The BC Conservative caucus is responding to the provincial government’s announcement that it has issued an environmental assessment certificate for the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project. The government says the decision was made under a consent-based process with the Tahltan Central Government and framed it as a result of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA.
Conservative interim leader Trevor Halford said the announcement does not provide the stability needed for the economy. He questioned the government’s claim that the DRIPA framework is speeding up major projects. Halford noted the government passed Bill 15 years ago with promises of faster approvals, yet projects are still delayed.
“If this government’s definition of ‘faster’ is delivering a decision six years after they passed their framework, then it’s clear why our natural resource sector is calling for change,” Halford said. He added that the government’s focus on one project does not address broader issues, including private property rights for British Columbians.
Scott McInnis, the party’s critic for Indigenous Relations, said repealing DRIPA would not affect constitutionally protected Indigenous rights under Section 35. He said major projects were advanced before 2019 through deep consultation and accommodation, and that approach can continue.
McInnis also highlighted that British Columbia has 204 First Nations, and they do not all agree on DRIPA or Section 7 mechanisms. He said reconciliation must include every nation, not only those with major resource projects.
The BC Conservatives say they support responsible projects with strong environmental safeguards, but they want a clear approvals system grounded in Section 35 that delivers certainty for workers, communities and investors.
Comments