Svend Robinson
| Svend Robinson | |
|---|---|
|
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| Member of Parliament for Burnaby | |
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In office 1979–1988 |
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| Preceded by | new district |
| Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
| Member of Parliament for Burnaby—Kingsway | |
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In office 1988–1997 |
|
| Preceded by | new district |
| Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
| Member of Parliament for Burnaby—Douglas | |
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In office 1997–2004 |
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| Preceded by | new district |
| Succeeded by | Bill Siksay |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 4, 1952 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Fraser (1972–1975) Max Riveron (1994-present) |
| Occupation | politician |
Svend Robinson (born March 4, 1952) is a Canadian former politician. He was a member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2004, representing the suburban Vancouver-area constituency of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party. When he chose not to run again in the June 2004 election, he was one of the longest-serving members in the House of Commons, having been elected and re-elected for seven consecutive terms.
He is noted as the first member of Parliament in Canadian history to come out as gay while in office.
Robinson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, of Danish descent, to Edith Jensen and Wayne Robinson. His father opposed the Vietnam War and brought his family to live in Canada. Robinson attended high school at Burnaby North Secondary. He 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. He was awarded the highest overall honour at the University of British Columbia in 1972, the Sherwood Lett Memorial Scholarship. He was also active in university politics, serving on the Senate and the first student to be elected to the university's board of governors.
He 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.
Prior to coming out as gay, Robinson was married to Patricia Fraser, his high-school girlfriend, from 1972 to 1975.
Robinson was the New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament (MP) for ridings in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, British Columbia, the third-largest city in British Columbia.
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