{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Selina Robinson | image = Selina Robinson.jpg | caption = Robinson in 2016 | office = Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills of British Columbia | term_start = December 7, 2022 | term_end = February 5, 2024 | premier = David Eby | predecessor = Anne Kang | successor = Lisa Beare | office1 = Minister of Finance of British Columbia | term_start1 = November 26, 2020 | term_end1 = December 7, 2022 | premier1 = {{plainlist| * John Horgan * David Eby }} | predecessor1 = Carole James | successor1 = Katrine Conroy | office2 = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of British Columbia | term_start2 = July 18, 2017 | term_end2 = November 26, 2020 | premier2 = John Horgan | predecessor2 = Ellis Ross (Minister of Housing) | successor2 = David Eby (Minister Responsible for Housing)<br />Josie Osborne (Minister of Municipal Affairs) | office3 = Minister of Citizens' Services of British Columbia | premier3 = John Horgan | term_start3 = October 4, 2019 | term_end3 = January 22, 2020 | predecessor3 = Jinny Sims | successor3 = Anne Kang | assembly4 = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM4 = Coquitlam-Maillardville | term_start4 = May 14, 2013 | term_end4 = September 21, 2024 | predecessor4 = Diane Thorne | successor4 = Jennifer Blatherwick | birth_name = Selina Mae Dardick | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1964}} | birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | party = Independent | other_party = New Democratic (until 2024) | profession = | spouse = | children = | alma_mater = Simon Fraser University }}
'''Selina Mae Robinson''' ({{nee}} '''Dardick'''; born 1964)<ref name=":3" /> is a Canadian politician who was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election and remained in the legislature until 2024.<ref name="Straight130527">{{Cite news|date=2013-05-27|title=NDP candidate Selina Robinson wins in Coquitlam-Maillardville after final votes tallied|url=https://www.straight.com/news/385786/ndp-candidate-selina-robinson-wins-coquitlam-maillardville-after-final-votes-tallied|access-date=2022-12-15|publisher=The Georgia Straight|first=Charlie|last=Smith|language=en-CA}}</ref>
She represented the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville, first as a British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) MLA and then as an Independent.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2024-03-06 |title=Selina Robinson resigns from NDP caucus |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/selina-robinson-resings-1.7136089 |access-date=2024-03-04 |work=CBC News}}</ref> She served in the cabinet of British Columbia from 2017 until 2024.
She stepped down in February 2024 after she called Palestine "a crappy piece of land with nothing on it" until the founding of Israel.<ref name="timescolonist.com">{{Cite web |date=2024-02-06 |title=Selina Robinson resigns cabinet post over 'crappy piece of land' remarks |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/selina-robinson-to-get-anti-islamophobia-training-after-rising-calls-for-resignation-8211739 |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life == Born in Montreal as Selina Dardick, she moved with her parents to Richmond, British Columbia, in 1978.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=JHSBC Oral History Collection: Selina Robinson |url=https://archives.jewishmuseum.ca/selina-robinson |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=Jewish Museum and Archives of BC|language=en}}</ref><ref name="JI170428">{{Cite web |date=2017-04-28|title=NDP values in kishkes |url=https://www.jewishindependent.ca/ndp-values-in-kishkes/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=The Jewish Independent|language=en}}</ref> After graduating from Simon Fraser University with a master's degree in counselling psychology,<ref name="Straight130527"/> she joined the Jewish Family Service Agency, eventually becoming its associate executive director.<ref name="JI170428"/> A resident of Coquitlam since 1994, she worked as a family therapist before entering politics as a member of Coquitlam City Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coquitlam MLA's role is building strong communities |url=https://www.tricitynews.com/standout/coquitlam-mlas-role-is-building-strong-communities-3070052 |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=Tri-City News|date=September 27, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
== Politics == In September 2012, Robinson announced her intention to seek the BC NDP nomination for Coquitlam-Maillardville in the next provincial election;<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-09-24|title=Robinson to run provincially|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/robinson-to-run-provincially-3003074|access-date=2022-12-15|publisher=Tri-City News|first=Janis|last=Warren|language=en-CA}}</ref> she was acclaimed the NDP's candidate for the riding in November that year.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-12-18|title=MLA, councillor acclaimed|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/mla-councillor-acclaimed-3006611|access-date=2022-12-15|publisher=Tri-City News|first=Janis|last=Warren|language=en-CA}}</ref> She was initially declared defeated on election night in 2013, with Steve Kim of the BC Liberals deemed winner by 105 votes. However, once absentee ballots were counted, she pulled ahead to win the riding by a 35-vote margin over Kim.