Premier David Eby said he is going to reflect Selina Robinson鈥檚 decision to quit his party鈥檚 caucus after she claimed the party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a humbling moment to know that I didn鈥檛 create the space for her to be able to bring that forward and I will have to reflect on that,鈥� Eby said, while speaking with reporters Thursday morning at the legislature.

Eby comments come after Robinson resigned from caucus Wednesday (March 6). In a letter to the NDP caucus, she said it has consistently shown a double standard when it comes to anti-Semitism.

鈥淲hen any of my colleagues have made (anti-Semitic) remarks it was expected that apologies should suffice,鈥� she said, before listing past anti-Semitic statements by members of the NDP caucus.

While Robinson鈥檚 letter cites several of her former colleagues, she has been especially critical of Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington and Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives to the Attorney General.

Robinson鈥檚 letter cited comments Elmore had made in March 2004 as well as November 2023, when she commented on the current conflict between Hamas and Israel. Elmore鈥檚 comment does not mention Hamas鈥� role as the instigator of the conflict, while calling for the release of all the hostages.

Robinson鈥檚 letter claims that Elmore never apologized for her comments in 2004 and Elmore鈥檚 comments 鈥渁larmed the community again of Mable鈥檚 鈥渁ntisemitism.鈥� According to Robinson鈥檚 letter, the Jewish community 鈥渁sked for her resignation鈥� but 鈥渨as merely told that (Attorney-General Niki Sharma) would now be the point of contact for anti-racism work in the Jewish community.鈥�

Elmore disagreed with Robinson鈥檚 characterization.

鈥淚 know that Selina is in a very difficult situation,鈥� she said, adding she is 鈥渧ery sad鈥� about her decision to leave caucus. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 known to have dedicated my life to really upholding human rights and social justice for all people and I stand by that. I continue to support that and work every day to bring British Columbians together.鈥�

Eby said the NDP caucus will feel the loss of Robinson鈥檚 鈥渋mportant voice,鈥� adding caucus members feel quite hurt. He added he disagrees with Robinson鈥檚 characterization of a number of their colleagues, who every day 鈥渇ight racism and discrimination, but he has to accept that Robinson didn鈥檛 feel safe as a Jewish woman.

鈥淎lthough I disagree with many of these issues (raised in the letter), it鈥檚 still cause for me to reflect on why she didn鈥檛 feel comfortable bring that forward, so we can deal with it.鈥�

Eby said he will have a long-scheduled meeting with the Rabbinical Council of British Columbia Friday to engage with the Jewish community.

鈥淪o we are going to be guided by the Jewish community about how we can address rising anti-Semitism in our province, hope to make them feel safe and support them in this moment of increased hate.鈥�

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad spoke before Eby鈥檚 scrum with reporters and called on Eby to resign.

Robinson鈥檚 resignation from the NDP caucus also dominated Question Period with BC United Leader Kevin Falcon calling for a 鈥渇ull and independent inquiry鈥� into Robinson鈥檚 allegations.

鈥淲hat the long-time senior member and former (former finance minister) of this NDP government has confirmed is that there is systemic anti-Semitism that requires more than just the empty words that we just heard from this Premier.鈥�

Eby responded by saying he agreed with the need for actions to support the Jewish community in pointing on-going initiatives, but did not commit to an inquiry.

Falcon reiterated his call during his weekly media availability after having described the last 24 hours in provincial politics as 鈥渟tunning to say the least.鈥�

Falcon said Eby needs to address the accusations in Robinson鈥檚 letter directly.

鈥淭here is still an opportunity for the Premier to do the right thing,鈥� Falcon said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 asking the Premier again, 鈥楬old a full independent investigation of his cabinet, his caucus, his party and indeed in government about the systemic anti-Semitism that a former senior member, former finance minister has alleged are rife within his government.鈥欌��

Robinson announced she was leaving caucus Wednesday (March 6). She said her reason for resigning was the BC NDP was not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism.

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鈥淚鈥檓 just saying there has been anti-Semitism in caucus,鈥� she said. 鈥�(If) you pay attention to our conventions, there is a lot of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment, certainly around the state of Israel.鈥�

The Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA plans to sit as an independent for the rest of her term after having already announced in December that she won鈥檛 run again.

Robinson had resigned from cabinet on Feb. 5 following days of furor including pressure from extra-parliamentary groups aligned to the NDP after she called Gaza a 鈥渃rappy piece of land with nothing on it.鈥�

She had made that comment Jan. 30 during an online forum with Jewish public leaders, during which she also lamented the state of historical knowledge among 18-to-34-year-olds about the Holocaust. Her comments also drew criticism from First Nations leaders for perpetuating colonial ideas, namely the concept of Terra nullius.