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“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

RIGGS -- What’s needed is a clear, province-wide, framework


RE:  CTV News -- DRIPA amendments, lack of transparency spark backlash in BC

After a two-week hiatus for spring break, the debate over the NDP government’s handling of First Nations rights continued Monday in the legislature ...

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When the Richmond news broke, I was frustrated like everyone else. But after looking into it, this didn’t come out of nowhere, and it’s not really about DRIPA.

The recent court decisions aren’t that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) suddenly changing the rules. They’re the courts applying Section 35, which has been the law for over 40 years. Governments have always had a duty to consult. DRIPA didn’t create that, it was meant to bring some structure to a process that was already being fought out in the courts.

The real issue is uncertainty.

When the rules aren’t clear, projects stall, costs go up, and everything turns into a legal fight. That doesn’t help homeowners, industry, or First Nations. It just keeps lawyers busy.

Scrapping DRIPA won’t solve that. It likely puts us right back into a fragmented system with even more court battles. At the same time, unclear policy isn’t acceptable either.

Where the concern is valid is transparency. If changes are being discussed behind closed doors or under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA’s), people are going to lose trust. You can’t expect public confidence if no one understands the process.

That’s why proposals like Scott McInnis’ Aboriginal Title Transparency Act matter. If the government won’t support transparency, people are going to start asking why.

What’s needed is a clear, province-wide, framework that respects constitutional rights, gives certainty to property owners and industry, and reduces the need for constant litigation.

Right now, it feels reactive instead of planned. That’s not how you run a job, and it’s not how you run a province.

Set the rules, make them clear, and let people get to work.

 

Mike Riggs ... is a contractor, and the father of two disabled daughters. He values hard work, real world perspective, and speaking common sense.

 

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