Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson Pledges to Repeal Indigenous Rights Act

Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson and the B.C. Conservatives have secured a two-thirds majority in the provincial election and pledged to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), potentially as early as next spring. Doerkson argues the legislation has failed to resolve provincial issues and has negatively impacted mining opportunities, though he maintains a commitment to working with First Nations.

First Nations leaders, including the First Nations Leadership Council and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, warn that the province is at a historical crossroads. They argue that DRIPA provides the necessary framework for reconciliation and that its removal could turn British Columbia into a battleground. Shana Thomas emphasized that Indigenous groups must be involved in any decisions impacting their territories.

The political shift coincides with a legal conflict over land title. Following a 2025 court ruling that established Aboriginal title as a senior interest over fee-simple title in Richmond, the Cowichan Tribes are preparing a January proposal to protect private property rights. Former Conservative leader John Rustad has advocated for the extinguishment of Aboriginal title, claiming private property and Indigenous rights cannot coexist. However, lawyer David Rosenberg asserts that such extinguishment is unconstitutional without a constitutional amendment and that repealing DRIPA would not alter the court's order for the province to negotiate in good faith.