The Province of British Columbia has introduced new legislation that would allow local governments to hold closed-door meetings when discussing confidential or culturally sensitive information with First Nations.
Currently, local councils can only meet privately under a limited set of conditions. The proposed amendments to the Community Charter and Vancouver Charter would expand those rules to include government-to-government negotiations and Indigenous cultural matters—areas that often require confidentiality to protect sacred knowledge and traditional sites.
If passed, the new law would permit—but also require—closed meetings when sensitive information is shared between local governments and First Nations, or between municipalities themselves. For example, discussions around land use that could affect a traditional Indigenous bathing site could now be held in-camera to avoid public disclosure.
While these changes aim to promote respectful collaboration, they won’t affect public accountability: all final decisions and bylaws must still be passed in open meetings.
The amendments reflect direct requests from the Union of B.C. Municipalities, the City of Vancouver, and Indigenous leadership, and support B.C.’s obligations under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
The proposed legislation was introduced in the Legislature on October 9 and will come into effect once it receives royal assent.
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