Elections BC Approves Petition to Repeal B.C. Indigenous Rights Law

Elections BC has granted in-principle approval for a petition to proceed that seeks the repeal of British Columbia's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, known as DRIPA. The petition, led by B.C. Conservative MLA Harman Bhangu, was approved on Thursday, August 27, 2026, by Chief Electoral Officer Shipra Verma. If successful, the petition would not automatically repeal the law but would instead be referred to the Legislative Assembly for consideration.

The petition's proponent, Bhangu, who serves as the transportation critic for the Opposition B.C. Conservatives, has described DRIPA as a "disaster" that poses a threat to private property rights. He criticized the provincial government's handling of the legislation, stating that for months the NDP has treated it like a moving target. Bhangu argued that Premier David Eby's earlier decision to back down from suspending the law was a result of caving to pressure from activists.

For the petition to advance, supporters must collect signatures from at least 10 per cent of registered voters in each of B.C.'s 93 electoral districts. The signature collection period is scheduled to open on October 26, 2026, with all...