The Business Council of B.C. says its members are worried about the province’s shifting position on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and the uncertainty it is causing.
Seven years later, a survey from the Business Council finds that 98 per cent now disagree that DRIPA is living up to that promise.
The same number are “very concerned” about how it’s being implemented.
“These numbers are stark, the message is clear, the desire to work with Indigenous communities to create prosperity for all remains strong, but DRIPA is not living up to its promise to create investment certainty and it’s not working for the business community,” Laura Jones with the Business Council of B.C., said.
A court decision in December on mining rights that found DRIPA should apply to all B.C. laws is only adding to that anxiety.
The business survey was done right after B.C. Premier David Eby once again delayed plans to try to suspend or amend the act this spring.
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Facing pressure from First Nations, Eby agreed to negotiate through the summer.
“The numbers that we’re actually seeing from Stats Canada, the investments on the ground, the jobs being created, is contrary to the internal poll they put out,” Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s jobs minister, said.
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However, the numbers from the survey tell a different story.
- Seventy-four per cent say it’s led to decreased investment plans
- Seventy-three per cent say it has increased time, cost, complexity, or uncertainty in permitting
- Forty-one per cent say it’s harder to access external financing
- Thirty-five per cent say it is decreasing hiring plans
“The only certainty in British Columbia right now is uncertainty, and that is a problem,” Jones said.
BCBC surveyed its members from April 21-28, 2026, shortly after the announcement that the province would not proceed with introducing a bill to amend or suspend DRIPA in the spring 2026 session of the Legislative Assembly of B.C.
The survey canvases the views of BCBC members who are senior decision-makers in the province. The survey was distributed to 197 individuals, with 88 responses received, representing a 30 per cent response rate. Of those respondents, 84 per cent identified as representing businesses, 10 per cent industry associations, and 6 per cent post-secondary institutions.
–with files from Ben O’Hara Byrne
P.S. Protesting on the highway doesn’t work either. The real world isn’t listening.
Has anyone ever mentioned the loudest man on the room is always the weakest. Nothing but conservatives here. I guess with nothing but time and no one to listen , this comment section is full. Do you guys also have advice for head coaches of pro sports teams?!
I sincerely hope that the lower mainland and the island suffer from their NDP votes. They voted this in and sat back and mocked the ones who disagreed with their policies and decisions. Here we are now and people are realizing that karma is a bi%#@.
Does that surprise anyone?
It’s time for Eby to get out of the way and let the opposition take control.. Anyone but Eby! He’s lost it! We need to join Alberta and enjoy some real prosperity in this province.
B.C. Premier David Eby has set his trousers ablaze, he’s followed the likes of Bill Bennett the failed conservative, the rest followed.
More Ravi Lies- Ai- As for investment only the big projects are creating support. major projects such as Woodfibre LNG, Cedar LNG, and the North Coast Transmission Line continue to support construction employment.
Economic growth GDP last quarter is expected to 1.3 to 1.4!!! A whole 0.1% wow! With 1.4% being a joke to start.
Q4 2025: Declined 0.2%
Q3 2025: Increased 0.6%
Q2 2025: Declined 0.4%
Q1 2025: Increased 0.5%
Just holding off a reccession!
Meanwhile without the massive govt sponsored projects meanwhile Private business is being devastated.
The numbers that we’re actually seeing from Stats Canada, the investments on the ground, the jobs being created, is contrary to the internal poll they put out,” Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s jobs minister, said.
Lie – According to Ai
Rising Unemployment: The unemployment rate jumped to 6.7% in March 2026, marking the highest level in about a decade (excluding the COVID-19 pandemic era).Job Losses: BC lost 19,000 jobs in March 2026 and over 35,000 jobs in the first three months of the year, with notable declines in wholesale/retail trade, finance, real estate, and professional services.Youth Unemployment: The unemployment rate for youth (15–24) has escalated, reaching 17.1% in March 2026.
LOL that’s exactly what they are employing. The boiled frog strategy.
Lol
Someone posted this on another article and I agree 100%
“Maybe The FN should tell us why this isn’t a disaster?
Tell us why all the meeting are closed doors, and agreements are NDAs?
Or why the FN won’t agree to disclose all the past agreements?
Tell us why the FN want these title rights at all if there is going to be zero claim for any type of consent and control or zero claim to any type of financial restitution?
And if the FN can’t or won’t tell us then that’s why everyone, and I mean everybody thinks this is a disaster.
Start being open and upfront about “all” of the consequences and expectations and maybe we can have some trust and vote on it.
DRIPA should be abolished as clearly such is a negative to BCs economy.
David Eby and his BCNDP have failed and must be removed, we need a BC Liberal type government!
The Eby run NDP are facilitating a crisis of ownership in BC with their DRIPA legislation that is emboldening FN activism to create fear by making land claims over private property. It is an abomination and must be stopped.
The BC NDPs and the FNs are definitely colluding to defraud us citizens/taxpayers/voters. There can be absolutely no doubt about it.
Eby again doing more negotiating and getting nothing accomplished. This guy is all talk and no action Eby and the NDP are weak and destroying BC it’s no wonder unemployment is up and businesses are thinking of moving out of the province
And what now, Eby and the FN are going to consult in private all summer and in the meantime the FN will try to grab everything they can?
Quit stalling Eby.
There is not a single poll, survey or whatever that supports any further continuation of DRIPA.
Let democracy decide.
You gave them an inch and the greedy grifters tried to take 10,000kmsq each. F them.
ONCE AGAIN ! F / K DRIPA and ALL PEOPLE IT STANDS FOR
Why is it disaster?
“ -Seventy-four per cent say it’s led to decreased investment plans
-Seventy-three per cent say it has -increased time, cost, complexity, or uncertainty in permitting
-Forty-one per cent say it’s harder to access external financing
-Thirty-five per cent say it is decreasing hiring plans”
Nuff said
the bloody useless Eby and his NDP, need them gone
An Angus Reid Poll has 75% of voters wanting DRIPA repealed. And 30% of those were NDP voters.
That number excludes voters who just want it amended or suspended.
Plus 10 MLAs out of 93 would have voted against the amendments and suspension.Thats mean 90% of MLA voters representation wanting DRIPA repealed, suspended, or amended.
And what we doing?
Eby and FN are having more closed door meetings, and NDAs all out of public oversight.
It is F’n ridiculous.