Premier David Eby said he is going to reflect Selina Robinson91裸聊视频檚 decision to quit his party91裸聊视频檚 caucus after she claimed the party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a humbling moment to know that I didn91裸聊视频檛 create the space for her to be able to bring that forward and I will have to reflect on that,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淲hen any of my colleagues have made (anti-Semitic) remarks it was expected that apologies should suffice,91裸聊视频� she said, before listing past anti-Semitic statements by members of the NDP caucus.
While Robinson91裸聊视频檚 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.
Robinson91裸聊视频檚 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. Elmore91裸聊视频檚 comment does not mention Hamas91裸聊视频� role as the instigator of the conflict, while calling for the release of all the hostages.
Robinson91裸聊视频檚 letter claims that Elmore never apologized for her comments in 2004 and Elmore91裸聊视频檚 comments 91裸聊视频渁larmed the community again of Mable91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渁ntisemitism.91裸聊视频� According to Robinson91裸聊视频檚 letter, the Jewish community 91裸聊视频渁sked for her resignation91裸聊视频� but 91裸聊视频渨as merely told that (Attorney-General Niki Sharma) would now be the point of contact for anti-racism work in the Jewish community.91裸聊视频�
Elmore disagreed with Robinson91裸聊视频檚 characterization.
91裸聊视频淚 know that Selina is in a very difficult situation,91裸聊视频� she said, adding she is 91裸聊视频渧ery sad91裸聊视频� about her decision to leave caucus. 91裸聊视频淚 think I91裸聊视频檓 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.91裸聊视频�
Eby said the NDP caucus will feel the loss of Robinson91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渋mportant voice,91裸聊视频� adding caucus members feel quite hurt. He added he disagrees with Robinson91裸聊视频檚 characterization of a number of their colleagues, who every day 91裸聊视频渇ight racism and discrimination, but he has to accept that Robinson didn91裸聊视频檛 feel safe as a Jewish woman.
91裸聊视频淎lthough I disagree with many of these issues (raised in the letter), it91裸聊视频檚 still cause for me to reflect on why she didn91裸聊视频檛 feel comfortable bring that forward, so we can deal with it.91裸聊视频�
Eby said he will have a long-scheduled meeting with the Rabbinical Council of British Columbia Friday to engage with the Jewish community.
91裸聊视频淪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.91裸聊视频�
Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad spoke before Eby91裸聊视频檚 scrum with reporters and called on Eby to resign.
Robinson91裸聊视频檚 resignation from the NDP caucus also dominated Question Period with BC United Leader Kevin Falcon calling for a 91裸聊视频渇ull and independent inquiry91裸聊视频� into Robinson91裸聊视频檚 allegations.
91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频渟tunning to say the least.91裸聊视频�
Falcon said Eby needs to address the accusations in Robinson91裸聊视频檚 letter directly.
91裸聊视频淭here is still an opportunity for the Premier to do the right thing,91裸聊视频� Falcon said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why I91裸聊视频檓 asking the Premier again, 91裸聊视频楬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.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
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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91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just saying there has been anti-Semitism in caucus,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频�(If) you pay attention to our conventions, there is a lot of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment, certainly around the state of Israel.91裸聊视频�
The Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA plans to sit as an independent for the rest of her term after having already announced in December that she won91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频渃rappy piece of land with nothing on it.91裸聊视频�
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.
