Moyse said his top concern isn’t land use, but democracy. In his opinion, by the Eby administration repeatedly backing down, that demonstrates that the province is now co-governing with the First Nations Leadership Council.
Read more at Global News: B.C. lawyer has ‘never seen this level of ineptitude and incompetence’ over DRIPA
B.C. Premier David Eby told reporters on Monday afternoon that DRIPA legislation has been “probably the most challenging issue I’ve worked on in government.”
But King’s Counsel and an expert in Aboriginal law had some strong words for what has happened.
On Sunday, Eby backed down again on the pausing of key parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), scrapping plans to table a suspension bill this legislative session.
In a prepared statement on Monday, in partnership with the First Nations Leadership Council, Eby confirmed that the government will not be introducing legislation to suspend or amend DRIPA or UN Declaration-related provisions in the Interpretation Act, in the spring legislative session.
“The Government and First Nations Leadership Council are committed to working together with all First Nations leaders on a path forward to discuss and consider the government’s stated legal concerns, while upholding the title and rights and human rights of First Nations,” the statement read.
“Together, we commit to genuine collaboration to find solutions as soon as possible, and before the fall legislative session.”
An expert in Aboriginal law and treaty matters told Global News that, in his opinion, the NDP is now co-governing the province with First Nations.
Geoffrey Moyse was legal counsel in the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General’s Office and for more than 30 years he advised governments on aboriginal law and treaty matters.