Following an online meeting between First Nations chiefs and B.C. Premier David Eby revealed that the B.C. government now plans to suspend sections of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). This suspension would last around three years and, according to Eby, would be less aggressive than making permanent changes as previously proposed.
For the B.C. government this would allow time for them to challenge a December court ruling, which found that DRIPA was legally enforceable. According to Eby this ruling flooded the government with an unmanageable amount of litigation and they were forced to suspend it.
“We have to fix it. It is non-negotiable.”
This decision was met with little enthusiasm by First Nations leaders present in a closed-door meeting. According to a leaked transcript obtained by The Canadian Press, several leaders accused Eby of betrayal, negligence, and disingenuous behaviour.
While the government is already swamped with litigation, suspending or amending DRIPA may actually make things worse for Eby, who may face a no-confidence vote. For Indigenous peoples, it means a further setback and continuation of a long fight for land rights and recognition.
