Selina Robinson’s Coquitlam office vandalized: Eby

B.C. Premier David Eby says the constituency office of MLA Selina Robinson was vandalized Monday — the same day she stepped down from cabinet.

Eby says the vandalism “included hateful messages.”

“This is wrong. Peaceful protest cannot include spreading hate,” he continued on social media.

Images shared online of the vandalism show signs with various messages, including, “Selina Robinson is a disgrace” and “resign from caucus.”

The reported vandalism comes after Robinson — who remains the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville — faced a storm of criticism over comments she made about the area inhabited by Palestinians before the establishment of Israel.

Robinson’s comments were not only described by many as hurtful but also factually incorrect, with experts pointing out the history of Palestinian territories is well-noted over hundreds of years as having its own economy, agriculture, and long-standing multi-faith populations.

The argument is also similar to those that have been used to justify the colonization of multiple regions globally, including in North America.

On Monday, Eby announced Robinson was stepping down as the minister for Post Secondary Education and Future Skill, though she remains in the BC NDP caucus.

The move, the premier said, was to allow her the time needed to right the wrong caused by her comments.

“The depth of the work that minister Robinson needs to do in order to address the harms that she’s caused is significant. And it is incompatible with her continuing as minister of Advanced Education given the volume and the depth of the work that she needs to do,” Eby said

Robinson issued an apology last week, followed by a second one on Monday.

“There have been many discussions over the weekend with the Premier and many caucus colleagues, and together we decided it’s best for me to step aside as Minister of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills. This decision does not excuse my harmful comments, nor does it absolve me of the work I am committed to doing,” she said in a statement Monday.

“While I had previously decided not to run again in the next election I remain committed to my constituents for the remainder of my term.”

In addition to calls for her resignation, Robinson’s comments also prompted protests at NDP events and even spurred a petition by party members calling for her removal.

CityNews has reached out to the Coquitlam RCMP for more information.