Eby’s Secret Deal Hands Complete Sovereignty of Haida Gwaii to Haida Nation, Private Property Owners Betrayed
SMITHERS, B.C.: Conservative Opposition Leader John Rustad is raising serious concerns following a decision by the B.C. Supreme Court that has recognized full Aboriginal title for the Haida Nation over the entirety of Haida Gwaii – including private property. This unprecedented ruling grants complete sovereignty, leaving private property rights destroyed and business security in jeopardy on Haida Gwaii.
“British Columbians are right to be alarmed,” said Rustad. “The Eby NDP has allowed this process to unfold in secrecy, without consultation with non-Indigenous residents or businesses, and now thousands of British Columbians face uncertainty over their homes, property, and livelihoods. David Eby himself has said this model will be a ‘template’ for the rest of the province. That should send a chill down the spine of every single property owner in British Columbia.”
The decision comes after years of negotiations carried out by the NDP government without transparency or public input. From logging operations to fishing charters, and from family homes to small businesses, the implications of subordinating private property to Aboriginal title are staggering.
“Private property rights are the foundation of a free society and a strong economy,” said Scott McInnis, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke and Conservative Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “By throwing those rights into the garbage, the Eby government has created enormous legal and economic uncertainty – not just for Haida Gwaii, but for all of British Columbia.”
The Conservative Official Opposition Caucus is calling on the NDP government to:
- Immediately appeal this decision to the B.C. Court of Appeal
- Guarantee that private property rights will be respected and protected across the province
- Stop using closed-door deals as a model for reconciliation and commit to full consultation with all British Columbians on future agreements.
“British Columbians deserve straight answers, not secrecy,” Rustad added. “We support economic opportunities for Indigenous communities throughout B.C., but this cannot mean the end of property rights or the destruction of certainty for businesses and families. David Eby has set B.C., and Canada, down a dangerous path.”
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Media Contact:
Ryan Painter, Conservative Caucus Communications Team
Director of Communications
Ryan.Painter@leg.bc.ca
