Eric Robinson (Canadian politician)

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix =

|name = Eric Robinson

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|office = 5th Deputy Premier of Manitoba

|term_start = November 3, 2009

|term_end = May 3, 2016

|alongside = Rosann Wowchuk until 2011
Kerri Irvin-Ross from 2015

|premier = Greg Selinger

|predecessor = Rosann Wowchuk

|successor = Heather Stefanson

|office2 = Manitoba Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs

|term_start2 = November 3, 2009

|term_end2 = April 19, 2016

|premier2 = Greg Selinger

|predecessor2 = Oscar Lathlin

|successor2 = Eileen Clarke

|term_start3 = October 5, 1999

|term_end3 = September 25, 2002

|premier3 = Gary Doer

|predecessor3 = David Newman

|successor3 = Oscar Lathlin

|office4 = Manitoba Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport

|term_start4 = September 25, 2002

|term_end4 = November 3, 2009

|premier4 = Gary Doer

|predecessor4 = Ron Lemieux

|successor4 = Flor Marcelino

|office5 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Kewatinook
Rupertsland 1993–2011

|term_start5 = October 4, 2011

|term_end5 = April 19, 2016

|predecessor5 = new constituency

|successor5 = Judy Klassen

|term_start6 = September 21, 1993

|term_end6 = October 4, 2011

|predecessor6 = Elijah Harper

|successor6 = constituency abolished

|birth_date = {{birth date and age |1953|02|05}}

|birth_place = Norway House, Manitoba

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|party = New Democratic Party

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Eric Robinson (born February 5, 1953){{cite news |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-mom-beaten-a-son-changed-221599931.html?device=mobile//www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-mom-beaten-a-son-changed-221599931.html?device=mobile |title=A mom beaten, a son changed |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=2014-05-12}} is an Aboriginal Canadian politician in Manitoba.{{cite web |title=MLA Biographies - Living |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/mla_bio_living.html#r |work=Legislative Assembly of Manitoba |date=November 4, 2009 |access-date=June 11, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/minister/minabg.html |title=Eric Robinson |work=Province of Manitoba |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706185326/http://www.gov.mb.ca/minister/minabg.html |archive-date=July 6, 2011 }} He was previously a member of the Manitoba legislature, and a cabinet minister in the New Democratic government of Greg Selinger.

Born in Norway House, Manitoba, he was placed in a residential school at the age of five. Robinson is a member of the Cross Lake First Nation, covered under Treaty 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.crosslakeband.ca/lands.htm |title=Lands |work=Cross Lake Band |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325143810/http://www.crosslakeband.ca/lands.htm |archive-date=March 25, 2012 }} Robinson worked at a variety of jobs including dishwasher in Churchill, an addiction counsellor in British Columbia and a radio disc jockey. He has been active in Aboriginal issues for several years, and has worked for the Assembly of First Nations and the Brotherhood of Indian Nations, as well as other organizations promoting native rights within Canada.

Before entering provincial politics, Robinson was also a producer and broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and worked for Native Communications Incorporated. In 1985, he co-authored a work entitled Infested Blanket, an historical indictment of the Canadian government's past dealings with Aboriginal peoples.{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Eric |last2=Quinney |first2=Henry Bird |title=The infested blanket: Canada's constitution, genocide of Indian nations |year=1985 |publisher=Queenston House Pub |location=Winnipeg, Manitoba |isbn=978-0-920273-00-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/infestedblanketc00robi }}

Robinson entered provincial politics on September 21, 1993, winning a by-election in the northern riding of Rupertsland (he replaced Elijah Harper in the assembly).{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/manitobavotes2003/riding/036/ |title=Manitoba Votes 2003 - Riding Profiles: Rupertsland |year=2003 |work=CBC News |access-date=June 11, 2011 }} Running for the NDP, Robinson received 1697 votes; his closest opponent, Liberal George Munroe, received 1023.

Robinson was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1995,{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/general_election_36.html |title=Results - 1995 General Election |publisher=Elections Manitoba |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070010/http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/general_election_36.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }} and served as the NDP's critic for Aboriginal and Northern Affairs. Also in 1995, he supported Lorne Nystrom for leader of the federal New Democratic Party.

After the NDP won a majority government in the 1999 election,{{cite news |title=Manitoba Chooses NDP |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/446872421.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+22%2C+1999&author=THE+CANADIAN+PRESS&pub=The+Spectator&desc=MANITOBA+CHOOSES+NDP&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107014347/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/446872421.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+22,+1999&author=THE+CANADIAN+PRESS&pub=The+Spectator&desc=MANITOBA+CHOOSES+NDP&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 November 2012 |format=fee required |agency=Canadian Press |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |date=September 22, 1999 |at=section C, p. 1 |access-date=June 11, 2011 }} Premier Gary Doer named Robinson Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs with responsibility for the Communities Economic Development Fund on October 5, 1999. Following a cabinet shuffle on September 25, 2002, he became Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism with responsibility for Sport.

In 2003, Robinson supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become leader of the federal NDP.{{cite web |url=http://www1.billblaikie.ca/ndp.php/leadershipsupporters/ctoctocsupport |title=Cross Canada Support for Bill |work=Bill Blaikie, Elmwood—Transcona |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401195027/http://www1.billblaikie.ca/ndp.php/leadershipsupporters/ctoctocsupport |archive-date=April 1, 2007 |access-date=June 11, 2011 }} In the 2003 provincial election, Robinson was re-elected with over 86% of the vote in his riding.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/38_division_results/38_rupertsland_summary_results.html |title=Electoral Division of Rupertsland: Summary of Official Results |work=Official Results — 38th General Election |publisher=Elections Manitoba |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315072010/http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/38_division_results/38_rupertsland_summary_results.html |archive-date=March 15, 2012 }} He was returned again in the 2007 election.{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/39_division_results/39_rupertsland_summary_results.html |title=Rupertsland: Summary of Official Results |work=Official Results — 39th General Election |publisher=Elections Manitoba |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009051048/http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/39_division_results/39_rupertsland_summary_results.html |archive-date=October 9, 2011 }} In 2007, he was reassigned as Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport.