“Favouring empty rhetoric over sound governance produces policies that hurt British Columbians” ~~ Trevor Halford, Leader, Conservative Party of BC

Conservative Party of BC interim leader Trevor Halford 

There was a disturbing admission from Premier David Eby this month as part of his year-end interviews with the media. When asked about how many claims of Aboriginal title have now been filed in BC courts, he refused to provide a specific number and instead offered this unsettling statement:

“The challenge, I guess, as I would put it, is no one has really nailed how to move forward on this in order to provide both the certainty to the business community but also address reconciliation.”

The implications are crystal clear: The premier has no path forward on the most consequential file shaping our collective future. By his own admission, the government’s reconciliation agenda is fundamentally incongruent with creating a climate of certainty and interest within the business community.

Without an immediate course correction, this void in leadership could devastate BC by creating a new reality where privately held land title is subject to legal uncertainty for individuals and entities other than Indigenous nations.

After just three weeks of serving as interim leader of the Opposition, I am keenly aware of the basic responsibilities of this job. I understand how actions without planning lead to disaster, and that favouring empty rhetoric over sound governance produces policies that hurt British Columbians.

Eby’s direct role in bringing about this crisis demonstrates that he does not adhere to these same principles.

First, it must be noted that Eby, as attorney general, was the central architect and booster of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). As part of his rationale during the legislative process, he repeatedly downplayed it as “framework legislation” that would not change land title or override existing laws.

The Supreme Court of BC decision on the claim by the Cowichan Tribes in August determined that Crown grants of fee simple interest (the legal foundation for most private land titles) “unjustifiably infringe the Cowichan’s Aboriginal title,” directly contradicting Eby’s initial claim.

During the 2024 election campaign leaders’ debate, the Conservative Party of BC highlighted the mistake of including land title and infrastructure as part of DRIPA and warned how Indigenous law could apply to private property as a result. In response, Eby stated that “nothing could be further from the truth” regarding the notion of land holdings being taken away from British Columbians.

The Cowichan ruling has since confirmed this Eby declaration to also be false. This sequence of reckless decisions brings us to today, where the government is attempting short-term stopgap measures, including a $150-million loan-guarantee program after lenders began withdrawing from existing property mortgages in Richmond. Once again, the premier’s preference is to try to spend taxpayers’ money to address problems of his own making.

Days later, Eby acknowledged he does not know how to balance reconciliation efforts with maintaining business confidence.

Being lost and caught in an impossible situation by his policies is nothing new for Eby. 

British Columbians watched it unfold with drug decriminalization, where early warnings were dismissed before public disorder forced a reversal. They saw it again on public safety, when concerns over repeat violent offenders were downplayed before the premier demanded federal bail changes. Housing reforms promised increased supply, but instead slowed construction and chilled investment.

And now on land title, confident assurances have been met with judicial reality and capital retreat, leaving British Columbians exposed to the consequences of a government without a plan.

There is no longer room for the folly of this brand of leadership or, more accurately, its absence. Either the DRIPA act is repealed, or Eby must resign immediately.

BC can no longer afford the damage incurred by a government that only learns the cost of its decisions through continual failure.

 

Trevor Halford is Conservative Party of BC interim leader, and MLA for Surrey–White Rock. His personal experiences with local challenges, such as housing affordability and commuting, drive his commitment to serving the needs of families in the Lower Mainland.