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-05-28|title=NDP takes lead in Coquitlam-Maillardville final count|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ndp-takes-lead-in-coquitlam-maillardville-final-count-1.1358783|access-date=2022-12-15|publisher=CBC News|language=en-CA}}</ref> A judicial recount confirmed Robinson's victory by a final margin of 41 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-06-05|title=UPDATED: Selina Robinson wins MLA seat|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/updated-selina-robinson-wins-mla-seat-3003856|access-date=2022-12-15|publisher=Tri-City News|first=Janis|last=Warren|language=en-CA}}</ref> She served as critic for mental health and addictions, seniors, local government and sports in the NDP shadow cabinet.<ref name="BCLeg42">{{cite web |title=MLA: Hon. Selina Robinson |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/42nd-Parliament/Robinson-Selina |website=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |access-date=2022-12-15 |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531042327/https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/42nd-Parliament/Robinson-Selina |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the 2017 provincial election, Robinson once again faced Steve Kim, this time winning by more than 2400 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-05-09|title=#bcelxn17: Coquitlam-Maillardville: NDP's Robinson avoids repeat of 2013 recount with win over Kim|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/bcelxn17-coquitlam-maillardville-ndps-robinson-avoids-repeat-of-2013-recount-with-win-over-kim-3051519|access-date=2022-12-15|publisher=Tri-City News|language=en-CA}}</ref> She was subsequently appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in the new BC NDP government under Premier John Horgan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-07-18 |title=B.C.'s new NDP government sworn into office |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-s-new-ndp-government-sworn-into-office-1.4211129 |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=CBC News |first1=Richard |last1=Zussman |first2=Justin |last2=McElroy |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |date=2017-07-18 |title=Premier John Horgan announces new cabinet to build a better B.C. |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017PREM0061-001322 |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |language=en}}</ref> Following the resignation of Jinny Sims from cabinet in October 2019, Robinson briefly assumed the role of Minister of Citizens' Services,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-10-04 |title=B.C. cabinet minister Jinny Sims resigns amid RCMP investigation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/jinny-sims-resigns-special-prosecutor-1.5310247 |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=CBC News |language=en-CA}}</ref> until Anne Kang took over the position in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-22 |title=B.C. premier fills Jinny Sims vacancy, swaps jobs in cabinet tweak |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/horgan-tweeks-cabinet-1.5436367 |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=The Canadian Press, via CBC News |language=en-CA}}</ref>
== Cabinet Minister == Following her re-election in 2020, she was appointed Minister of Finance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breaking - Selina Robinson has been named BC's Minister of Finance |url=https://twitter.com/richardzussman/status/1332088715984785409 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |website=Twitter.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-cabinet-announcement-1.5816947 |title=New faces join B.C.'s new cabinet, while stalwarts stay on in key roles |publisher=CBC News |first1=Bethany |last1=Lindsay |date=2020-11-26 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }}</ref> After Horgan announced his retirement as premier and party leader in 2022, Robinson considered running to replace him before deciding otherwise.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-14 |title=Coquitlam's most powerful female politician thinking about NDP leadership bid|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/coquitlams-most-powerful-female-politician-thinking-about-ndp-leadership-bid-5583782 |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=Tri-City News |first=Diane |last=Strandberg |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-18 |title=B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson won't seek BC NDP leadership|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8998798/b-c-finance-minister-selina-robinson-wont-seek-bc-ndp-leadership/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=Global News |first=Richard |last=Zussman |language=en-CA}}</ref> On December 7, 2022, she was appointed Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills by Premier David Eby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bc-premier-david-eby-new-cabinet |access-date=2022-12-07 |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |language=en-CA}}</ref>
