Premier David Eby said he is going to reflect Selina Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 decision to quit his party香蕉视频直播檚 caucus after she claimed the party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a humbling moment to know that I didn香蕉视频直播檛 create the space for her to be able to bring that forward and I will have to reflect on that,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淲hen any of my colleagues have made (anti-Semitic) remarks it was expected that apologies should suffice,香蕉视频直播� she said, before listing past anti-Semitic statements by members of the NDP caucus.
While Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 comment does not mention Hamas香蕉视频直播� role as the instigator of the conflict, while calling for the release of all the hostages.
Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 letter claims that Elmore never apologized for her comments in 2004 and Elmore香蕉视频直播檚 comments 香蕉视频直播渁larmed the community again of Mable香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渁ntisemitism.香蕉视频直播� According to Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 letter, the Jewish community 香蕉视频直播渁sked for her resignation香蕉视频直播� but 香蕉视频直播渨as merely told that (Attorney-General Niki Sharma) would now be the point of contact for anti-racism work in the Jewish community.香蕉视频直播�
Elmore disagreed with Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 characterization.
香蕉视频直播淚 know that Selina is in a very difficult situation,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding she is 香蕉视频直播渧ery sad香蕉视频直播� about her decision to leave caucus. 香蕉视频直播淚 think I香蕉视频直播檓 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.香蕉视频直播�
Eby said the NDP caucus will feel the loss of Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渋mportant voice,香蕉视频直播� adding caucus members feel quite hurt. He added he disagrees with Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 characterization of a number of their colleagues, who every day 香蕉视频直播渇ight racism and discrimination, but he has to accept that Robinson didn香蕉视频直播檛 feel safe as a Jewish woman.
香蕉视频直播淎lthough I disagree with many of these issues (raised in the letter), it香蕉视频直播檚 still cause for me to reflect on why she didn香蕉视频直播檛 feel comfortable bring that forward, so we can deal with it.香蕉视频直播�
Eby said he will have a long-scheduled meeting with the Rabbinical Council of British Columbia Friday to engage with the Jewish community.
香蕉视频直播淪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.香蕉视频直播�
Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad spoke before Eby香蕉视频直播檚 scrum with reporters and called on Eby to resign.
Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 resignation from the NDP caucus also dominated Question Period with BC United Leader Kevin Falcon calling for a 香蕉视频直播渇ull and independent inquiry香蕉视频直播� into Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 allegations.
香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播渟tunning to say the least.香蕉视频直播�
Falcon said Eby needs to address the accusations in Robinson香蕉视频直播檚 letter directly.
香蕉视频直播淭here is still an opportunity for the Premier to do the right thing,香蕉视频直播� Falcon said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 why I香蕉视频直播檓 asking the Premier again, 香蕉视频直播楬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.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
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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香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just saying there has been anti-Semitism in caucus,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播�(If) you pay attention to our conventions, there is a lot of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment, certainly around the state of Israel.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檛 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 香蕉视频直播渃rappy piece of land with nothing on it.香蕉视频直播�
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.
