Svend Robinson: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Svend Johannes Robinson (born March 4, 1952) is a Canadian politician and prominent activist for homosexual rights. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of Danish descent, Robinson was the New Democratic member of parliament for Burnaby-Douglas, a riding in Burnaby, the third largest city in British Columbia and a suburb of Vancouver.

As the longest-serving British Columbia MP in his time, in office from 1979 to 2004, Svend Robinson is notable for having been the first MP to come out as a homosexual. Although faced with homophobia from some members of the House of Commons, he has since been followed by other declared homosexuals Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard, fellow New Democrats Libby Davies and Bill Siksay, and Liberal MPs Scott Brison and Mario Silva.

Robinson ran to succeed Audrey McLaughlin at the 1995 NDP leadership convention but withdrew in favour of Alexa McDonough after the first ballot despite the fact that he had received the most votes. Robinson realised that he could not defeat McDonough on the second ballot since most of the votes cast by supporters of third place finisher Lorne Nystrom would have gone to her.

Svend Robinson is a self-described socialist, and is commonly regarded as being one of the most left wing figures in Canadian politics. He is best known for his dislike of American foreign policy, especially towards Cuba, and his distrust of corporations. He was the NDP's foreign policy critic until 2001, when he was forced to resign after making a controversial visit to Yasser Arafat in Israel.

Robinson is also a committed activist. He was involved in the First Nations aboriginal land claims standoff at 100 Mile House; fighting for the right of Sue Rodriguez to receive assisted suicide; the anti-logging protests at Clayoquot Sound; and the protests against the FTAA during the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April 2001.

He was in his time one of the NDP's most popular MPs, particularly popular in his own riding due to the above-average level of activity of his community offices. He has been strongly involved in the New Politics Initiative in the NDP's renewal process, although he remained committed to the party after the NPI's near miss at the 2001 general convention in Winnipeg.

On April 15, 2004, Robinson admitted to the theft of a piece of jewelry valued by the RCMP at $CAD 21,500. He claimed the theft was stress-related. He announced that he was going on a medical leave of absence and was stepping aside as a nominated candidate in the 2004 federal election. He turned himself in to police on April 14, and was formally charged with one count of theft over $5,000 on June 21. On August 6, he pleaded guilty, and was given a conditional discharge. This gave him a year's probation and 100 hours of community service, but left him without a criminal record, a sentence the Crown described as "appropriate." [1]

Robinson's long-time assistant Bill Siksay was nominated in his place as NDP candidate for Burnaby-Douglas; Siksay won the riding in the federal election in June 2004.