Next Stage Of Engagement Begins On Heritage Conservation Act Improvements

The Province, in partnership with the First Nations Leadership Council, is moving forward to the next stage of consultation and engagement on modernizing the Heritage Conservation Act.

The act, which regulates the protection, management and conservation of cultural and heritage sites in B.C., was last substantively updated in 1996.

“The Heritage Conservation Act is how we protect important cultural and archeological sites in B.C., but the current system doesn’t work well for people, and it doesn’t fully reflect our shared values or commitments,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.

“As we embark on this important engagement, I am committed to ensuring our collective work will lead to a system that will support faster permitting, better planning and more meaningful discussions with people, communities, industry and First Nations.”

The project is a multi-year collaborative effort, mandated in 2021 and co-developed through the Joint Working Group on First Nations Heritage Conservation, a committee established by the Province and the First Nations Leadership Council in 2007.

It has involved two phases of engagement to date with First Nations across B.C. and more than 300 organizations representing local governments, the heritage and archeology sector, real estate and construction, resource industries and other interested parties.

Judith Sayers, co-chair, joint working group on First Nations Heritage Conservation says major advancements have been made toward modernizing the act, yet there is more work to be done.

“We will continue to work with the Province in updating this legislation, finding an outcome that can work for everyone,” Sayers said.

Phase 3 engagement with First Nations partners, stakeholders and the general public is the next step forward, happening through to October with legislation expected to be tabled in spring of 2026.

In addition to making permitting faster and easier, the update is intended to help people and communities rebuild quicker after disasters such as wildfires and floods.

It will also protect heritage more effectively, reducing the risk of accidental damage to sacred or other significant sites and strengthen the role of First Nations in decision-making about their own heritage and ancestors, in alignment with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The proposed policy direction would not automatically restrict more land from development, nor will it apply to shared decision-making on private property.

“This is about building a future that respects the past, one where people can move forward with confidence and where Indigenous Peoples are at the table when it comes to protecting their history and culture,” Parmar said.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.