The NDP government is seeking support from two Independent MLAs for Premier David Eby’s contentious proposal to suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Internal dissent within the NDP is growing, with over ten MLAs expressing opposition during an emergency caucus meeting. Independent MLAs Elenore Sturko and Amelia Boultbee have confirmed that the NDP has reached out for their support, but both remain noncommittal on how they will vote. The controversy intensified following a press conference by the First Nations Leadership Council, where Indigenous leaders criticized Eby’s move as a unilateral attempt to weaken DRIPA, which was unanimously passed in 2019. Eby argues that the amendments are necessary to limit the province’s legal liability following a court ruling that found inconsistencies between provincial mining laws and DRIPA. He has indicated that introducing the bill will be a confidence motion, which could potentially trigger an election given the NDP’s slim majority.
Why It Matters
The proposed changes to DRIPA are significant because they come in response to a legal challenge that could have far-reaching implications for provincial legislation concerning Indigenous rights. The DRIPA was enacted to align provincial laws with Indigenous rights as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Since its passage, there has been a growing emphasis on Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation in British Columbia. The internal divisions within the NDP and the pushback from Indigenous leaders highlight the complexities and tensions surrounding Indigenous rights in the province, making this a pivotal moment in B.C. politics.
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