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.

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.