extra security, she added.
B次元官网网址淲e are not saying anything about it,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淲e are not saying this is unacceptable and we donB次元官网网址檛 have a plan for supporting the Jewish community or for helping address this level of hatred that weB次元官网网址檙e seeing on our streets and in our schools and in our post-secondary education system.B次元官网网址
Robinson made these comments while speaking to reporters in the legislature, where she made the announcement.
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 had called the British-ruled Mandate upon which Israel was founded in 1948 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.
Robinson acknowledged that her B次元官网网址渦nintentionalB次元官网网址 comments caused harms, adding that she has asked for and received forgiveness.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes we say things and they do hurt people,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淪o we need to understand what itB次元官网网址檚 about.B次元官网网址
That, however, is not happening, she said.
Robinson said she had approached the Office of Premier David Eby with the idea of doing anti-Semitism and anti-Islamophobia training for caucus, but was rejected.
B次元官网网址淭hat really shattered my heart, because I think that is really what we need to do and if governmentB次元官网网址檚 not interested, then I canB次元官网网址檛 be part of a government that would choose to be silent.B次元官网网址
Robinson also described herself as a victim of double standards, saying caucus colleagues Mable Elmore, Jagrup Brar and Janet Routledge all made anti-Semitic comments before and after Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, without losing their post. Those comments were hurtful to the Jewish community, she said.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a double standard that I know has deeply hurt the Jewish community,B次元官网网址 she said.
She added that both Routledge and Brar apologized to her.
B次元官网网址淏ut there were no other consequences other than their apology,B次元官网网址 she said.
While Robinson said she does not know yet if she going to use her time in the legislature to talk about Jewish people feeling unsafe in British Columbia, she said she wants to B次元官网网址渉elp heal the pain the peopleB次元官网网址 are feeling.
B次元官网网址淚 want to use my voice to bring people together, to find a way that we can have conversations with compassion, with understanding and in a way that people can feel safe and included here in British Columbia, because that is what I stand for,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淚 used to believe that is what New Democrats stood for. I havenB次元官网网址檛 felt it in quite some time.B次元官网网址
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NDP House Leader Ravi Kahlon denied the existence of anti-Semitism in the caucus.
B次元官网网址淲e are always speaking out against hate toward any community,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淛ust last week, the Premier was calling it out in the legislature. We will continue to do that work. We want to make sure that everyone feels safe here in British Columbia.B次元官网网址
Kahlon also challenged the idea Robinson was subject to a double standard.
B次元官网网址淲hen you are a minister and you make a mistake, there (are) impacts from that,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淎gain B次元官网网址 she has done a lot of amazing work on the behalf of British Columbians. I respect the work sheB次元官网网址檚 done. But a mistake was made and we need to move forward.B次元官网网址
Kahlon said to his knowledge, anti-Semitism was never raised as an issue within caucus.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not aware of that ever being raised,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淏ut that being said, sheB次元官网网址檚 hurting. She is really hurting. It has been the impact from what Hamas has done. (It) has really had an impact on her. I feel for her. My heart goes out to her. I certainly hope that her being able to step away will give her some time to reflect and heal.B次元官网网址
When asked how others can speak out against what is happening right now in Hamas in way that is not anti-Semitic, Robinson said her decision has nothing to do with Hamas.
B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 about a conflict in the Middle East,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淭he fact that people are being killed is horrible. ItB次元官网网址檚 what happening in our streets and in our schools that make people afraid. People shouldnB次元官网网址檛 feel afraid and we are not doing enough so that people can just be who they areB次元官网网址 join with Palestinians and weep for the death and destruction of Gaza. I do and I believe most of the Jewish community does as well.B次元官网网址
Late Wednesday afternoon, Eby said in a statement that RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 decision saddened him.
B次元官网网址淐learly, she is hurting and carrying a lot of pain,B次元官网网址 he said.
He added that Robinson served with distinction in several ministerial roles.
B次元官网网址淚 have deep respect and gratitude for all of the work she has done as a Minister, as an MLA in our caucus, and her advocacy for the Jewish community,B次元官网网址 he said.
Eby added that Robinson made a mistake and that she was doing the work to address the harm that was caused.
B次元官网网址淚 wish she had brought her concerns to me directly so we could have worked through them together,B次元官网网址 he said.
Eby said his governmentB次元官网网址檚 work to bring people and communities together will continue.
B次元官网网址淚 will continue to condemn hate in all its forms including the rise of antisemitism we have seen,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淢y focus remains on taking action for people on the things that matter most to them. I wish Selina nothing but the best.B次元官网网址