Thursday May 9, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
“I can never have imagined what this ride would have been,” said Selina Robinson in the BC Legislative Assembly on May 9, 2024.
“I got into politics because of homelessness in my community. And I got myself elected to council at the urging of the member from Burke Mountain. And little did I anticipate that 10 years later I would be Minister of Housing. I could not have predicted that,” she began as she began her nearly eight-minute official farewell speech.
Robinson is not seeking re-election in the October 2024 BC provincial election.
Robinson now sits as an independent MLA after having been ousted from the BC NDP caucus a few months ago (the most obvious issue was a dispute over the presence of antisemitism in the BC NDP caucus, but Robinson was also losing track of timely work in the post-secondary ministry).
Robinson had stepped down as a minister on February 5 amidst an outcry by pro-Palestinian groups and others in response to remarks she made about the land where Israel was created as a nation as being ‘a crappy piece of land’ (seeming to imply that it had no value).
Many thank you’s:
Today Robinson thanked voters, volunteers and donors who she said believed in her as their representative “in this magnificent place”, and helped her get re-elected in 2017 and 2020.
“While the last four months in this place isn’t ending as I would have envisioned, I have absolutely no regrets. I came here to use my voice and to make a difference and I know that I have,” said Robinson.
Dressed today in a bright red jacket, Robinson expressed appreciation for the support of her husband, son and daughter, also mentioning her in-laws, and her late mother.
She acknowledged deputy ministers who “always made me look good” and expressed gratitude at having worked alongside former Premier John Horgan and former Deputy-Premier Carole James.
Robinson made a point of saying that she delivered “two budgets that resulted in surpluses”.
“I love our democracy, and it works because we all believe in it,” said Robinson, as a segway to noting that she has served in Opposition, then in a minority government, then in a majority government and most recently as an Independent.
“I have experienced it all,” she said with passion.
Thanking the press:
“I also want to take time to acknowledge and thank the press gallery. Our democracy depends on them,” said Robinson.
“And while some of them are part of the furnishings of this place — yes, I am referring to Vaughn (Palmer) — others are fresh-faced and they bring a perspective and an analysis of what is happening here,” she said today.
“This motley crew of journalists have all been professional and kind, especially when my cancer came back and when I was forced to leave cabinet. Yes, they have columns to write, and at times I may not have agreed with their characterization or commentary. But that is what they are tasked to do. But more than just doing their jobs, I have to say they all checked in on me as a human being,” said Robinson.
“So I thank them for their kindness and their friendship, and I thank them for their tireless mostly unsupported unvalued efforts to tell the story of what is happening here.”
Future candidates:
“My parting words in this place are for those who decide to put their name forward for public office,” said Robinson.
In speaking to those folks directly: “Know yourself and your values. There is no such thing as a perfect political party… yes, you need a thick skin but make sure that it’s not so thick that you no longer feel the pain of others. Come into this business with your integrity and be sure to leave with your integrity. Be courageous. If you get yourself elected, recognize the privilege to serve all the people you represent, not just those who supported or voted for you.”
Thanking the people:
“To all British Columbians, to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.. thank you for the honour to serve all of you. It’s been one of the greatest gifts of my life,” said Robinson with a quaver of voice that reflected the significance of the departing moment.
Closing notes:
It should be noted that Selina Robinson never seemed to bear any of the bias toward being a woman in politics. She has been her own person and over the years it seems that strength of presence nicely and naturally superseded any nonsense about women being in elected office.
Very likely the unwavering support of her husband throughout her career meant that there was also no career-drag on the home front, which many women in careers and politics are still impacted by.
A social worker by trade, it seems unlikely she’d end up as a provincial finance minister — something the long-time journalist Vaughn Palmer intimated when Horgan appointed Robinson to that role. But it has evidently been her passion for the well-being of people that has shone through to the light the path of her various successes.
===== RELATED:
- Eby boots Selina Robinson from cabinet (February 5, 2024)
- Cabinet minister Selina Robinson under fire (February 5, 2024)
- BC aims to increase quality standards in international education (January 23, 2024)
- Minister Selina Robinson: true grit & big picture (October 20, 2023)
- No place for hate in BC says Premier (October 16, 2023)
- Selina Robinson heads into post-secondary portfolio (December 7, 2022)
- Economists see housing and risk-vs-uncertainty as key challenges in 2023 (December 6, 2022)
- Day after Budget 2022: Victoria Chamber hosts Finance Minister Robinson (February 23, 2022)