The fallout from three Aboriginal rights agreements, signed last month between the federal government and the Musqueam First Nation, continued on Tuesday.
It was a hot topic in question period in the BC legislature.
“Yesterday in this House, the Minister of Indigenous Relations stood up and he said he had no idea about any agreement with the federal government and the Musqueam,” BC Conservative interim leader, Trevor Halford, said during question period.
“Worse than that, the premier of this province stood in front of the media with children all around him and he says, and I quote, ‘I can’t say whether or not at this stage whether any public service members have line of sighted to it. I certainly didn’t,’ end quote.”
On Monday, at a press conference announcing that B.C. is adopting permanent daylight saving time, Premier David Eby said, “I haven’t been briefed yet on the contents of the agreement; I look forward to learning more about what the federal government’s been doing here.”
The premier’s office later revealed that Eby was at the signing ceremony on Feb. 20, but was not given any details.
“You would think that the premier of this province would attend an event and have some idea what the event is about,” Halford said.
“But then to go before the province and say he had no idea. He actually sat front row at a signing ceremony and then said he was caught surprised, just like everybody else. I’m not buying it, and I don’t think the public are buying it.”
Eby said in question period that he had no briefings about the contents of the agreement or any heads up from the federal government.
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He said he received an invitation from Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow to attend the signing and that he regularly attends events with the Musqueam Indian Band because they do not have a local MLA who represents their interests.
“I was honoured and glad to be attending,” Eby said.
“I absolutely sat in the front row. I was glad to see the federal government working with the Musqueam people, but I didn’t know the content of the agreements until they were released publicly by the federal government. But I’m glad they have been released.
“I wish we had been briefed in advance because we would have been able to clarify some of the comments made by the official Opposition that this was a land grab, that people didn’t own their homes anymore in Metro Vancouver, all the kind of nonsense that they said.”
Late on Monday, the federal government released a copy of the Rights Recognition Agreement between them and the Musqueam Indian Band.
Sparrow said the three deals outline how the federal government will work in partnership with Musqueam on fisheries, stewardship and marine management.
They also establish a framework for future negotiations on issues, including rights and title.
Speaking with CKNW on Tuesday, Sparrow said it does not include private properties.
“How we move forward on third-party land, municipal land and everything is stuff that we still need to resolve, but we still have interest in title, but it’s not with individual homeowners, that’s what I’m saying,” he said.
Eby said that the work being done by the federal government is a positive thing.
“I’m hesitant to point the finger at the federal government about not bringing us in, because I know for our own government, we’re reflecting on how we can do a better job of bringing along key stakeholders in our own Indigenous work,” he said.
“This is challenging work when we sit down government to government, Hon. Speaker, but it’s important work, it’s crucial work, and up until very, very, recently, this was non-partisan work.”
Halford said it is hard to believe that Eby had no idea what was going on at the signing ceremony.
“Give me an absolute break, Mr. Speaker. We’re not buying that, neither is British Columbia,” he said.
“Either this is one of the highest levels of incompetency we’ve seen from this premiere, or even worse, he has chosen not to be up front in this House or outside of this House on important issues when it comes to First Nations deals. It’s that simple.”
Halford also asked Eby about DRIPA (Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act), which Eby said previously that the government would be amending, but not repealing.
“I look forward to tabling that in the house and we will ensure there is full opportunity to have debate and discussion about those amendments,” Eby said.
JV… after the “White man” is gone I expect everything will fall apart and they will have no one to come and get it all working again. Almost forgot no powwow party paycheques from the “white man” LOL.
Bill Kew listening to old white people like you whine and cry because the Natives are getting some of their land back is music to my ears
Another sell out. So 1500 people have more rights than 2 million. See the way the country is going. When do they start assigning class status. First class Canadian then the second class Canadian and so on. I guess being a Canadian citizen really means nothing.
nacho business Who’s the one complaining? I’m living it up here in Vancouver and I’ve worked for everything I own. I’m just letting you know how corrupt and pathetic your white heritage is. Enjoy inflation and higher taxes buddy. All thanks to the descendents of the “settlers”… Too funny lol
JV… the sellout, complains about the “white” man while enjoying all the comforts of the “white” man.
Musquem nation proud! BTW thanks for the land back bro. Much appreciated
nacho business Nah I’m going to continue living in my condo here in Vancouver and drive around my brand new CX-30 GT Kuro and continue to work in the Vancouver film industry. I bet you don’t even live in Vancouver. It’s probably out of your price range
JV……. “first nations proud” ? I guess you are going back to teepees, riding horses, bow and arrow, birchbark canoe, medicine man, buckskin clothes and moccasins and finding clean water on your own instead of whining to the government for help.
It’s all good. First Nations proud! Our nation strong and free. Thanks for the land back we really appreciate it
Keep challenging me and I’ll keep spitting out facts about your precious white heritage lol
Lol your precious white heritage… To get owned by the same people that you support. Talk about the definition of inbred stupidity
Niki the billionaires thank you for your support. They wouldn’t be where they are if it wasn’t for gullible morons like you
These billionaires and their families juicing us for every dollar we’ve got until the day we die… and oh look… They’re all white. What a coincidence. All descendents of the settlers. Enslaving their own people to the point where nobody can afford or own anything in 2026. But oh it’s the First Nations people or immigrants or the “leftists” that are the problem lol. Too funny
The different native groups or ‘nations” want all the land and billions of dollars from the taxpayers.
This stolen land nonsense will not stop until the country is completely ruined. Then the natives will have find another way to extort money from someone.
JV. and yet the indians have embraced a lot of the “white” mans way of life. Live in houses, drive trucks, snowmobiles, quads use boats with gas engines, hunt with guns, shop at stores instead of making things and getting their own food. Seeing our doctors and wearing our style of clothes and when things get a bit rough cry to the government to provide services. I imagine if the “white” man left the country the indians would not survive on their own.
Look at the society the settlers created. Greed, corruption, pollution, disease etc… the backbone of North American society. That’s a lot to be proud of hey…
I hope that the Musqueam do get recognized as the owners of the lower mainland and its $1.9 trillion value. Then when they ask for (more) compensation, that the citizens of BC finally unite and put a stop to this grifting once and for all. Or we turn around and say you owe us $2.9 trillion for all the infrastructure that the taxpayers have paid.
JV if it is indeed “stolen” then why are the taxpayers continuing to be milked by the so called first nations? Stolen means obtained without Paying for something. And who did the indians steal it from?
nacho business you’re obviously too stupid to understand how the land was stolen so there’s no point in trying to explain it. Grab a history book and read it sometime dumbass. You might actually learn something
Marielle Mcfarlane BC One and Dallas Brodie are the laughing stock of the political world in BC. BC One isn’t even recognized as a legitimate political party in BC anymore. They’re basically registered under the same category as the Marxist/Lennonist party aka a non legitimate party. Either way Dallas Brodie is a liar and white nationalist/fascist that has done nothing but try to spread her hate towards the First Nations people in BC with zero evidence to back up any of her claims. She’s a joke and if you support her then you’re also a joke. If you don’t like BC then get out! You don’t belong here
Doug Brekfaust = A racist coward in his 50’s who thinks he speaks for all British Columbians but in reality he only speaks for himself
Well this was another deal with the MP and Carney to undermine the rights of citizens in B.C. We know the NDP is going to give away the province. What are the conservatives stand in this behind the door game plan? BC ONE and Dallas Brodie.. will repeal everything and send them packing. Who do you choose?
At JV- we are all living on conquered land! Get over it! We are on to the FNs game now.
Your average person now has had enough of the FNs slow walking the politicians into giving us taxpayers a death by a thousand cuts.
Let get this stuff to a vote. I’ve no doubt the outcome here. We have all had enough of it.
B.C’s newest red wine-“We want our land back”.
Nobody stole the land we developed the land to the way it is today.
How can the land be “stolen” when a deal was made with the indians and they get government money, housing and special rights in exchange for land that we could have taken by force?
Eby doesn’t deserve to be the premier of our province. It seems his incompetence has no bounds. Does he attend all meeting without knowing anything about what the meeting is about, or is it just certain groups that can have him attend without telling him anything. Is the tail wagging the dog?
who was here before the indians and who did they “steal” it from? the earth is thousands of years old and someone was here before them.
Just remember you’re living on stolen land. Get used to it!!
White people are the biggest hypocrites in the world. They’ve been doing these types of backroom deals with the government since the beginning of time. You think they hold a public vote every time one of these greedy whitebread corporations does a backroom deal with the government? Gimme a break. Listening to these racist morons whine and cry about this agreement is seriously laughable
Doug Brekfaust I’m not even going to reply to your idiotic comment. I’m Just going to call you a racist and a coward because that’s exactly what you are
the Eby NDP is getting to be a real joke,
At JV – so you’d rather extra special attention and sensitivity for FN stories. Figures. Just more special treatment for a small minority group.
I think the people at Global are highly aware of political trends and the what the majority want. You’d just rather not have anyone making any logical argument against DRIPA or the FNs because it’s waking people up to how the FNs are abusing DRIPA and these new rights they were given.
Ever notice how Global will close the comment section on any story that is “culturally sensitive” yet they leave the comment sections open on stories about aboriginals so that people can leave all sorts of derogatory hate comments. It’s pretty obvious that the people at Global are racist against aboriginals
Eby has been caught in lies and broken promises about things that he has told the people of BC in the past and this seems like it’s happening again. The man says different things on different days to the public. It’s like he lives in a fantasy land and not in the real world. It’s his job to know what is happening in BC and why he is attending meetings and announcements
Funny how these racist white clowns are ok with getting gouged by conservative billionaires but give the Natives some land…. Oh no. Can’t have that now can we
All part of the plan to dismantle Canada.
Time for new governments both provincial and federal. Did this wake any of you up?
Changes this major require a vote.
Carney and the Liberals have no mandate to give away the country to any other “nation”
BC needs to leave Canada.
The natives should be happy with all the millions of dollars in handouts they already get from Canadian tax payers. That’s all its about more freebies and nothing else.
The natives don’t want the land, they just want a payout. In return, the liberals and their friends can buy up land and properties at a discount. They win, and the grassroots natives and us taxpayers lose.
Eby says he received an invitation from Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow to attend the signing and that he regularly attends events with the Musqueam Indian Band because they do not have a local MLA who represents their interests. Well I say, They do now. Its blatantly obvious Eby is representing 5% of the voters rather than the majority.
The B.C. NeoDestruction Party is completely out of touch with reality. In fact,I am starting to think that Canadian Politicians all disembarked a flying saucer some time ago and managed to take control. Outer Limits Reality in Technicolor with these clowns.
All you bozos at the coast who voted liberal and NDP. Try to remortgage now!
Let’s get this DRIPA stuff to a public vote. I have zero doubt of the outcome. Time to put control of our public assets back into the hands of the public.
This is all deliberately being done behind scenes out of the public eye. The only consultation wanted here is not by the taxpayer or voter but by the FN while hold their consent back for ransom. You know that if this held out for public consultation it would be quashed.
Where is Eby’s amended legislation on this? Time to repeal it.