Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was in B.C. outlining the motion that the federal Conservatives are set to introduce at the House of Commons next week, that he says would strengthen private property rights.
“It calls on the prime minister to instruct federal lawyers to argue in court that private property rights take priority over all other claims that includes reversing litigation guideline 14 that currently bans lawyers from doing so,” said Poilievre.
Private property rights have been at the centre of political debate following a landmark decision by the BC Supreme Court that says the Cowichan Tribes have Aboriginal title for roughly 18 hundred acres of land in Richmond.
The motion also calls for explicit property protections in future agreements with First Nations a special committee to examine property rights, and a plan, due within 30 days, outlining how the government would protect Canadians affected by the Cowichan ruling and the Musqueam deal.
“I understand why private property owners would be concerned I’m really disappointed in Poilievre and his Conservative colleagues for trying to fan the flames of fear and try to instill this us against them attitude when it comes to respect and recognition for the inherit rights and title of First Nations people,” said Shana Thomas, Chief of Lyackson First Nation, Political executive, First Nations summit.
“Certainly, the Cowichan has stated time and again that they are not interested in private land but rather in terms of reconciliation, reconcile their assertion of title to these lands,” said Terry Teegee, Regional Chief of the British Columbia assembly of First Nations.
Regional Chief Terry Teegee says the rhetoric he is hearing from the Conservatives is creating a divide.
“I’ve never seen it so bad in terms of really a division in the state of British Columbia, I suppose Canada, there’s certainly a ruse in rhetoric and racism I’ve experienced it in terms of going to the grocery store, to getting a lot of emails and racism especially for first nations is at its height.”
“Our communities, we want prosperity, we want certainty, but we have to do it together, it can’t be at the expense of our communities,” said Thomas.
The federal Conservatives will introduce the motion at the House of Commons on Monday.