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B.C. Attorney General 'Hopeful' on DRIPA Changes This Fall, but Won't Commit
Sharma said the government is hopeful for a fall path forward as First Nations and local governments press for more say in any amendments.
During the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Vancouver on Tuesday, Attorney General Niki Sharma expressed hope for finding a path forward on amending the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act .
A December 2025 B.C. Court of Appeal ruling invalidated part of the Mineral Tenure Act, marking the first time the court used DRIPA and the Interpretation Act to strike down provincial legislation.
Simpcw First Nation Chief George Lampreau warned that current rhetoric is "creating a divide," as critics advocate for full repeal of the Declaration Act while many First Nations leaders oppose any alterations.
Premier David Eby has promised to amend DRIPA to prevent further court invalidations of provincial laws, while his government has appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada; legal expert Reece Harding expects the appeal will not be heard until 2027.
Panellist Merle Alexander argued the act is a legal framework for consent rather than a "veto," as most experts emphasize the need for a collaborative path between First Nations and government.