Greater transparency and accountability needed for Crown land disposition: Doerkson

VICTORIA, B.C.: Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson introduced the Crown Land and Financial Transparency Act today to bring much needed clarity to how the provincial government disposes of Crown land and manages public funds tied to those decisions. The bill passed first reading in the Legislature.

British Columbians are regularly left with ambiguity on the details behind the government’s Crown land transactions, in spite of the fact that these deals for publicly owned assets affect the daily lives of British Columbians. Residents have spent the past eight years watching these decisions be made without warning or explanation, according to Doerkson.

“Crown land belongs to all of us yet transfers or sales that compromise fundamental rights are often shrouded in secrecy,” says Doerkson. “Whether impacting private dock owners struggling with tenure renewals in Pender Harbour, guide-outfitters restricted from previously accessible wildlife areas, or ranchers losing grazing lands, these are decisions devoid of the accountability that British Columbians deserve.”

The bill proposes requiring the minister responsible to provide notice to any affected person before a disposition of Crown land is made, ensuring they have a chance to be involved as part of a process of outreach and consultation.

It also obligates the minister to publish an annual public report by April 30 listing all Crown-land dispositions from the previous fiscal year, as well as all public money disbursed or received in connection with those decisions. These reports must be tabled in the Legislature and posted online for public access.

The legislation further calls for the appointment of a special committee of the Legislative Assembly to review how Crown land is being disposed of, the public funds being deployed, and whether new structures like an oversight authority or a compensation mechanism are in order.

The Bill represents a practical step toward restoring public confidence at a time when uncertainty is growing, contends Doerkson.

“Taxpayers deserve to know what is being proposed, the rationale behind it, and how much public money is changing hands,” adds Doerkson. “When Crown land decisions have consequences for surrounding communities or landholders, there must be a pathway for information, review, and potential remedies before any transaction is completed.”

– 30 –

Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948