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Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. First Nations fear protests and conflict over fast-track legislation
First Nations leaders in British Columbia say proposed legislation to fast-track resource projects will likely lead to protests and litigation should the provincial government push the law through. Robert Phillips with the First Nations Summit says the B.C. government's proposed legislation, known as Bill 15, to approve infrastructure projects more quickly was done unilaterally, causing frustration and upset among First Nations leadership. He says there will be conflict, litigation and protests if the B.C. NDP fails to 'kill the bill' without engaging with First Nations on potential amendments. Phillips and other First Nations representatives and municipal leaders spoke at a joint news conference to outline opposition to the legislation, which Premier David Eby says is needed to combat the threat of tariffs imposed by the United States under President Donald Trump. Phillips says First Nations chiefs feel 'betrayed' by the province for trying to push through the laws without proper consultation, calling it a regressive step on the road to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. First Nations and the Union of B.C. Municipalities are calling on Eby's government to abandon the bill as written and commit to consultation to conform to obligations under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. First Nations fear protests and conflict over fast-track legislation
First Nations leaders in British Columbia say proposed legislation to fast-track resource projects will likely lead to protests and litigation should the provincial government push the law through. Robert Phillips with the First Nations Summit says the B.C. government's proposed legislation, known as Bill 15, to approve infrastructure projects more quickly was done unilaterally, causing frustration and upset among First Nations leadership. He says there will be conflict, litigation and protests if the B.C. NDP fails to 'kill the bill' without engaging with First Nations on potential amendments. Phillips and other First Nations representatives and municipal leaders spoke at a joint news conference to outline opposition to the legislation, which Premier David Eby says is needed to combat the threat of tariffs imposed by the United States under President Donald Trump. Phillips says First Nations chiefs feel 'betrayed' by the province for trying to push through the laws without proper consultation, calling it a regressive step on the road to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. First Nations and the Union of B.C. Municipalities are calling on Eby's government to abandon the bill as written and commit to consultation to conform to obligations under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
The Province
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Province
B.C. First Nations prepare for legal fight after Premier Eby refuses to withdraw controversial fast-track legislation
Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma has admitted little consultation was done on Bill 15, with Indigenous leaders also concerned about Bill 14. Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit Political Executive. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Premier David Eby gave First Nations leaders no indications Thursday that he plans to back down on his government's controversial legislation to give his cabinet wide-ranging powers to approve infrastructure and certain clean-energy projects. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Emerging from a virtual meeting with the premier, members of the First Nations Leadership Council said they're already looking at the 'legal ramifications' and preparing for the possibility of court battles challenging Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act and Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act. Indigenous leaders have vehemently opposed the two pieces of legislation in the weeks since their introduction, decrying the lack of consultation with First Nations and the potential negative impacts on their land and communities. 'The premier is backing himself into a situation that potentially could be very explosive,' said Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit Political Executive. 'We do believe that this is a detriment to our Aboriginal rights and title … We do believe that fast-tracking these projects will override even their own laws. So they're, in a way, breaking their own laws. We do believe it's weakening the environmental assessments.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Phillips, who chaired the meeting between Eby and chiefs from around B.C., said there is no way to reconcile the province's position with that of First Nations and that trust has been diminished between Indigenous people and the government. In the First Nations Leadership Council's statement, Indigenous leaders said they wanted the government to 'kill the bill.' Tsartlip Chief Don Tom said Eby's message to First Nations had essentially been 'trust us broh' and that his response to the premier was that 'chiefs on this call are unanimously opposed to the bills.' 'We are also in agreement that we will be taking action to ensure that they're not passed, but if you do manage to force them through despite our collective opposition, we will be exploring every avenue to kill them,' said Tom in a social-media post. 'You did not follow your own law and processes, you did not respect our rights, and that has resulted in legislation that is not redeemable in its present form.