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The Perfect Storm: Selina Robinson's Resignation and Political Fallout in British Columbia
2-08-2024
Selina Robinson’s resignation on Monday, February 5, was the culmination of multiple forces colliding together forming the perfect storm for her resignation. She solely is responsible for giving rise to each of the elements that caused this perfect storm. Premier, David Eby, alone can’t be held responsible for Ms. Robinson’s fate. She is the author of her own removal from her ministerial portfolio.
Ms. Robinson in recent months had managed to align an army of critics against herself. Led by BC’s First Nations, Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE), Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), Anti-Genocide protestors, and finally, Palestinian and Muslim Canadians.
Although the Muslim Mosque coalition group have not called for her resignation from the NDP caucus. However, the calls for her removal from the NDP caucus altogether remains high on many other group’s agenda.
 Initially, many British Columbian's had raised concerns in writing about her tweets from her X account as early as November 2023 directly with Premier Eby and number of NDP caucus members.
It took exactly 90 days for her to eventually step down from her position.
Selina's resignation could mark the first instance of a minister or politician facing consequences for defending a pro-genocidal regime in Israel.
It is significant that a provincial party in Canada, and in the Western world, has taken such a principled stand. This event represents a historic milestone for all those who have been vocal and active in protesting against the apartheid and genocidal regime in Israel.
After Robinson issued an apology on X on Friday, February 2nd, for her comments made at a public panel on January 30th, acknowledging them as "disrespectful" B.C. Premier David Eby expressed his disappointment with her failure to meet the expected standard, stating, "She's got some work to do." Following renewed pressure from many Muslim organizations in BC calling for her resignation and a ban on Members of the BCNDP in all mosques in B.C. Premier David Eby announced on Monday that Selina Robinson would step down as the B.C. Minister for Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Eby emphasized the significant amount of work Robinson needs to undertake to address the harm she has caused, deeming it incompatible with her continued role as Minister of Advanced Education.
The contrast between Selina's treatment and that of Ontario MPP Sarah Jama is striking. While Selina faced resignation from her ministerial position, Sarah Jama experienced censure from the Ford government and expulsion from the NDP caucus in Ontario.
In comparison, Jama's initial statement, published on X, demanded an immediate ceasefire and the "end to all occupation of Palestinian land." She emphasized the impact of settler colonialism on the Palestinian territories, condemning the loss of innocent lives saying, "violence and retaliation rooted in settler colonialism have taken the lives of far too many innocent people."
Despite subsequent censure, she reiterated her support for Palestinians in Gaza and condemned Israel's military response to Hamas attacks. Jama urged for the restoration of essential services in Gaza and commended Canadian officials who echoed her call for a ceasefire.
"I restate my call for an immediate ceasefire by Israeli forces, and for the immediate restoration of food, water, fuel, and electricity to Gaza," Jama said. "I applaud the many elected officials in Canada who have joined this call-in recent days, and I hope even more of you will speak out."
She characterized Israel's actions as ongoing domination and occupation of Palestinian territory. Despite similarities in their calls for a ceasefire, Sara's stance led to her expulsion from the Ontario NDP caucus, whereas Selina resigned from her ministerial position after facing a firestorm of criticism and protests from many walks of life and associations.
In response to Selina’s apology and resignation, Nico Slobinsky, Vice President - Pacific Region, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said:
“The removal of MLA Robinson, who apologized for her comments and promised to do better, sends a chilling message that Jewish leaders are held to a different standard than non-Jewish ones.
Slobinsky was “offended and hurt” and called her resignation “obvious double standard and loss of Jewish representation in cabinet.”
“It is shameful that Premier David Eby has bowed to pressure from a loud minority whose campaign to discredit MLA Robinson was centred in anti-Jewish bias and lacked the offer of grace they demand when others falter.”
For many British Columbians, it's evident that according to CIJA's standards, being both Black and Muslim carries significantly far more repercussions in Canada.
While requests to David Eby for an explanation of why she should stay in the caucus remain unanswered, the BCNDP did take a bold and courageous step in the right direction, marking a first in North America.
Haroon Khan, director at Al-Jamia Masjid Vancouver said it should be left up to voters to decide if Robinson remains an MLA, but that she could not remain as a minister representing the province.
However, the political repercussions are far from over. Eby is now facing growing discontent within B.C.’s Jewish community regarding Robinson's treatment.
The Rabbinical Association of Vancouver penned a letter to Eby on Tuesday expressing dismay over his decision to "capitulate to a small but vocal group of individuals."
The letter, signed by the association and nine rabbis accused him of yielding to "bullies for political convenience" and warned that their trust and support would be reconsidered in the future.
Gerald Baier, a political analyst at the University of British Columbia highlighted that Eby succumbed to pressure from grassroots organizations rather than political adversaries.
 Opposition leader Kevin Falcon of B.C.'s United Party remained silent on the matter. However, he has earlier called for resignation of a Victoria City councillor Susan Kim to resign.
Earlier in October of 2023 Gul Gulsen, the BC United party's secretary while responding to the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza and expressing her thoughts, Kevin Falcon called for Gulsen's immediate resignation, condemning her remarks, and affirming support for the Jewish community stating, “unequivocal support for the Jewish community here in B.C. as well as Israel's right to exist and defend itself.”
Gulsen resigned, clarifying that her defense of innocent Palestinian civilians was not anti-Semitic and did not deny Israel's right to exist, threatening legal action against those suggesting otherwise.
Eby said Monday he had not spoken to any opposition party leaders about Robinson.
The discrepancy in how the BCNDP handled Selina's resignation compared to the silence from the official opposition highlights the double standards prevalent in Canadian politics and underscores biases against minority groups of Asian, Black, First Nations, and Muslim descent in Canada.
While Kevin Falcon has chosen silence and punishable actions to those who speak out against what ICJ outlined in their ruling for Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and in Selina’s case for the overtly detrimental remarks and actions that have caused harm and hurt to the many British Columbian’s, the BCNDP's principled approach marks a positive stride in challenging this colonial mindset, albeit one small step at a time.
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