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7mo ago

B.C. Conservatives Seek Repeal of Indigenous Rights Law, Sparking Controversy

Repealing the UNDRIP-based law would undo significant progress in reconciliation, say Indigenous leaders.

Overview

  • B.C.'s 2019 legislation adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was unanimously passed and fundamentally changed the relationship between First Nations and the province.
  • John Rustad, leader of the B.C. Conservatives, has pledged to repeal the law if his party wins the upcoming provincial election, arguing that UNDRIP was not designed for Canada.
  • Indigenous leaders, including Terry Teegee of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, warn that repealing the law would set reconciliation efforts back by decades and lead to increased legal conflicts.
  • Conservative candidate A'aliya Warbus, a member of the Sto:lo Nation, supports Rustad's stance, citing unresolved issues with the law's application, particularly around free, prior, and informed consent.
  • The debate over the law comes amid broader discussions on land management and resource rights in B.C., with Indigenous leaders accusing Rustad of using the issue for political gain.