Following the start of the Gaza war, Robinson claimed that Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth called her "every single day from Oct. 7 for about 10 days, to report in to me about what was happening on the ground".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Saks |first=Arly |date=2023-11-13 |title=Students to learn of Holocaust |url=https://www.bnaibrith.ca/students-to-learn-of-holocaust/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=B'nai Brith Canada |language=en-US}}</ref> Robinson worked with B'nai Brith to mandate Holocaust education in the school curriculum which would be organized by the pro-Israel organization CIJA.<ref name=":1" />
== Remarks on Palestinians == Selena Robinson stepped down from the NDP after she said that Palestine was "a crappy piece of land" before Israel was founded.<ref name="timescolonist.com"/>
=== "a crappy piece of land" === In early 2024, Selena Robinson made the following comments during an online event hosted by B'nai Brith Canada,<ref name="progress">{{cite web |last1=Wadhwani |first1=Ashley |last2=Collins |first2=Lauren |date=1 February 2024 |title=Selina Robinson under fire for calling Gaza 'a crappy piece of land' |url=https://www.theprogress.com/news/selina-robinson-under-fire-for-calling-gaza-a-crappy-piece-of-land-7313166 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Chilliwack Progress}}</ref> {{Blockquote|text=How [Israel] started. It was a crappy piece of land with nothing on it – you know, there were several hundred thousand people but other than that, it didn’t produce an economy. It couldn’t grow things. It didn’t have anything on it.|author=Selena Robinson}} Adel Iskandar, a professor at Simon Fraser University, stated that "There’s absolutely no history book that would affirm Minister Robinson’s articulation of that period in time... Obviously it was not a 'crappy piece of land'. It is the land that has had over 15,000 years of human habitability", and describing the suggestion that the land was empty as a "fundamentally colonialist narrative". Federal NDP MP Matthew Green characterised Robinson's comments as historically inaccurate and "deeply derogatory and insensitive", and called on Eby to reconsider Robinson's ministerial position.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/02/01/bc-selina-robinson-israel-comments/ |title=Selina Robinson apologizes after 'disrespectful,' historically inaccurate comments about Israel |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2 February 2024 |website=CityNews |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> Robinson apologised for the comments later that week, calling them "disrespectful," continuing to clarify "I was referring to the fact that the land has limited natural resources". In a statement, Eby said that Robinson's claim was "wrong and unacceptable... I thank her for withdrawing the comments and apologizing unreservedly", though Robinson did not publicly withdraw the comment.<ref name="progress" />
On February 1, 2024, the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) alongside the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) released a statement calling on David Eby to call for the immediate resignation of Robinson.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=FPSE Calls for Immediate Resignation of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills |url=https://fpse.ca/news/fpse-news/news-release-240201 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=fpse |date=February 2024 |language=en-CA}}</ref> FPSE also describe Robinson as undermining "the democratic principles of freedom of expression, academic freedom, and a college and university system free of direct manipulation by the provincial government" given that Robinson had been directly involved in pressuring Langara College to fire Dr. Natalie Knight regarding her comments in support of the October 7 attacks.<ref name=":0" /> They cite Robinson, retweeting a call by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) for Langara to fire Knight and that Robinson had later met with the College to express concerns about Knight’s reinstatement.<ref name=":0" />
On February 5, 2024, she was dismissed from her position as Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills because of comments about Israel being founded on a 'crappy piece of land',<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-05 |title=Senior B.C. minister Selina Robinson removed from cabinet by premier for saying Israel founded on 'crappy piece of land' |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-senior-bc-minister-selina-robinson-removed-from-cabinet-by-premier-for/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref> which reflected denial of the violence of colonialism and potential support for a settler colony, although Robinson clarified she was referring to the fact that the land has limited natural resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ricochet.media/politics/a-closer-look-at-the-racist-myth-at-the-heart-of-robinsons-comments/ |publisher=Ricochet |title=A closer look at the racist myth at the heart of Selina Robinson's comments |date=February 7, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Selina Robinson under fire for calling Gaza 'a crappy piece of land' |url=https://www.theprogress.com/news/selina-robinson-under-fire-for-calling-gaza-a-crappy-piece-of-land-7313166 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=The Chilliwack Progress |language=en}}</ref> After a protest of the BC NDP retreat in Surrey, BC, Robinson was dismissed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Judd |title=Dozens protest BC NDP retreat, demanding Selina Robinson resign following Israel comments - BC | Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10273164/protest-selina-robinson-ndp-comments/}}</ref>
