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

Conservatives: "The NDP said what about DRIPA? "

Scott Fraser was the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in the government of the late Premier John Horgan


After the BC Court of Appeal 2-to-1 decision in support of Gitxaala Nation and Ehattesaht First Nation, which affirmed that courts have a duty to view and measure B.C. laws through the lens of DRIPA, Premier David Eby is desperately trying to change the channel on how this law could drastically impact investment and economic certainty in British Columbia.

It's a far cry from what the previous Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (Scott Fraser) said in the house about how DRIPA would have no force or effect.

THE NDP insisted DRIPA would not impact private property rights or have sweeping legal consequences. Their previous Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliations’ own words are now meaningless:


Quotes from 2019 Debate

“The legislation sees us bring provincial laws into harmony with the UN declaration over time.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Oct 10/24


No Force and Effect

“I stated earlier that Bill 41 doesn’t give the UN declaration itself the force of law and doesn’t create any new laws and new rights.  That’s inclusive of private land.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard Nov 25/19


“There are no new rights created within this bill, within Bill 41, but it does affirm the rights within section 35, jurisprudence.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Nov 21/19


“With the passage of this bill, this will be, still, an interpretive tool. Bill 41 brings no legal force and effect to the UN declaration.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Nov 19/19


“I’ll just repeat. There’s no legal force in effect.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Nov 20/19


Interpretive Aid

“The courts may look to the declaration as an interpretive aid — where if there’s ambiguity in legislation such that there’s an interpretation that aligns better with the declaration, that interpretation would be preferred.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Nov 26/19


“It’s dealing with the idea that the courts could still….There’s nothing in this act that would prevent the courts from using the UN declaration, as they can already, as an interpretive tool.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Nov 19/19


Not a veto

“It is not a switch that will change every statute and process in the government the day after this act is proclaimed, nor is it a veto over development.” – Scott Fraser, Hansard, Oct 30/19

 

Labels:

Comments

  1. Chris CDecember 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM

    It didn't create new rights. Aboriginal title is an existing right, affirmed under section 35 of the Constitution. Aboriginal title exists in Canadian law and the courts have constantly said that the onus is on governments to work together to clarify what those rights mean. The courts have not ever wanted to be the ones to define those rights, but if governments won't negotiate, what choice to First Nations have to get clarity on Aboriginal title? That doesn't mean that we don't have to work out how those rights and title issues work together, but DRIPA did not create new rights in British Columbia. Nothing has superseded Constitutional rights.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interfor Moves Headquarters Out of BC as Forestry Crisis Continues

NDP policies are driving businesses out of B.C., and the forestry industry just suffered yet another calamity. Interfor, a BC company founded more than 60 years ago and now one of the world's largest lumber producers, is moving its headquarters from Burnaby, BC to Atlanta, Georgia. As BC’s forestry sector faces mill closures and mounting uncertainty, this move is another warning sign that the crisis is deepening and conditions are fatal. “This is the NDP’s record: endless job losses with no hope in sight for the forestry sector,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “Interfor still has three mills in BC which are now in serious jeopardy, and it is likely we will see even more companies pull out of BC. The NDP government is suffocating the forestry industry with high taxes, excessive regulations, and permitting delays, while DRIPA has made it impossible to plan for the future.” “Decisions like this are sadly not surprising given the NDP’s indifference if not hostility tow...
Post a Comment
Read more

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Hypocritically Admits Natural Gas Power Was Needed All Along ~~ BC Conservatives

The NDP just got caught buying back the exact kind of power plant it spent years telling British Columbians they didn't need. The NDP government announced today that BC Hydro is purchasing the Island Generation natural gas facility in Campbell River, an admission that its electrification-only energy policy was never realistic. The 275-megawatt plant was originally privately owned yet kept to a minimal backup role under the NDP, operating just 15 days a year on average. Now, with demand outpacing what the NDP's plan can support, the government is spending taxpayer funds on the very gas capacity it once treated as obsolete. "You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn't matter," said Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy.  "Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn't keep the lights on. It's a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more