Svend Robinson's life in politics already spans decades

Before a spectacular fall from grace, Svend Robinson was once known as amaverick MP from B.C.

His announcement that he is returningto politics, after a 15-year hiatus, drawsattention tomany aspects of his career and personal life.

Robinson will seek the NDP nomination in the federal riding of Burnaby North-Seymour.

During his first round in politics, Robinson was considered a rising star and took on many controversial issues that all came to an end with the theft of an expensive ring.

Stole diamond

In April 2004,Robinson stunned supportersbyadmitting he stole adiamond ring while attending a public jewelry auction.

He said he had beenbattling severe stress for months and wasnow undergoing therapy.

Robinson, who returned the property a few days later, contacted police himself.

He was charged, pleaded guilty and given a conditional discharge.

Environmentalist

Robinson has always been a committed environmentalist seen regularly at notable protests.

He blocked logging of old-growth forests at Lyell Island in Haida Gwaii in 1985 and at Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island in 1993.

Robinson was eventually adopted into theHaida Nation and named White Swan for blocking loggers from clearcutting Clayoquot Sound.

Right to die activist

He was also a right-to-die advocateinstrumental in the case ofALS patient Sue Rodriquez.

The Victoria, B.C., woman was afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known asLou Gehrig's disease.Rodriquezled a high profile campaign to end her own life with medical assistance.

In February 1994, her most prominent supporter, Robinson, arrangedfor thatassistance from an anonymous doctor.

Hewas at Rodriquez's bedside when she died.

Gay MP

In 1988, Robinson becamethe first MP to come out as gay.

The statement was not a surprise.

There had been reports circulating in Ottawa for days that Robinson was about to declare his homosexuality.

Robinson said 'coming out' was a personal decision he felt compelled to make.

Robinson has been with his partner Max Riverson for almost 25 years.

In the early 1970s, he was married to his high-school girlfriend for three years.

Robinson was born In Minneapolis, Minnesota and came to live in Canada when his father opposed the Vietnam War.

Over the years, he's been a harsh critic of American foreign policy.

Robinson went to law school at the University of B.C. and was called to the B.C. Bar in 1978.

Longest serving MP

Robinson was a MP for the New Democratic Party in the constituency of Burnaby from 1979 to 2004.

That made himone of the longest-serving B.C. members in the House of Commons, having been elected for seven consecutive terms.

He didn't run in the June 2004 federal election.

Two years later in 2006, Robinsonattempteda comeback but lost to Liberal stalwart Hedy Fry in Vancouver Centre.