Editing Svend Robinson

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1952)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Svend Robinson
| image = Svend Robinson.jpg
| caption = Svend Robinson at the January 2003 [[New Democratic Party|NDP]] convention in [[Toronto]], Ontario
| parliament2        = Canadian
| riding2            = [[Burnaby—Douglas]]<br />{{small|([[Burnaby—Kingsway]]; 1988–1997)}}<br />{{small|([[Burnaby (federal electoral district)|Burnaby]]; 1979–1988)}}
| term_start2        = May 22, 1979
| term_end2          = June 28, 2004
| predecessor2       = ''Riding established''
| successor2         = [[Bill Siksay]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|3|4}}
| birth_place = [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], U.S.
| residence =
| party = [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
| alma_mater = [[University of British Columbia]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| occupation = Politician
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* Patricia Fraser (1972–1975)
* Max Riveron (1994–present)}}
}}

'''Svend Robinson''' (born March 4, 1952) is a Canadian politician. He was a [[House of Commons of Canada|member of Parliament]] (MP) from 1979 to 2004, representing [[suburb]]an [[Vancouver]]-area [[Electoral district (Canada)|constituencies]] in the city of [[Burnaby]] for the [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP). He was the first member of Parliament in Canadian history to [[coming out|come out]] as [[gay]] while in office.<ref name="yahoo">[http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/trailblazer-svend-robinson-congratulates-kathleen-wynne-canada-first-200306997.html "Trailblazer Svend Robinson congratulates Kathleen Wynne, Canada's first openly gay premier"]. [[Yahoo! News]], January 28, 2013.</ref> In 2004, he pleaded guilty to stealing an expensive ring and decided not to run in the June 2004 election. At the time, he was one of the longest-serving members in the House of Commons, having been elected and re-elected for seven consecutive terms. In the [[2019 Canadian federal election]], Robinson was the NDP candidate for the riding of [[Burnaby North—Seymour]] but lost to Liberal incumbent [[Terry Beech]] by 1,560 votes.

==Early life==
Robinson was born in [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota, United States, of [[Denmark|Danish]] descent, to Edith Jensen and Wayne Robinson. His father opposed the [[Vietnam War]] and brought his family to live in Canada. Robinson attended high school at [[Burnaby North Secondary]]. He later obtained a law degree from the [[University of British Columbia]], and completed post-graduate work in international law at the [[London School of Economics]].<ref name=truelove>Graeme Truelove, ''Svend Robinson: A Life in Politics''. New Star Books, 2013. {{ISBN|978-1-55420-072-6}}.</ref>

He was called to the British Columbia Bar as a barrister and solicitor in 1978, and practised law with Robert Gardner and Associates until his election to the House of Commons in May 1979.<ref name=truelove />

Prior to coming out as gay, Robinson was married to Patricia Fraser, his high-school girlfriend, from 1972 to 1975.<ref name=truelove />

==Politics==
Robinson was the [[New Democratic Party|NDP]] [[House of Commons of Canada|MP]] for [[Electoral district (Canada)|ridings]] in the [[Vancouver]] [[suburb]] of [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]], the third-largest city in British Columbia.

As the longest-serving British Columbia MP of his time, in office from 1979 to 2004, Robinson is notable for having been the first Canadian MP to [[Coming out|come out]] as [[gay]], in the spring of 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/svend-robinson-gay-mp-1.4548089|title=30 years after Canada's first MP came out, LGBT politicians still face challenges|date=2018-02-24|website=cbc.ca|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref> He was the only openly LGBT member of the [[House of Commons of Canada|Canadian House of Commons]] until [[Bloc Québécois]] MP [[Réal Ménard]] came out in 1994.

Robinson is known for his negative views on [[American foreign policy]], especially towards [[Cuba]], his challenge of corporate power, his [[criticism of Israel]], and his strong support for Palestinian leaders. Party leader McDonough briefly removed Robinson's portfolio over Middle East issues in 2002 for comments he made criticizing the Israeli government for alleged war crimes in [[Jenin]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ndp-demotes-robinson-because-of-misperception-1.354817 "NDP demotes Robinson because of 'misperception'"]. [[CBC News]], April 18, 2002.</ref>

One of his earliest political activities was leading a group of NDP MPs who heckled former US President [[Ronald Reagan]] while he was speaking at the House of Commons in support of the [[Strategic Defense Initiative]] and aid to the [[Contras]]. He was a long-time activist in the anti-apartheid movement and was a member of the official Canadian delegation to the [[1994 South African election]]. Robinson has also been critical of the [[China|Chinese]] government for its treatment of political dissidents and for its policies in [[Tibet]]. He was a founder of the Canadian wing of Parliamentarians for [[East Timor]]. He was active in international parliamentary groups, including serving as rapporteur and chair of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]]'s Parliamentary Assembly Human Rights and Development Committee.<ref name=truelove />

Robinson was a leader in the [[Right to die|movement for the right]] to [[Assisted suicide|physician-assisted death]], fighting for the right of well-known [[ALS]] patient [[Sue Rodriguez]] to choose when to end her life with the assistance of a physician. He was ultimately present at her bedside at the time of her physician-assisted death.<ref>Joan M. Gilmour, "Death, Dying and Decision-Making about End of Life Care" in [[Jocelyn Downie]] et al (eds), ''Canadian Health Law and Policy'' (Canada: LexisNexis, 2007), page 471</ref>

A strong environmentalist, he engaged in peaceful civil disobedience to block logging of old-growth forests at Lyell Island in [[Haida Gwaii]] in 1985 and at [[Clayoquot Sound]] on the west coast of [[Vancouver Island]] in 1993.<ref name=clayoquot>[http://globalnews.ca/news/774070/twenty-years-later-the-war-in-the-woods-at-clayoquot-sound-still-reverberates-across-b-c/ "Twenty years later, the "War in the Woods" at Clayoquot Sound still reverberates across B.C."]. [[Global News]], August 11, 2013.</ref> For the latter action, he was sentenced to 14 days of imprisonment.<ref name=clayoquot /> Robinson was also an outspoken advocate of the rights of aboriginal peoples both in Canada and internationally. He stood at barricades with the Penan people in [[Sarawak]], Malaysia and was condemned by Prime Minister [[Mahathir Mohamad]].<ref name=truelove /> He was adopted into the [[Haida people|Haida]] Nation, and given the Haida name "White Swan" by Haida elder Ada Yovanovich.<ref name=truelove />

Robinson ran to succeed [[Audrey McLaughlin]] as leader of the NDP at the [[1995 New Democratic Party leadership election|1995 NDP leadership convention]]. He won the first ballot, and had won regional primaries in [[Ontario]], [[Quebec]], and British Columbia. Ahead of the second ballot between himself and [[Alexa McDonough]], Robinson noticed  last-place candidate [[Lorne Nystrom]]'s delegates were moving disproportionately to McDonough. Realizing that McDonough would likely pick up enough support from Nystrom's delegates to eliminate any realistic chance of him winning, Robinson conceded to McDonough before the second ballot. On a motion by Robinson, McDonough was acclaimed as leader.<ref name="Second Fiddle">{{cite news| title = Second fiddle leads NDP: McDonough wins, Robinson gives in | first = Hugh | last = Windsor | newspaper =[[The Globe and Mail]] | publisher = [[CTVglobemedia]] | location = Toronto | date = 1995-10-16 | pages = A1, A5 }}</ref>

On December 31, 1997, Robinson was injured in a hiking accident on [[Galiano Island]], breaking his jaw and ankle.<ref>"Svend Robinson has surgery after hiking accident". [[CBC News]], January 1, 1998.</ref>

Robinson was involved in the [[New Politics Initiative]], an effort to build a new progressive political party in Canada closely linked with social movements and labour,<ref>David Mutimer, ''Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs 2001''. [[University of Toronto Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-8020-9235-9}}.</ref> and the NDP's renewal process, although he remained committed to the party after the NPI's defeat at the 2001 general convention in [[Winnipeg]]. He was an early and strong supporter of former national NDP Leader [[Jack Layton]].

In 2003, [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] [[Jerry Grafstein]] suggested that September 11 be designated as "America Day" to commemorate the American victims of September 11, 2001. Robinson proposed that the day also be designated as "Chile Day", to mark the overthrow of Chilean president [[Salvador Allende]]'s democratically elected government on September 11, 1973. Neither proposal was accepted.

Robinson successfully sponsored legislation in parliament in 2004 to include [[sexual orientation]] in federal [[hate crimes]] legislation.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mps-vote-to-protect-gays-under-hate-law-1.384476 "MPs vote to protect gays under hate law"]. [[CBC News]], September 18, 2003.</ref> He was also active on [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]] issues from the start of the epidemic in the early 1980s.<ref name=truelove />

==Admission to theft and end of political career==
In April 2004, shortly before the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 election]], Robinson admitted to the theft of an expensive ring from a public auction site. He turned himself in to the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], and returned the ring shortly after police visited his home and office, wishing to speak with him. While the auction company publicly stated that they did not wish to pursue charges, Robinson was charged and pleaded guilty. The Crown and defence agreed that he was undergoing major personal stress and mental health issues at the time; Robinson was given a discharge, meaning that he would have no criminal record, but he volunteered for some time at the Burnaby Wildlife Centre as part of a public service commitment.<ref name=comeback>"Svend Robinson Running in Election". ''[[Maclean's]]'', December 19, 2005.</ref> He terminated his candidacy and was replaced by his longtime constituency assistant [[Bill Siksay]], who won the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.518412|title=MP Svend Robinson admits theft, takes stress leave|date=16 April 2004|publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=7 April 2011}}</ref>

Robinson was subsequently diagnosed with [[cyclothymia]], a form of [[bipolar disorder]], and began to speak as an activist on [[mental health]] issues.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/svend-robinson-speaks-out-about-illness-1.539824 "Svend Robinson speaks out about illness"]. [[CBC News]], October 26, 2005.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.burnabynow.com/news/svend-robinson-biography-reveals-the-man-behind-the-image-1.685619|title=Svend Robinson biography reveals the man behind the image|last=Moreau|first=Jennifer|date=November 5, 2013|access-date=July 2, 2017|newspaper=Burnaby Now}}</ref>

Robinson attempted a comeback and ran as an NDP candidate in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]], challenging Liberal MP [[Hedy Fry]] in the riding of [[Vancouver Centre]].<ref name=comeback/> Despite an improved result for the NDP provincewide, Fry easily won reelection in her riding, where the NDP vote fell by 3.6 per cent.

In the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 Canadian General Election]] Robinson was nominated as the NDP candidate in [[Burnaby North—Seymour]], where he faced Liberal incumbent Terry Beech and lost by 1,560 votes.

==Post-political career==

Since leaving politics, Robinson was employed by the [[British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union]] as an arbitrator and advocate.<ref name=leaveshome>[http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=be098032-f85e-4288-9dd2-0bab2bcc1ecb&k=31157 "Svend Robinson leaves home"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512065640/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=be098032-f85e-4288-9dd2-0bab2bcc1ecb&k=31157 |date=2014-05-12 }}. [[canada.com]], April 19, 2007.</ref> He also served on the NDP's federal executive as co-chair of the party's [[LGBT]] Committee.

Robinson took a position in 2007 with the global trade union federation [[Public Services International]] in [[Switzerland]],<ref name=leaveshome/> where he moved with his partner Max Riveron. He led PSI's work on a range of issues including climate change, pensions, and trade. In 2009, he was co-chair of the International LGBT Human Rights Conference in [[Copenhagen]],<ref name=yahoo /> and received an award from the Conseil québécois des gais et lesbiennes for his human rights activism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Svend Robinson Honoured by Conseil Quebecois des Gais et Lesbiennes for Human Rights Work|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-216078261.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611073056/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-216078261.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|publisher=States News Service|via=HighBeam|access-date=23 February 2014|date=October 20, 2009}}</ref>

He served as a consultant with the [[Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|Global Fund to Fight AIDS]], Tuberculosis and Malaria, coordinating their parliamentary relations.<ref name=yahoo /> He retired from the organization when he reached its mandatory retirement age of 65.

In 2020–21, Robinson was the J.S. Woodsworth resident scholar at [[Simon Fraser University]]. The position was named after the former [[Co-operative Commonwealth Federation|CCF]] leader and MP [[J. S. Woodsworth]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dickert|first=Chris|title=Former MP Svend Robinson to join SFU as J.S. Woodsworth Resident Scholar - SFU News - Simon Fraser University|url=http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2020/07/former-mp-svend-robinson-to-join-sfu-as-j-s--woodsworth-resident.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=SFU News}}</ref>

==Electoral Record==
===[[Burnaby North—Seymour]]; 2019===
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Burnaby North—Seymour}}

===[[Vancouver Centre (provincial electoral district)|Vancouver Centre]]; 2006===
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Vancouver Centre}}

===[[Burnaby—Douglas]];1997-2004===
{{CANelec/top|CA|2000|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|17,018|37.38|-5.70|$50,374}}
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|Alan McDonnell|15,057|33.08|+6.53|$49,282}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Francesca Zumpano|10,774|23.67|-2.41|$57,489}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Kenneth Edgar King|2,477|5.44|+2.05|$12,954}}
{{CANelec|CA|Communist|Roger Perkins|198|0.41|&ndash;|$189}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|45,515|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|225|0.49|+0.03}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|45,740|62.34|-5.71}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|-6.12}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>Change for the Canadian Alliance is based on the Reform Party.</small>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|1997|percent=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|19,058|43.08|$45,632}}
{{CANelec|CA|Reform|Gary Eyre|11,743|26.55|$38,897}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Mobina Jaffer]]|11,536|26.08|$55,707}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Ray Power|1,498|3.39|$9,924}}
{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Valerie Hubert|300|0.68|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Brian Sproule|103|0.23|}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|44,238|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|203|0.46}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|44,441|68.05}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>This riding was created from parts of [[New Westminster—Burnaby]] and [[Burnaby—Kingsway]], which elected a Reform and a New Democrat, respectively, in the last election. New Democrat Svend Robinson was the incumbent from Burnaby—Kingsway.</small>}}
{{end}}

===[[Burnaby—Kingsway]]; 1988–1997===
{{CANelec/top|CA|1993|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|18,287|33.94|-9.28}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Kwangyul Peck|14,130|26.23|+4.01}}
{{CANelec|CA|Reform|John Carpay|13,463|24.99|+22.32}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Adele Haines|5,353|9.94|-20.06}}
{{CANelec|CA|National|Daniel Fontaine|1,562|2.90|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Deborah Rubin|375|0.70|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|Carlo Nigro|373|0.69|-0.30}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Poldi Meindl|130|0.24|+0.08}}
{{CANelec|CA|Commonwealth of Canada|Mike Milkovich|117|0.22|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Byrun F. Tylor|50|0.09|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Joseph Theriault|39|0.07|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|53,879|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|-6.64}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|1988|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|25,150|43.22}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|John Bitonti|17,455|30.00}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Samuel Stevens|12,933|22.22}}
{{CANelec|CA|Reform|John L. Soanes|1,552|2.67}}
{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|Mark J.T. Lane|575|0.99}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Sunee Yuuho|231|0.40}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|David John Bader|203|0.35}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Poldi Meindl|93|0.16}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|58,192|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>This riding was created from parts of [[Burnaby (federal electoral district)|Burnaby]], [[North Vancouver—Burnaby]] and [[Vancouver Kingsway]], which elected two New Democrats and one Progressive Conservative (North Vancouver—Burnaby) in the previous election. Svend Robinson was the incumbent from Burnaby.</small>}}
{{end}}

===[[Burnaby (federal electoral district)|Burnaby]]; 1979–1988===
{{CANelec/top|CA|1984|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|28,318|48.00|+5.57}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Bill Langas|20,697|35.09|-1.51}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Mike Hillman|9,612|16.29|-4.52}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Blair T. Longley|364|0.62|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|58,991|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|+3.54}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|1980|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|21,587|42.43|+2.67}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Hugh Mawby|18,619|36.60|-0.29}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Doreen A. Lawson|10,585|20.81|-2.54}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Brian K. Sproule|81|0.16|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|50,872|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|+1.48}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|1979|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Svend Robinson|20,604|39.76}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Hugh Mawby|19,119|36.89}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Doreen A. Lawson|12,099|23.35}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|51,822|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>This riding was created from parts of [[Burnaby—Richmond—Delta]], [[Burnaby—Seymour]] and [[New Westminster (federal electoral district)|New Westminster]], which elected a Progressive Conservative, a Liberal and a New Democrat, respectively, in the last election.</small>}}
{{end}}

==Biography==
''Svend Robinson: A Life in Politics'', written by Graeme Truelove, was released on October 17, 2013, by New Star Books.<ref name=excerpt>[https://vancouversun.com/news/legacy+Svend+Robinson+book+excerpt/8909774/story.html "The legacy of Svend Robinson: book excerpt"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116090956/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/legacy+Svend+Robinson+book+excerpt/8909774/story.html |date=2018-11-16 }}. ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', September 14, 2013.</ref> In the book, Truelove argues that Robinson was the single most influential Member of Parliament in Canadian history never to have served in the [[Cabinet of Canada]].<ref name=excerpt />

==Awards and honours==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
* L'Ordre de la Pleiade, Chevalier, 1990 For exceptional service to [[La Francophonie]]
* Award for Human Rights, May 1993 [[Lambda Foundation]].
* The Edith Adamson Award for Leadership in Issues of Conscience in 1995.
* Elena Gil Iberoamerican Award on Ethics, June 1995 Felix Varela Centre, Cuba.
* Tom Stoddard National Role Model Award, May 1997 presented by PrideFest America.
* Hero Award, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in August 1999 by The [[Canadian Bar Association]].
* Presidents Award, 2003 [[Canadian Arab Federation]].
* Kurdish Human Rights Prize, [[Adar]] 2614.
* Grand prix du CQGL 2009, decerned by Conseil québécois des gais et lesbiennes at Gala Arc-en-Ciel
* Panelist at the conference to mark the 20th Anniversary of the ''[[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]'', discussing "The Making of s.15: Collaboration by Government, Community Activists and Legal Experts."
* Member of Canadian Committee for 50th Anniversary of [[United Nations]], 1995

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.svendrobinson.ca Svend Robinson's website (inactive)]
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=1837}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Svend}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Lawyers in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Canadian humanists]]
[[Category:Tibet freedom activists]]
[[Category:Canadian politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Canadian socialists]]
[[Category:Trade unionists from British Columbia]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian gay politicians]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ Members of Parliament]]
[[Category:Politicians from Minneapolis]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party MPs]]
[[Category:People from Burnaby]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:Peter A. Allard School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Mental health activists]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Canadian lawyers with disabilities]]
[[Category:Canadian politicians with disabilities]]
[[Category:Canadian activists with disabilities]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people with disabilities]]
[[Category:Canadian anti-Zionists]]