New law to give indigenous peoples more sway in British Columbia
British Columbia passed a law that will give indigenous people more sway in matters affecting them, becoming the first Canadian province to formally adopt UN standards on the issue.
"It is time we recognize and safeguard indigenous peoples’ human rights, so that we may finally move away from conflict, drawn-out court cases and uncertainty, and move forward with collaboration and respect," Scott Fraser, BC's Minister of Indigenous Relations, said in a joint statement with indigenous leaders who helped write the legislation - including the BC Assembly of First Nations, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and First Nations Summit.
BC on Tuesday became the first province in Canada to legally commit to bringing its laws up to the standards outlined in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The statement from Fraser and others cautioned that this process will take time.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government attempted to pass a law that would commit Canada to UNDRIP's standards during its first term in power, but the bill stalled due to criticisms that it would give indigenous groups a veto on future energy projects.
Both the Mining Association of British Columbia and the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce have endorsed BC's bill.
The law could reduce uncertainty for major resource projects that are frequently hit by protests and litigation by requiring miners to obtain buy-in from indigenous communities before they seek provincial permits.
But there are also concerns it will hamper investment in mining and energy.
"It's not a panacea, let me tell you that," Russell Hallbauer, CEO of Vancouver-based Taseko Mines Ltd told Reuters before the bill was passed.
The bill must now receive royal assent, and is expected to be formally passed into law before the legislature's current session ends on Thursday.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Sweet-Orr, established in 1871, is a global leader in superior protective workwear, known for quality, innovation, and performance.
VISIT SHOWROOM
ESAB South Arica, the leading supplier of high-end welding and cutting products to the Southern African industrial market is based in...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