=== Dismissal of Dr. Natalie Knight === On October 28, 2023, Dr. Natalie Knight, an instructor at Langara College made remarks that were interpreted as praising the October 7 attacks. She was initially put on leave, but then reinstated in January 2024 after Langara College conducted an investigation and found that Knight did not violate the college's policies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News / B.C. minister exits cabinet over political interference {{!}} CAUT |url=https://www.caut.ca/bulletin/2024/02/news-bc-minister-exits-cabinet-over-political-interference |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=www.caut.ca}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Her remarks had been deemed offensive to some, but ultimately protected under academic freedom.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Emma |date=2024-02-02 |title=Selina Robinson accused of pressuring Langara to dismiss instructor |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/02/01/bc-selina-robinson-langara-instructor-hamas/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=CityNews Vancouver |language=en}}</ref> However, after the reinstatement, Robinson met with the college administration and called for Knight's termination – and on January 26, the college terminated Knight.<ref name=":4" /> Michael Conlon of FPSE said it was unprecendented for a politician to intervene directly into a college's internal matters and Robinson was "abusing her ministerial powers to silence political views that don’t agree with her own".<ref name=":4" />
On February 1, 2024, the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) alongside the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) released a statement calling on David Eby to call for the immediate resignation of Robinson.<ref name=":0" /> FPSE also describe Robinson as undermining "the democratic principles of freedom of expression, academic freedom, and a college and university system free of direct manipulation by the provincial government".<ref name=":0" />
== Post-cabinet == Following her dismissal, she announced she feels unsupported as a Jewish woman in her party, that she faced double standards by her party and would not seek re-election as an MLA at the 2024 election.<ref name=":2" />
On March 6, 2024, she announced she would sit as an independent.<ref name=":2" /> In the 2024 British Columbia general election her seat was held by the NDP by Jennifer Blatherwick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BC election 2024 results: Coquitlam-Maillardville {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10778989/bc-election-2024-results-coquitlam-maillardville/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>
On January 1, 2025, she told the National Post that the NDP had been antisemitic "for years" and that progressive parties like the NDP are pandering to "conservative Muslim groups that are anti-Israel".<ref>{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Dave |date=1 January 2025 |title='Jack Layton is turning over in his grave': Ousted New Democrat decries party's antisemitism problem |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/jack-layton-is-turning-over-in-his-grave-ousted-new-democrat-decries-partys-antisemitism-problem |work=National Post |location=Toronto |publisher=Postmedia Network |access-date=4 April 2026}}</ref>
== Electoral record == {{British Columbia provincial election, 2020/Coquitlam-Maillardville}} {{British Columbia provincial election, 2017/Coquitlam-Maillardville}} {{British Columbia provincial election, 2013/Coquitlam-Maillardville}}
== See also ==
* A land without a people for a people without a land
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=David_Eby}} {{ministry box cabinet posts | post1preceded = Anne Kang | post1 = Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills | post1years = December 7, 2022 – February 5, 2024 | post1note = | post1followed = Lisa Beare }} {{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=John_Horgan}} {{ministry box cabinet posts | post1preceded = Ellis Ross | post1 = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing | post1years = July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020 | post1note = | post1followed = David Eby <br/> Josie Osborne | post2preceded = Jinny Sims | post2 = Minister of Citizens' Services | post2years = October 4, 2019 – January 22, 2020 | post2note = | post2followed = Anne Kang | post3preceded = Carole James | post3 = Minister of Finance | post3years = November 26, 2020 – December 7, 2022 | post3note = | post3followed = Katrine Conroy }} {{s-end}}
{{Eby ministry}} {{Horgan Ministry}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Selina}} Category:Anglophone Quebec people Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs Category:Women government ministers of Canada Category:Women MLAs in British Columbia Category:Ministers of finance of British Columbia Category:Coquitlam city councillors Category:Jewish Canadian politicians Category:Living people Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia Category:Women municipal councillors in British Columbia Category:1964 births Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians Category:Female finance ministers Category:Simon Fraser University alumni Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia