Former cabinet minister Selina Robinson resigns from NDP caucus

Former B.C. minister of post-secondary education Selina Robinson has resigned from the NDP caucus.

The MLA will sit as an independent representing the riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville.

Robinson confirmed her resignation while speaking to reporters at the B.C. Legislature Wednesday afternoon.

In her remarks, Robinson said she felt unsupported as a Jewish woman in her party, and said there are antisemitic voices in the NDP caucus.

CBC News has reached out the premier's office for comment.

Controversy over Middle East remarks

In February, Robinson resigned from her post as a cabinet minister following comments she made about the Middle East which sparked backlash from some members of the public and some federal NDP MPs who called on her to step down.

Speaking as part of a panel of Jewish public officials, Robinson had referred to the region where Israel was settled as "a crappy piece of land with nothing on it."

Robinson later posted an apology online but faced mounting criticism from several individuals and organizations, including more than a dozen mosques and Islamic associations which said they would not welcome any NDP MLAs or candidates in their sacred spaces until action was taken against her.

This was followed by B.C. Premier David Eby saying Robinson had volunteered to leave her cabinet position, along with a commitment to undertake anti-Islamophobia training.

He also said he found her comments unacceptable, and that she agreed.

"We are in positions of authority, responsibility and power," he said during an unrelated news conference on Feb. 2.

"That brings with it an expectation on the part of all British Columbians that when we take on these roles, we do not use them to belittle or dismiss anybody or any community."