Robinson acclaimed for NDP in Vancouver riding
Last Updated: Monday, December 5, 2005 | 2:01 PM ET
CBC News
He's running against incumbent Liberal MP Hedy Fry.
Canada's first openly gay MP, Robinson had been representing Burnaby-Douglas for 25 years when he resigned last year after admitting he stole an expensive ring from an auction house.
Saying he had been battling severe stress, he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft over $5,000 and was given a conditional discharge, which means he has no criminal record.
Robinson then went to work for the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union.
In October, he announced he was planning a political comeback, and that he planned to seek the NDP nomination to challenge Fry, who has won four consecutive elections since 1993.
Robinson has said the stolen ring incident wouldn't have happened if he didn't have bipolar disorder – and that there is still too much stigma attached to mental illness.
- FROM CBC B.C.: Svend Robinson speaks out about illness
He says his own illness wouldn't prevent him from being a competent MP, and he plans to fight for the rights of the mentally ill if elected in the Jan. 23 vote.
