Premier David Eby said he is going to reflect Selina Robinson害羞草研究所檚 decision to quit his party害羞草研究所檚 caucus after she claimed the party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a humbling moment to know that I didn害羞草研究所檛 create the space for her to be able to bring that forward and I will have to reflect on that,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淲hen any of my colleagues have made (anti-Semitic) remarks it was expected that apologies should suffice,害羞草研究所� she said, before listing past anti-Semitic statements by members of the NDP caucus.
While Robinson害羞草研究所檚 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.
Robinson害羞草研究所檚 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. Elmore害羞草研究所檚 comment does not mention Hamas害羞草研究所� role as the instigator of the conflict, while calling for the release of all the hostages.
Robinson害羞草研究所檚 letter claims that Elmore never apologized for her comments in 2004 and Elmore害羞草研究所檚 comments 害羞草研究所渁larmed the community again of Mable害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渁ntisemitism.害羞草研究所� According to Robinson害羞草研究所檚 letter, the Jewish community 害羞草研究所渁sked for her resignation害羞草研究所� but 害羞草研究所渨as merely told that (Attorney-General Niki Sharma) would now be the point of contact for anti-racism work in the Jewish community.害羞草研究所�
Elmore disagreed with Robinson害羞草研究所檚 characterization.
害羞草研究所淚 know that Selina is in a very difficult situation,害羞草研究所� she said, adding she is 害羞草研究所渧ery sad害羞草研究所� about her decision to leave caucus. 害羞草研究所淚 think I害羞草研究所檓 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.害羞草研究所�
Eby said the NDP caucus will feel the loss of Robinson害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渋mportant voice,害羞草研究所� adding caucus members feel quite hurt. He added he disagrees with Robinson害羞草研究所檚 characterization of a number of their colleagues, who every day 害羞草研究所渇ight racism and discrimination, but he has to accept that Robinson didn害羞草研究所檛 feel safe as a Jewish woman.
害羞草研究所淎lthough I disagree with many of these issues (raised in the letter), it害羞草研究所檚 still cause for me to reflect on why she didn害羞草研究所檛 feel comfortable bring that forward, so we can deal with it.害羞草研究所�
Eby said he will have a long-scheduled meeting with the Rabbinical Council of British Columbia Friday to engage with the Jewish community.
害羞草研究所淪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.害羞草研究所�
Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad spoke before Eby害羞草研究所檚 scrum with reporters and called on Eby to resign.
Robinson害羞草研究所檚 resignation from the NDP caucus also dominated Question Period with BC United Leader Kevin Falcon calling for a 害羞草研究所渇ull and independent inquiry害羞草研究所� into Robinson害羞草研究所檚 allegations.
害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所渟tunning to say the least.害羞草研究所�
Falcon said Eby needs to address the accusations in Robinson害羞草研究所檚 letter directly.
害羞草研究所淭here is still an opportunity for the Premier to do the right thing,害羞草研究所� Falcon said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why I害羞草研究所檓 asking the Premier again, 害羞草研究所楬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.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
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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害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just saying there has been anti-Semitism in caucus,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所�(If) you pay attention to our conventions, there is a lot of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment, certainly around the state of Israel.害羞草研究所�
The Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA plans to sit as an independent for the rest of her term after having already announced in December that she won害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所渃rappy piece of land with nothing on it.害羞草研究所�
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.