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In a statement following the outcry, Eby simply said he had had a 'productive, respectful — and at times — frank conversation' with First Nations leaders and that 'we agreed to continue our conversations as government moves forward with this bill.' The government has set May 28 as the deadline for passing both bills and the premier has defended the legislation as necessary to fast-track schools, hospitals, clean energy and other infrastructure projects that the province needs. The meeting between Eby and the First Nations leaders came a day after Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma admitted the NDP had rushed Bill 15 without proper consultation. She also said the government didn't expect there to be much interest from First Nations. 'We did not have the time to consult on this. We had less time to consult on this act than we would have liked to do. We acknowledge that. We definitely acknowledge that,' said Ma. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We had interpreted that interest would be quite low from First Nations because we did not interpret the tools that we had provided in this legislation as impacting First Nations, except, again, to provide greater clarity, where those regulations needed to be consulted, developed in consultation with First Nations.' First Nations aren't the only group unhappy with the legislation. Municipalities and environmental advocates, and both the Conservatives and the Greens, have spoken out against the bills. The Union of B.C. Municipalities sent a notice to local governments Thursday saying that Ma had invited municipal leaders to a virtual meeting on Friday in an effort to address their concerns. Conservative Leader John Rustad said the right thing for the government to do would be to pull the bills, do proper consultation over the summer and then bring them back in the fall with the necessary modifications. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He said the premier is instead 'hell-bent on just wanting to say it's my way or the highway.' Green MLA Rob Botterell agreed, saying he doesn't understand why the government can't leave the bills as 'exposure bills' and come back to them in October. He added that the bills contravene the government's own Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, passed in 2019, that outlines the requirement for proper consultation with First Nations on legislation. 'It's fundamentally an issue of respect of First Nations,' he said. 'The Declaration Act is pretty clear and the law is pretty clear, and we've been in committee now on Bill 15, and we haven't heard anything yet, that establishes the reason to move quickly and not take the time to do proper consultation.' Ma told reporters that the government did have a consultation plan but that they didn't hear back from many Indigenous titleholders. She said there is still a chance for First Nations to have a say in the regulations accompanying Bill 15. 'Based on the responses that we did receive from the few titleholders that responded to our request to engage, we interpreted those responses as reinforcing what we believed the bill was, that it was largely procedural, and the real deeper consultation that would need to be required would happen at regulation.' Read More News Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks BC Lions
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Deeply disappointed' First Nations in B.C. want Eby to kill fast-track bills
VICTORIA - First Nations leaders are calling on B.C. Premier David Eby to immediately 'kill' two pieces of legislation that would fast-track projects in response to U.S. government tariffs, with one leader saying they could take the government to court if it presses ahead. Robert Phillips chaired a meeting between First Nations leaders and Eby to discuss the bill that resulted in a statement from the leaders on Thursday saying they were 'deeply disappointed' with the premier's refusal to withdraw the bills. 'We are in a position where our backs are against the wall and we are going to have to respond accordingly,' said Phillips, a member of the First Nations Leadership Council and First Nations Summit Political Executive. Asked about likelihood of litigation, Phillips said it was going to be a 'close call.' Phillips also pointed to other possible responses if government does not back off from the bills that First Nations say represent unilateralism and a step back on reconciliation. 'You could see direct action,' Phillips said. '(When) I say direct action, I don't necessarily mean protest, but maybe protest. All of this is on the table because the premier is not backing off.' Bill 14 is aimed at streamlining permitting for renewable energy projects, such as wind farms, while Bill 15 would accelerate public and private infrastructure projects. Phillips said First Nations leaders are dismayed, surprised and very upset about the actions of a government with which First Nations are usually 'very friendly.' Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said in the post-meeting statement from the leadership council that 'unilateralism is not acceptable.' 