BC Government Reverses Proposed Amendments To Land Act Amid Consultation, Controversy

The BC Government has reversed proposed amendments to the Land Act, which was intended to allow for shared decision-making with First Nations about the use of public land.

Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, issued a statement Wednesday, saying he’s heard from various stakeholders over the past several weeks, many of whom have indicated they want the government to take more time “to further engage with people and demonstrate the real benefits of shared decision-making in action.”

"There was a great deal of misinformation that was intentionally spread," Cullen said.

"Fear mongering, speculation and just simply inventing things does nobody any good."

His statement said many reps of stakeholder groups, from mining, forestry, oil and gas and clean energy to cattle ranchers, adventure tourism operators, snowmobilers, hunters and anglers, felt they were misled about what the proposed legislation entailed.

He says some “figures” have gone to extremes to knowingly mislead the public about what the proposed legislation would do.

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon says the government’s attempt to bypass public engagement and scrutiny “with this rushed consultation process should raise concerns among all British Columbians.”

Terry Teegee, regional chief with the BC Assembly of First Nations, says it’s a step back in terms of reconciliation.

The amendments were part of the province’s  work to align B-C laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.