Canada parliament defeats property protection motion

A majority of members of Parliament voted down a non-binding Conservative motion on Monday that called for federal action to protect private property from First Nations land claims. The motion, introduced by the Conservative Party, was defeated with votes from the governing Liberals, the NDP, and the Bloc Québécois.

The issue stems from a 2025 British Columbia Supreme Court ruling that confirmed the Cowichan Tribes hold Aboriginal title over approximately 300 hectares of land in Richmond, B.C. The defeated motion had sought to establish a special committee to study potential legal, constitutional, and political steps to protect private property rights in the context of such claims.

The vote occurred as western premiers concluded a two-day meeting near Calgary, where debates over national unity were prominent. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby exchanged pointed criticisms at the meeting's outset. Eby questioned the purpose of meeting to build consensus while, in his view, Smith pursued separatist policies. Smith countered that policies from Eby and his predecessors had hindered efforts to transport Alberta oil to market.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe...