Eby Backs Off DRIPA Suspension, Seeks Joint Approach

0:00British Columbia premier David Eby just backed off plans to pause key parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, known as DREPA. His office confirmed no suspension bill will hit the legislative floor this session. Instead, he set the hold of press conference on Monday to lay out the next moves. After a late Sunday meeting with First Nations leaders, the government shifted gears toward a joint approach. Officials and Indigenous groups aimed to negotiate DRIPA's rollout together, dodging the legal headaches from a recent court ruling on mineral claims. First Nations pushed back hard, threatening protests that helped kill the suspension idea. This marks another retreat for Eby after earlier pledges to amend DRIPA or tie a suspension vote to his government's survival, both fizzled amid, fierce opposition. A draft document from the talks outlines a negotiation framework led by First Nations and the province with court input. No promises to change or keep DRIPA as is. Just a push for shared recommendations. First meetings could kick off within two weeks.

1:04The current session wraps May 28th with more sittings in September, so this buys time for real talks. I stay on that Monday presser for how they bridge the gap moving forward. Canada News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters.