Scott McInnis, Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA for and Official Opposition Critic for Indigenous Relations, March 20 introduced the Aboriginal Title Transparency Act, a private member’s bill requiring the provincial government to publicly disclose Aboriginal title claims filed against the Crown, notify affected communities, and report annually to the Legislature on active claims and related agreements.

It also requires disclosure of negotiated legislation of Aboriginal Title between the province and First Nations.

“Right now, British Columbians are in the dark,” said McInnis (pictured). “Property owners do not know whether their titles are affected. Municipalities do not know what claims have been filed in their regions. Businesses cannot make investment decisions when the rules could change without public notice. This bill puts transparency into law.”

The Aboriginal Title Transparency Act would: 

• Establish a free public online registry of active Aboriginal title claims filed against the Crown in British Columbia.
• Require notice to affected local governments when a claim involves land within their boundaries.
• Require disclosure of agreements or negotiations between the provincial government and First Nations related to land claims.
• Requires notice to be filed with the Land Title Office.
• Require an annual report to the Legislature outlining each active claim, its status, the area involved, Crown financial commitments, and any settlements or agreements reached.

The bill comes amid growing uncertainty over land and resource rights in British Columbia. Recent court decisions involving mineral claims and Aboriginal title have raised questions for property owners, industry, and communities. The government’s closed-door approach, including non-disclosure agreements, has added to public concern, a BC Conservative Party news release stated.

“Transparency is not a partisan issue,” said McInnis. “British Columbians deserve to know what claims are being made on the land around them.”

The BC Conservative Caucus is calling on the NDP government to support the Aboriginal Title Transparency Act and end the use of non-disclosure agreements in consultation processes related to land claims or the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

e-KNOW

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