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Burnaby's Svend Robinson won't run if there's a spring election

The former MP says he's busy with new SFU role
svend-robinson-election
Svend Robinson on election night. NOW file photo

If there’s a federal election this spring, Svend Robinson will not be throwing his hat in the ring for a chance to run in the riding of Burnaby North-Seymour.

News 1130 radio reporter Kelvin Gawley tweeted the news Friday night and Robinson later confirmed to the NOW via direct message on Friday night that he has no plans on vying for the federal NDP nomination.

Last summer, Robinson was named the J.S. Woodsworth resident scholar at SFU’s humanities department and he said he will be too busy with that role.

“Tough decision as you can imagine,” Robinson said, but the SFU role will be his “priority” right now.

There are strong hints that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will call a federal election in the spring, with many ridings nominating candidates.

Robinson lost to Liberal MP Terry Beech in the last federal election.

The J.S. Woodsworth resident scholar is a one-year term that involves teaching – he will teach a seminar in the spring – and community outreach with the university.

  • With files from Dustin Godfrey