B.C. Premier Eby Abandons DRIPA Suspension Plan

British Columbia Premier David Eby announced Sunday evening that his government will not introduce legislation to suspend key provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act during the current legislative session, reversing course amid strong opposition from First Nations leaders and concerns within his own New Democratic Party caucus.

The decision comes after months of tension sparked by a December ruling from the B.C. Court of Appeal, which found the province's Mineral Tenure Act inconsistent with the 2019 legislation, known as DRIPA. The act, passed unanimously by the legislature, requires provincial laws to align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including provisions for treaties and free, prior, and informed consent from First Nations on resource development.

Eby had initially proposed amendments to DRIPA following the court decision, arguing it exposed the province to significant litigation risks, with at least 20 ongoing cases now citing the ruling. In early April, he shifted to a plan to suspend core elements of the act for up to three years while appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada. That proposal drew...