'The province is saying 'trust us' and that they won't misuse the unfettered power these bills provide; however, considering the bills were created without consultation and co-operation and that the province continues to refuse any amendments, it is unclear what this trust would be based on,' he said. He said the proposed legislation undermined the future of reconciliation in B.C. and fast-tracking the bills would set the 'stage for bigger fights' between First Nations and government. Terry Teegee, a B.C. Assembly of First Nations regional chief, said in the statement he strongly condemned the government's 'unilateral and regressive' approach to drafting the bills. Eby said in a statement that the conversation with representatives from the First Nations Leadership Council was productive, respectful and at times 'frank.' He added that his government is committed to reconciliation. 'I committed that a private project proposed would not proceed through the faster processes outlined in this (bill) without the consent of the Nation whose core territory the private projects is on,' Eby said. Eby said both sides agreed to continue their conversation, but said the government would move forward to speed up schools, hospitals and 'projects of provincial significance' for the benefit of all communities. Phillips, who described himself as 'probably the most pro-business person' on the leadership council, said he understood the economic rationale for speeding up projects against the backdrop of American tariffs. 'We all agree we need public hospitals, we need public schools, we need infrastructure,' he said. 'But when you talk about major projects that potentially could run roughshod over Aboriginal rights and title and treaty rights, that is a definite problem,' he said. B.C.'s Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma meanwhile said in the legislature that the government 'made an error' in not adequately consulting First Nations on Bill 15. Opposition Conservative Leader John Rustad renewed his call for the government to withdraw the legislation to allow for proper consultation. 'David Eby seems hell bent on just wanting to say, 'it's my way or the highway,'' Rustad said. B.C. Green Party member Rob Botterell said his party opposed Bill 15 for a range of reasons, including the lack of consultation with First Nations. 'It's a very broad piece of legislation that reserves a whole ton of power and decision-making to cabinet,' Botterell said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
BC's development agenda tramples rights, First Nation leaders warn
Indigenous leaders across BC are sounding the alarm over two new provincial bills they say threaten to undermine their people's rights and weaken environmental safeguards. The legislation introduced by Premier David Eby's government aims to fast-track major infrastructure developments and clean energy projects. But First Nations leaders argue the bills were developed without the proper consultation required under BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Under DRIPA, the province is legally obligated to consult Indigenous communities in such cases, the leaders said. 'We're supposed to have not only a heads-up but co-development of laws and legislation and policies,' said Robert Phillips, political executive of the First Nations Summit, part of the First Nations Leadership Council. While the groups support economic growth, they are worried it could undermine Indigenous jurisdiction. 'While we support the Province taking action to counter Trump's erratic behaviour, such action must be principled,' said Stewart Phillip, grand chief and president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs in a press release. 'We are deeply alarmed by the province's continued backsliding on reconciliation.' Bill 15, known as the Infrastructure Projects Act tabled this month, grants the provincial cabinet sweeping authority to override local rules and environmental assessments for projects deemed 'provincially significant.' This includes the power to bypass local zoning bylaws, issue permits directly and even create alternative environmental assessments for projects like mines, mills and energy developments. While the premier has reassured people that the province remains committed to DRIPA and legislation will not override Indigenous rights, the leaders are not convinced. If the province ignores reconciliation in its rush to achieve economic growth, it will only face legal challenges that will serve no one's interests, Phillips said. He pointed to Mount Polley as an example of what happens when governments push ahead with industrial projects without proper consultation or rigorous environmental review. The 2014 tailings pond collapse at Mount Polley, in south-central BC, caused one of Canada's worst environmental disasters. Litigation over the mine's expansion continues. Phillips said meaningful consultation doesn't have to be a roadblock. For public infrastructure, like hospitals and schools, First Nations want to see faster progress too, he said — but they are concerned about environmental oversight, especially for large, private, profit-driven projects that can impact Indigenous territories for generations. 'I'm probably one of the most pro-business members of the leadership council,' he said. 'I want to see jobs and opportunities — but not at all costs. Not if it risks unravelling decades of work on rights recognition and environmental safeguards.' Phillips said many communities also lack the capacity to conduct their own environmental assessments or negotiate complex project terms, which makes early and robust engagement and access to capacity-building support even more essential. 'If First Nations aren't consulted and don't have consent, it jeopardizes everything we've worked to build under DRIPA,' he said. 'Reconciliation and economic growth are not incompatible — they go hand in hand.' Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer
