National

Selina Robinson quits B.C. NDP, citing antisemitism in caucus

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Mar, 2024 05:16 PM

Former British Columbia cabinet minister Selina Robinson has quit the NDP, citing antisemitism in the ruling party's caucus.

Robinson, who is Jewish, says she can no longer remain in the party because it is not properly addressing antisemitism in the province or among her former colleagues.

Robinson told an impromptu news conference in a hallway of the B.C. legislature that she will now sit as an Independent.

She resigned her cabinet post as minister of post-secondary education last month after saying modern Israel was founded on "a crappy piece of land."

The Jan. 30 remarks sparked an outcry from pro-Palestinian groups that called them racist and Islamophobic.

Robinson, who has also previously served as finance minister, says she hasn't heard from Premier David Eby or any other members of the NDP caucus since informing them of her decision.

Eby said last month that Robinson's "belittling" remarks were incompatible with her remaining in cabinet.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

High power demand due to cold snap: BC Hydro

BC Hydro says the extreme cold temperatures saw the province experience a record-high power demand. The public utility says in a statement it reached record demand highs on Friday night of eleven thousand three hundred megawatts.

High power demand due to cold snap: BC Hydro

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today

Canadians living in provinces where the federal carbon price is collected are expected to receive their first Climate Action Incentive rebate of the year today. The federal government says people living in provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan will receive the rebate through direct bank deposit or by cheque if they have filed their income tax and benefit returns.

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today

Snowflurries in Vancouver on Tuesday

Environment Canada says the forecast calls for snowflurries in the Metro Vancouver area by Tuesday, followed by rain later this week. Temperatures are still forecast to remain well below zero Celsius in the province's northeast and Kootenay regions.

Snowflurries in Vancouver on Tuesday

Record cold in Western Canada across B.C., Alberta

In British Columbia, rescue crews say two skiers are lucky to be alive after they became lost in the Fitzsimmons Creek area near Whistler late Thursday as wind chill dipped around -50 C. North Shore Rescue says on social media that a helicopter was used to hoist out the pair who were hypothermic with frozen feet, and it's "unlikely the skiers would have survived the night."

Record cold in Western Canada across B.C., Alberta

Phone lines not meant for refund complaints: Coquitlam RCMP

Mounties in Coquitlam are reminding the public that its emergency and non-emergency lines are not meant for complaints about things like a cold fast-food burger. Police say that was one of many calls they had to 9-1-1 that take away staff time from helping someone with a life-threatening situation.

Phone lines not meant for refund complaints: Coquitlam RCMP

Snow and cold in Metro Vancouver wreaks havoc on the roads

An abrupt snowfall in Metro Vancouver resulted in snarled traffic and set off numerous crashes on major routes. Environment Canada says the area received about 3 centimetres of snow Thursday, which combined with freezing temperatures to create icy roads throughout the region.