Selina Robinson

Selina Mae Robinson (born 1964) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election.^[2] She represents the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP). She has served in the cabinet of British Columbia since 2017, currently as Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

The Honourable Selina Robinson MLA
Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills of British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office December 7, 2022
Premier	David Eby
Preceded by	Anne Kang
Minister of Finance of British Columbia
In office November 26, 2020 – December 7, 2022
Premier	John Horgan David Eby
Preceded by	Carole James
Succeeded by	Katrine Conroy
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of British Columbia
In office July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020
Premier	John Horgan
Preceded by	Ellis Ross (Minister of Housing)
Succeeded by	David Eby (Minister Responsible for Housing) Josie Osborne (Minister of Municipal Affairs)
Minister of Citizens' Services of British Columbia
In office October 4, 2019 – January 22, 2020
Premier	John Horgan
Preceded by	Jinny Sims
Succeeded by	Anne Kang
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Coquitlam-Maillardville
Incumbent
Assumed office May 14, 2013
Preceded by	Diane Thorne
Personal details
Born	Selina Dardick 1963/1964 (age 58–59)^[1] Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political party	New Democrat
Residence(s)	Coquitlam, British Columbia
Alma mater	Simon Fraser University

Biography

Born in Montreal as Selina Dardick, she moved with her parents to Richmond, British Columbia in 1978.^[3][4] After graduating from Simon Fraser University with a master's degree in counselling psychology,^[2] she joined the Jewish Family Service Agency, eventually becoming its associate executive director.^[3] A resident of Coquitlam since 1994, she worked as a family therapist before entering politics as a member of Coquitlam City Council.^[5]

In September 2012, Robinson announced her intention to seek the BC NDP nomination for Coquitlam-Maillardville in the next provincial election;^[6] she was acclaimed the NDP's candidate for the riding in November that year.^[7] She was initially declared defeated on election night in 2013, with Steve Kim of the BC Liberals deemed winner by 105 votes. However, once absentee ballots were counted, she pulled ahead to win the riding by a 35-vote margin over Kim.^[8] A judicial recount confirmed Robinson's victory by a final margin of 41 votes.^[9] She served as critic for mental health and addictions, seniors, local government and sports in the NDP shadow cabinet.^[10]

In the 2017 provincial election, Robinson once again faced Steve Kim, this time winning by more than 2400 votes.^[11] She was subsequently appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in the new BC NDP government under Premier John Horgan.^[12][13] Following the resignation of Jinny Sims from cabinet in October 2019, Robinson briefly assumed the role of Minister of Citizens' Services,^[14] until Anne Kang took over the position in January 2020.^[15]

Following her re-election in 2020, she was appointed Minister of Finance.^[16][17] After Horgan announced his retirement as premier and party leader in 2022, Robinson considered running to replace him before deciding otherwise.^[18][19] On December 7, 2022 she was appointed Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills by Premier David Eby.^[20]

Electoral record

v t e 2020 British Columbia general election: Coquitlam-Maillardville
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Selina Robinson	12,278	59.70	+9.09	$42,824.64
	Liberal	Will Davis	5,882	28.60	−9.10	$17,661.62
	Green	Nicola Spurling	2,405	11.69	+0.77	$3,326.81
Total valid votes			20,565	100.00	–
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC^[21]^[22]

v t e 2017 British Columbia general election: Coquitlam-Maillardville
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Selina Robinson	11,438	50.61	+4.87	$68,146
	Liberal	Steve Kim	8,519	37.70	−7.85	$76,040
	Green	Nicola Eyton Spurling	2,467	10.92	+2.21	$843
	Libertarian	Jesse Velay-Vitow	175	0.77	–	$0
Total valid votes			22,599	100.00	–
Total rejected ballots			99	0.44	−0.41
Turnout			22,698	61.57	+4.88
Registered voters			36,865
Source: Elections BC^[23]^[24]

v t e 2013 British Columbia general election: Coquitlam-Maillardville
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	New Democratic	Selina Robinson	9,930	45.74
	Liberal	Steve Kim	9,889	45.55
	Green	Edward Andreas Stanbrough	1,891	8.71
Total valid votes			21,710	100.00
Total rejected ballots			186	0.85
Turnout			21,896	56.69
Source: Elections BC^[25]

References

1. It's a two-way race in this riding; Reporter John Kurucz profiles Frontrunners in Coquitlam-Maillardville. The Tri - Cities Now [Port Moody, B.C] May 3, 2013: page 4.
2. Smith, Charlie (May 27, 2013). "NDP candidate Selina Robinson wins in Coquitlam-Maillardville after final votes tallied". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
3. "NDP values in kishkes". The Jewish Independent. April 28, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
4. "JHSBC Oral History Collection: Selina Robinson". Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
5. "Coquitlam MLA's role is building strong communities". Tri-City News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
6. Warren, Janis (September 24, 2012). "Robinson to run provincially". Tri-City News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
7. Warren, Janis (December 18, 2012). "MLA, councillor acclaimed". Tri-City News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
8. "NDP takes lead in Coquitlam-Maillardville final count". CBC News. May 28, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
9. Warren, Janis (June 5, 2013). "UPDATED: Selina Robinson wins MLA seat". Tri-City News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
10. "MLA: Hon. Selina Robinson". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
11. "#bcelxn17: Coquitlam-Maillardville: NDP's Robinson avoids repeat of 2013 recount with win over Kim". Tri-City News. May 9, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
12. Zussman, Richard; McElroy, Justin (July 18, 2017). "B.C.'s new NDP government sworn into office". CBC News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
13. "Premier John Horgan announces new cabinet to build a better B.C." (Press release). Office of the Premier of British Columbia. July 18, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
14. "B.C. cabinet minister Jinny Sims resigns amid RCMP investigation". CBC News. October 4, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
15. "B.C. premier fills Jinny Sims vacancy, swaps jobs in cabinet tweak". The Canadian Press, via CBC News. January 22, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
16. "Breaking - Selina Robinson has been named BC's Minister of Finance". Twitter.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
17. Lindsay, Bethany (November 26, 2020). "New faces join B.C.'s new cabinet, while stalwarts stay on in key roles". CBC News. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
18. Strandberg, Diane (July 14, 2022). "Coquitlam's most powerful female politician thinking about NDP leadership bid". Tri-City News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
19. Zussman, Richard (July 18, 2022). "B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson won't seek BC NDP leadership". Global News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
20. "B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
21. "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
22. "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
23. "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
24. "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
25. (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.

British Columbia provincial government of David Eby
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Anne Kang	Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills December 7, 2022 –	Incumbent
British Columbia provincial government of John Horgan
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Carole James	Minister of Finance November 26, 2020 – December 7, 2022	Katrine Conroy
Jinny Sims	Minister of Citizens' Services October 4, 2019 – January 22, 2020	Anne Kang
Ellis Ross	Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020	David Eby Josie Osborne