B.C. city ‘vigorously defending’ Aboriginal claim, but says no private land in play

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, centre, flanked by District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little, left, and City of Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald looks on during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

The City of Port Coquitlam, B.C., said it is “vigorously defending” public ownership of municipal lands against a claim bought in 2016 by a local First Nation.

But the city said the land claim by the Kwikwetlem First Nation does not involve private property, and the case is currently suspended “as a provincially led process takes place.”

The city issued a statement on Wednesday in response to public concern about a landmark land title case involving the Cowichan Tribes and the City of Richmond.

The Cowichan ruling has sparked concerns it could undermine land ownership across B.C., because it says sections of the Land Title Act that establish the most common form of ownership are “indefeasible” and do not apply to Aboriginal title.

Port Coquitlam, located in Metro Vancouver, said in the statement that the Kwikwetlem case involves land owned by the province, the Metro Vancouver Regional District, and the city.

“There are no civil claims initiated by any First Nations involving private property” within the city, the statement said.

“While the city recognizes public concern resulting from recent media coverage of the Cowichan/Richmond case, it is important to note that no private lands within Port Coquitlam are currently the subject of litigation.”

The Cowichan case has sparked repeated sparring in B.C.’s legislature.

During question period on Thursday Premier David Eby said the Kwikwetlem First Nation case does not involve private property and the province was negotiating with the nation.

“It is regular practice when the government is sued or when the government sues someone else, to engage in settlement negotiations, to attempt to bridge the differences and find a path forward outside of court. That’s exactly what we’re doing here,” he said.

Kwikwetlem First Nation’s chief and council were not available for an interview.

They said in a statement that the nation “would like to reassure all residents of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam that we are not seeking privately owned homes or private residential property.”

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Conservative Leader John Rustad accused Eby of wanting to “negotiate away private property rights.”

“That’s a scary thing, because all across the province, that is what people are worried about. What is this government doing in negotiations, and when are they going to inform people just what their perspective is on whether title should be overriding their private property rights?” he said.

The Cowichan ruling says the tribes have Aboriginal title over about 300 hectares of land on the Fraser River, that Crown and city titles on the land are defective and invalid, and the granting of private titles by the government unjustifiably infringed on Cowichan title.

The case is being appealed, including by the province, and Eby told the legislature the appeal focuses on, “particularly, the aspects of the decision that relate to the private property owners.”

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West said in a separate statement that one of the city properties in question is Gates Park and the others are a series of smaller, undeveloped parcels referred to as South Shaughnessy.

“We have, and will continue to, vigorously defend public ownership of these lands, along with private property rights in our jurisdiction as the provincial government leads a process in relation to all of this,” his statement said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2025.