First Nations leaders and the Union of B.C. Municipalities are ramping up pressure on the provincial government to pause a controversial infrastructure bill they say infringes on Indigenous rights and undermines local decision-making.
They held a joint news conference Thursday to reiterate concerns that Bill 15 represents government overreach and violates the rights of First Nations.
UBCM president Trish Mandewo said the drafting process was rushed and lacked meaningful consultation with municipalities.
“We are seeing a pattern where decision-making is being removed from local communities and is being centralized in Victoria,” said Mandewo. “I think British Columbians want us to get back to working together for the better good.”
Bill 15 is intended to fast-track infrastructure projects by classifying some as “provincially significant” and giving cabinet broad powers to accelerate permitting and approvals.
Premier David Eby has said the bill is necessary to address urgent infrastructure needs and will help speed up construction of schools, hospitals and other key projects.
The NDP government plans to pass the bill before the legislature breaks for the summer. A final vote is scheduled for May 28, and the legislation has been tied to a confidence vote, meaning the government could fall if it fails to pass.
Another contentious bill, Bill 14, would assign permitting authority for renewable energy projects to the B.C. Energy Regulator, a Crown corporation funded in part by the oil and gas industry.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, described the current political environment as “hostile” and said both bills are at odds with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which requires meaningful engagement with First Nations in legislative development.
Eby and Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma have acknowledged the consultation period was shortened, but say more in-depth engagement will take place after the bills are passed.
Robert Phillips, political executive of the First Nations Summit, said British Columbia is at a crossroads between reconciliation and “an old colonial road.”
“The premier has essentially presented us a ‘trust us’ model to development around the province, but there is a reasonable foundation of trust that is just not there,” he said.
Phillips and B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee said they are considering raising their concerns with the Crown.
Teegee said he also shares concerns that governments across Canada are moving to fast-track projects in response to economic uncertainty caused by the Trump administration.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to be in Ottawa on May 27 and 28.
Teegee said he plans to share his concerns with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who is expected to attend the King’s speech from the throne.
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