VICTORIA, B.C.: David Eby and the NDP are quietly moving ahead with plans to hand over decision-making power over more of British Columbia’s Crown land.
Despite the NDP backing down from controversial Land Act amendments in 2024 after widespread public opposition, the government is now moving ahead with agreements that grant shared decision-making authority over Crown land without legislative approval.
The latest agreement covers around 20,000 hectares of Crown land claimed as traditional territory by the Squamish Nation, including parts of the North Shore, the Sea-to-Sky corridor and about 60 per cent of Gambier Island. The government has cut the public consultation period in half, launched it during the summer, and residents say their concerns are being ignored.
“Crown land belongs to all British Columbians, but Minister Neill and the NDP keep finding ways to hand it over to a select few,” said Donegal Wilson, Shadow Minister for Water, Land, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management. “British Columbians rejected the NDP’s proposed Land Act changes in 2024. Instead of respecting that message, the government is now trying to achieve the same outcome through the back door by using DRIPA. They have reduced meaningful consultation, buried this process in the middle of the summer, and are pushing ahead with their reconciliation agenda regardless of what British Columbians have said.”
“I encourage British Columbians who will be inevitably affected by this issue to submit their perspectives to the public consultation,” said Linda Hepner, Shadow Minister for Environment and Parks. “When constituents raised their concerns with local MLA and NDP Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, Randene Neill, they were ignored. With parks and recreation sites already facing closures and restrictions, residents have every right to ask what this agreement means for public access. Minister Neill must provide answers.”
“This land-use agreement covers thousands of hectares of forest lands, adding another government-inflicted blow to B.C.’s troubled forestry industry,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “The NDP claims this creates certainty for forestry, but it does the opposite. As even more mills close and workers lose their jobs, this plan of action to grant the Squamish Nation shared decision-making authority over this land creates more uncertainty around timber supply and Crown land.”
Members of the public can provide feedback on this disastrous plan until 4 pm on Monday, July 20. The B.C. Conservatives are urging British Columbians, especially people living in the North Shore or Sea-to-Sky region, to make their voices heard.
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Media Contact:
Nikki Bal
Conservative.Communications@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948
