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B.C. Plans $150 Million-Plus Loan Guarantees After Cowichan Title Ruling

The move seeks to steady financing after a court recognized Cowichan Aboriginal title, voiding some existing titles.

Overview

  • The proposal sets out about $100 million in guaranteed financing for Montrose Properties and roughly $54 million for smaller private owners.
  • Premier David Eby said the final guarantee total could grow because the initial estimate excludes additional commercial activity in the area.
  • Montrose says a previous lender rejected a $35 million loan following the ruling, and talks on a separate project have stopped.
  • Montrose holds about 120 of the 300 hectares within the affected area in Richmond, British Columbia.
  • The B.C. Supreme Court’s August decision affirmed Cowichan Tribes’ Aboriginal title and found certain Crown and city titles invalid, creating uncertainty for third-party owners.