37 Facts About Svend Robinson

Svend Robinson was born on March 4,1952 and is a Canadian politician.

Svend Robinson was a member of Parliament from 1979 to 2004, representing suburban Vancouver-area constituencies in the city of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party.

Svend Robinson was the first member of Parliament in Canadian history to come out as gay while in office.

Svend Robinson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, of Danish descent, to Edith Jensen and Wayne Svend Robinson.

Svend Robinson's father opposed the Vietnam War and brought his family to live in Canada.

Svend Robinson 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.

Svend Robinson 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.

Svend Robinson was the NDP MP for ridings in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, British Columbia, the third-largest city in British Columbia.

Svend Robinson was the only openly LGBT member of the Canadian House of Commons until Bloc Quebecois MP Real Menard came out in 1994.

Svend 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.

Svend Robinson 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.

Svend Robinson has been critical of the Chinese government for its treatment of political dissidents and for its policies in Tibet.

Svend Robinson was a founder of the Canadian wing of Parliamentarians for East Timor.

Svend Robinson 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.

Svend Robinson was a leader in the movement for the right to 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.

Svend Robinson was ultimately present at her bedside at the time of her physician-assisted death.

Svend Robinson was an outspoken advocate of the rights of aboriginal peoples both in Canada and internationally.

Svend Robinson stood at barricades with the Penan people in Sarawak, Malaysia and was condemned by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Svend Robinson was adopted into the Haida Nation, and given the Haida name "White Swan" by Haida elder Ada Yovanovich.

Svend Robinson ran to succeed Audrey McLaughlin as leader of the NDP at the 1995 NDP leadership convention.

Svend Robinson 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, Svend Robinson noticed last-place candidate Lorne Nystrom's delegates were moving disproportionately to McDonough.

On December 31,1997, Svend Robinson was injured in a hiking accident on Galiano Island, breaking his jaw and ankle.

Svend 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, 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.

Svend Robinson was an early and strong supporter of former national NDP Leader Jack Layton.

Svend Robinson proposed that the day be designated as "Chile Day", to mark the overthrow of Chilean president Salvador Allende's democratically elected government on September 11,1973.

Svend Robinson 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.

The Crown and defence agreed that he was undergoing major personal stress and mental health issues at the time; Svend 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.

Svend Robinson terminated his candidacy and was replaced by his longtime constituency assistant Bill Siksay, who won the election.

Svend Robinson was diagnosed with cyclothymia, a form of bipolar disorder, and began to speak as an activist on mental health issues.

Svend Robinson attempted a comeback and ran as an NDP candidate in the 2006 federal election, challenging Liberal MP Hedy Fry in the riding of Vancouver Centre.

Since leaving politics, Svend Robinson was employed by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union as an arbitrator and advocate.

Svend Robinson served on the NDP's federal executive as co-chair of the party's LGBT Committee.

Svend Robinson took a position in 2007 with the global trade union federation Public Services International in Switzerland, where he moved with his partner Max Riveron.

Svend Robinson led PSI's work on a range of issues including climate change, pensions, and trade.

Svend Robinson served as a consultant with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, coordinating their parliamentary relations.

Svend Robinson retired from the organization when he reached its mandatory retirement age of 65.