#36 - Svend Robinson (NDP)

Svend Robinson is arguably the single most influential Member of Parliament in Canadian history to have never served in the Cabinet of Cabinet.For 25 years, he represented Burnaby for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in Canadian Parliament. He is notably the first MP to come out as gay. Throughout his career, he has been a trailblazer for social justice, including his stance on American foreign policy. He was a leader in the movement for the right to physician-assisted death. As a strong environmentalist he has engaged in civil disobedience to block the logging of old growth-forests in BC. He has also advocated for LGBTQ rights.After 13 years, he is retuning to politics and running as the NDP candidate (under Jagmeet Singh’s leadership) in the riding of Burnaby North-Seymour against Liberal MP Terry Beech.