B.C. going door to door to hear residents’ concerns in Cowichan title area

Property owners who could be impacted by a landmark ruling on Aboriginal title have received hand-delivered letters from the premier’s office.

The office of British Columbia Premier David Eby has appointed a “community contact” whose job is to work with residents of Richmond, B.C., going door to door to talk to those potentially affected by the landmark Cowichan Aboriginal title decision.

A flyer sent to residents said the person’s role is to answer questions and listen to residents’ concerns and experiences, including any effect the B.C. Supreme Court ruling in August has had on “mortgages, refinancing, property sales or permits.”

“The decision has raised concerns for some homeowners and small businesses. I want to hear from you,” says the flyer.

The premier’s office said in response to questions about the flyer that there are about 45 privately owned properties in the 300-hectare Aboriginal title area, and at least 100 more in areas claimed by the Cowichan but excluded from the title zone by the judge.

“We understand this is a time of uncertainty for people within the claim area and that many people have a lot of questions,” said the statement from premier’s office.

It said the goal is to provide residents and business owners with a community contact, and for the province to hear directly from them about any possible impacts resulting from the decision.

“With permission of the resident, information provided may be considered by the province as it considers how to respond to the judgment,” the statement said.

Kristine Ciruna will be the contact, as the premier’s office said she has “considerable experience” in community engagement on a variety of issues, including working on issues related to First Nations.

The court ruling said the Cowichan Tribes have Aboriginal title over the area outlined in the judgment, that Crown and city titles within it are defective and invalid, and that the granting of private titles by the government unjustifiably infringed on the Cowichan title.

The province said staff are engaging with residents and business owners in the area, including going door to door and speaking directly with homeowners.

It said the flyer, which provides contact details for Ciruna, was left at the door if residents weren’t at home.

The flyer has also drawn attention from Opposition B.C. Conservative member of the legislature for Richmond-Queensborough riding, Steve Kooner, who criticized the government for “secretly delivering noncommittal, last-minute letters” to Richmond residents.

He said the flyer was an act for “damage control” after the province failed to inform British Columbians of the implications of the land claims years ago.

“If the NDP were truly committed to transparency and supporting residents, they would have proactively engaged with owners years ago, not rushed out last-minute letters to cover their tracks,” said Kooner in the statement.

Kooner said the letter also fails to provide owners with “concrete commitments or legal clarity.”

Eby said last week that if people are facing challenges related to financing, they should bring the information to the government to allow the province to respond.

But he said the government had not seen those challenges yet, and had not heard from any banks that have refused financing.

National Bank said in a statement last month that the title ruling was “not a factor” in its financing decisions, after Richmond Coun. Alexa Loo said the bank had denied funding for a major project because of the case.

Eby said that there was “a great amount of uncertainty” about the ruling.

“There is a road ahead that we have to go through, but the government of B.C. will take the steps necessary to ensure that those private property owners are protected through this process,” he said.

The City of Richmond hosted an information meeting last month to explain the ruling and the city’s plans, while allowing property owners to voice their concerns.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie told the crowd that the decision is being appealed.

“The next stage is to ask the court to stay the effect of the previous order,” Brodie said.

Although the Cowichan Tribes did not seek to have private titles invalidated in their case, the judge said in her ruling that it would establish a precedent “that provincial Crown grants of fee simple interest do not extinguish nor permanently displace Aboriginal title” and that sections of the Land Titles Act about the conclusive nature of the rights of indefeasible title “do not apply to Aboriginal title.”

RELATED STORIES:

• Biggest landowner in Cowichan area wants Aboriginal title case reopened, in rare move
• B.C. cabinet ministers, First Nation leaders gather amid tensions over Cowichan case
• ‘Why did you not warn us’: Frustration for B.C. land owners at Cowichan case meeting

This report by Nono Shen, The Canadian Press, was first published Nov. 10, 2025.