Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Conservative Leader John Rustad Urges Federal Government to Refer Cowichan Decision to Supreme Court of Canada

IMAGE CREDIT:  Khelsilem 

“The Cowichan ruling has created uncertainty at the very core of our land ownership system. The question of whether Aboriginal title and private ownership can coexist must be answered by the Supreme Court of Canada.” ~~ John Rustad

Conservative Official Opposition Leader John Rustad has written to federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser, urging the Government of Canada to refer the implications of the recent Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (Attorney General), 2025 BCSC 1490 decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

“This judgment raises profound questions of law that go well beyond British Columbia,” said Rustad. “On the one hand, it suggests Aboriginal title may enjoy priority over private ownership, but at the same time it declines to make a clear declaration about fee simple lands. These two positions cannot be reconciled without guidance from the highest court.”

Rustad stressed that the lack of clarity leaves British Columbia’s land system operating under uncertainty. “Homeowners, farmers, small businesses, and investors are now left in limbo. When the foundation of land ownership is uncertain, confidence in the economy and our ability to move ahead with major projects is shaken,” he said.

In his letter, Rustad cited section 53(2) of the Supreme Court Act, urging the federal government to move a reference question to the Supreme Court of Canada so the issue can be fully considered. “This is a matter of national concern,” Rustad added. “Clarity from the Supreme Court is essential not just for reconciliation, but for fairness and certainty for all Canadians.”



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more