DRIPA amendments, lack of transparency spark backlash in B.C.

The Opposition slammed the governing NDP as “allergic to transparency” during a heated session on the controversial legislation.

After a two-week hiatus for spring break, the debate over the NDP government’s handling of First Nations rights continued Monday in the legislature.

“Will the premier step up, show some leadership today, table those amendments, debate them in this house?” demanded Opposition B.C. Conservatives interim Leader, Trevor Halford.

Premier David Eby has promised changes are coming to DRIPA, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, legislation passed in 2019 aimed at aligning B.C. laws with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. But following two recent decisions where the court sided with First Nations, one related to private property rights and the other involving mining, there’s been growing pressure on the premier to make those changes as soon as possible.

“It’s not where any of us hoped to be when that legislation was passed—unanimously in this house—and we have to address this issue,” said Eby, acknowledging changes to the law are in the works.

“What’s his plan? How is he going to deal with it? How is he going to fix this mess that he created?” asked Halford during Monday’s question period.

Regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, Terry Teegee, doesn’t think the changes will actually materialize.

“I think it would be political suicide, as we see this government and Premier Eby himself plunging in terms of polling,” said Teegee Monday.

Last week First Nations leaders, including Teegee, were consulted about the proposed changes. They are changes that would water down the impact of DRIPA, and the consultations were subject to non-disclosure agreements.

“Certainly this compressed process where…the document was released last Monday and needed to bring in comments by Friday, certainly isn’t consultation,” he said.

On the other hand, the B.C. Conservatives say the public needs clarity on the relationship between private property rights and First Nations rights and are calling for DRIPA to be rolled back entirely, and are demanding more transparency in the process.

“Can this government explain to British Columbians why gag orders are an essential tool for making decisions about their land, their property and their future?” queried Conservative MLA Scott McInnis, referring to the non-disclosure agreements.

The premier has said the changes will be tabled before this session wraps in May.