VICTORIA, B.C.: Conservative Leader of the Official Opposition and Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad is calling on Premier David Eby to release all legal advice and opinions provided to the province regarding whether to raise private property rights in the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada court case.
“The Premier keeps saying he wants to protect homeowners, yet his own government chose not to raise private property rights in court,” said Rustad. “British Columbians deserve to know why that decision was made, and on whose advice. This government had a duty to ensure legal clarity and protect the public interest, not gamble with people’s property rights. Instead, the Premier chose to stay silent.”
Rustad said the government’s continued silence around its legal advice fuels suspicion that political calculations, not legal prudence, drove the province’s position.
“If the government was warned that raising property rights could clarify the law and protect private property owners, and chose not to act, British Columbians have a right to know why and whether their government stood up for them. If the Premier ignored legal warnings that private property rights could be jeopardized, it demonstrates reckless judgment and a severe breach of public trust by the Premier and his government. Transparency is the first step to restoring trust in reconciliation and public confidence, both of which this government has lost.”
Rustad reiterated that the NDP’s handling of the Cowichan case has “shaken confidence in B.C.’s land title system” and said openness is essential to rebuild it.
“Enough secrecy,” Rustad added. “The Premier must come clean and release the legal advice his government received.”
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Media Contact:
Brad Zubyk
Chief of Staff
brad.zubyk@leg.bc.ca
