BC Conservative Party Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott McInnis, MLA for Columbia River Revelstoke, says Premier David Eby must stop gaslighting the public about the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and recall the Legislature to repeal it.

McInnis warns that the government’s approach is damaging reconciliation, undermining confidence, and handing core decisions to the courts instead of elected lawmakers, according to a Dec. 12 media release.

“From the very beginning, British Columbians were told not to worry, that DRIPA would not have legal force or sweeping consequences,” McInnis said.

“Legal experts warned that was not true. The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that courts will view and measure B.C. laws through the DRIPA lens. Now, the courts are in the driver’s seat. That is exactly what the Premier set in motion, and he was warned about it.”

McInnis said Premier David Eby’s talk of “amending” DRIPA is not acceptable and he needs to clearly explain what the original intent of the legislation was.

“Now the Premier is saying he wants to amend DRIPA to get back to its original intent, but he has not clarified that intent for the public,” McInnis said. “He is telling people again not to worry, that everything is fine, when obviously it’s not. Public appetite for reconciliation is plummeting, and his decisions are putting reconciliation at risk.”

McInnis said repealing DRIPA is the only way to restore clarity and rebuild public support for reconciliation.

“Repealing DRIPA will save reconciliation,” he said. “The NDP has not balanced Indigenous rights with the broader public interest. People are seeing monumental court decisions with huge consequences and very little transparency. If this continues, there will be no public support left. Conservatives want to pause, reset under clear constitutional frameworks, and build prosperity and clarity for all British Columbians, not closed-door decisions that deal with the fallout later.”

McInnis also warned that the implications of the Court of Appeal decision stretch far beyond mineral staking.

“The same Court of Appeal that ruled on DRIPA and mineral staking is now set to hear the Richmond and Cowichan appeal on the Land Act,” McInnis said. “Can anyone be sure that they will not look at the Land Act through the DRIPA lens and further erode confidence in private property rights and land use decisions across this province? That is now an open question. Under these circumstances, the idea of building a major energy pipeline in British Columbia is effectively impossible.”

He reiterated the Conservative Party’s call for Premier Eby to recall the Legislature and fully repeal DRIPA rather than trying to repair it at the margins.

“DRIPA has created uncertainty, empowered litigation, and shaken public confidence,” McInnis said. “If the Premier is serious about reconciliation and economic certainty, he needs to stop pretending this is a small adjustment and recall the House to repeal DRIPA in full.”

e-KNOW file photo

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