NDP leader David Eby is being forced to defend his government’s actions after reports emerged about a confidential land deal.
According to confidential documents obtained by Northern Beat, the NDP government is proposing to change compensation rules for some of the roughly 400 parcels of Crown land being transferred to First Nations ownership.
Cabinet has not approved legislation but instead authorized the engagement on options for potential legislation, according to the BC NDP. The engagement is to consider an adjustment to how compensation works in the limited number of cases where transfers impact land on which there are tenure licenses.
Only about half of the parcels have any potential forestry impacts, the BC NDP added.
The plan was put on hold when the election was called.
Forestry companies were briefed under non-disclosure agreements.
The policy was not included in the NDP’s election platform.
Conservative candidate Scott McInnis says the lack of transparency is disturbing.
“This is nothing new for this government to make these very important decisions around Crown land and First Nations and not tell anybody about it,” he said.
“So I am shocked that… David Eby and the NDP have not learned their lesson that the public has zero appetite for reconciliation which is done behind closed doors.”
Eby says the transfers reflect existing treaties and other commitments under the process of reconciliation, some of them dating back decades, and the proposed legislation was about reducing costs for taxpayers.
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“The challenge that we face as a government is that there’s a very significant fiscal cost associated with transferring those tenures to First Nations under these agreements,” Eby said.
“And so what the documents are about, what the proposal was about, was about reducing the cost and the burden of these obligations that we have.”
In the leaders’ debate on Wednesday night, Eby, BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson and BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan were asked about the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), which has become a hot election topic.
DRIPA “sets out a process to ensure provincial laws are consistent with the rights defined in the UN Declaration, an action plan to achieve the objectives, and annual reporting on progress,” according to the BC Treaty Commission.
Eby acknowledged this is a crucial issue in B.C. and one that has some residents concerned about property rights.
“There are two cornerstones to our success as a province,” he said.
“One is if we want to be successful, if we want to take advantage of the incredible prosperity out there, there’s only one path forward and that’s in partnership with the Indigenous people in this province. The reason why we’re leading Canada and major projects at the Major Projects Office, the reason why we’ve been able to open so many minds, the reasons why we were able to do LNG Canada Phase II, all of these projects, the reason why these things are happening is because we have entered into those partnerships that are enabled by this law.”
Eby said they are appealing recent court decisions to ensure that private property in B.C. is protected.
Doerkson said if the BC Conservatives are elected, they will repeal DRIPA.
“I’m committed to doing that for a number of reasons,” he said.
“First off, it has not helped. British Columbia has created more division on the landscape than I have ever seen in my life and this legislation is not that old.
“The reality is, is that we are more divided on this topic than ever before. There has to be a better path forward and that is through respect and relations and certainly partnerships with First Nations in this province.”
Doerkson said he is committed to that.
Lowan said that First Nations have been unequivocal in saying that the government must do the work to implement DRIPA.
“Frankly, when we talk about certainty, the uncertainty that has been sown over the last year has been from a premier who can’t seem to make up his mind, and it’s been from a Conservative party that is constantly pushing misinformation and blatant fearmongering,” she said.
“You know, we’ve seen from both parties, you know, just a willingness to engage on this bad-faith argument has no bearing on private property. It sets out the rules for government to go ahead, do their homework and bring up our legislation in alignment with B.C. laws, and the minimum standards set out by the UN on human rights of Indigenous people.”
-with files from The Canadian Press
NDP = Non Disclosure Party
When will BCers understand that David Eby is an activist. He is not interested in governing the masses.
Sick of it all the politicians the free loaders immigrants everyone. All tge want and care about is taking the working people’s money and giving nothing in return except more greed.
We cannot keep paying for our predecessors mistakes this has got to stop, Canadians paid to have the land gain in value. This land should not be given to anyone it belongs to all Canadians !
NDP were against Site C and LNG !
What is this guy smoking?
At Grizzly Bear.
Only the idiots and denialists don’t know how the FNs were treated.
Fact- Every single indigenous group or nation, at some point, across the world and thru out world human history, for that matter, has been treated horribly by those who conquered them. Almost all of them have never received compensation of any form.
Your questions should do most of actually care enough to allow some sort of blame game and retroactive collective punishment and financial burden to be put on us? No!
Better yet why not ask all our south Asian, Middle Eastern, Asian and African migrants if they care?
I can tell you the answer to that if you want. 😂
And Nenshi would do the same here if given the chance.
Alberta out!!!
re: ‘Confidential Land Deal’ -these remarks here have not reflected that this item is about a meaningful and needed consultation with the Forestry sector representatives, and yes is part of reparation for the original inhabitants in this territory. Are you at all informed about how Indigenous were treated in BC? – And you see, other politicians also treat some matters quickly and without public input. -Christy Clark sold land in Coquitlam (Burke Mtn) to Westbild, founded by billionaire Hassan Khosrowshahi ( he and his family and entities donated very near to one million to Liberals, and $285,500 of it was donated in the 3 month period of negotiation between Christy Clark govt and the company. Premier Clark wanted to balance the books and sold 14 parcels for $85 million though it was valued at 128 million. One parcel was sold for $100,000 (valued at $5.6 million). The appraiser recommended to leave the land on the market so competitive bids could come but Clarke rushed this deal. This story here is to do with forestry and forest cutting tenures; the engagement is to consider an adjustment to how compensation works in those number of cases where transfers impact land on which there are tenure licenses. A lot of people have made a lot of money in Forestry – its not genuine to say that the wealth is not being spread around. Almost all the people I’ve met in the industry are not First Nations, though now BC First Nations Forestry Council is trying to do something about this -asserting stewardship of their traditional territory, and trying to map out a self-determined forestry framework. Attacking the people, like Premier Eby who is willing to take on this role – could read more about wide ranging issues and the balance needed to be made. NDP took away Medical premiums for everyone, including the millionaires – and they did move forward on finishing that Site C that Clarke also rushed to begin work on.. – NDP also did open the Kitimat LNG port – opened for one year now. Some people are not pleased with these developments.. The new St. Paul hospital, with a Road to Recovery program, moved forward because of NDP and I know has approved $7 Billion in school capital funding.
Ask your why the FNs want all of this non disclosed.
What and why are they trying to hide the deals and details?
It’s cuz they know the vast majority will get pissed off.
The FNs know people will figure out that they have no intention to act in best interests of all BC Citizens or be these so called land stewards.
At JV 😂
No the FN have the options to buy into a 20% stake of YVR
As a minority shareholder.
They have to front up money. They weren’t given a 20%.
So either you are a lair or stupid or both. 😂
Just voted! Felt real good!
Everything the Liberals & NDP do lately are for them not Canadian citizens who are their employer as we pay their salary with our taxes
but hey eby wasting money on a sky train to langley and ubc, could put that to better use, health care and seniors, raise the taxes for lazy union workers
It is not about saving money, it would be cheaper to hire every law firm in BC than provide title to these lands. What a disrespectful way to handle Canadians lands. Maybe everyone who thinks the land transfers are good for Canada should turn over the title of their lands.
Did I fool anyone with my last comment?? I doubt it. Internet AI screws me again. From Google:
AI Overview
No, First Nations do not currently own a 20% stake in Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Current Proposals and Context
• Proposed Privatization: Reports indicate that YVR is being eyed as a candidate under a federal airport privatization strategy, which could potentially allow Indigenous investor groups to hold a minority stake of up to 20% while institutional investors (like pension funds) take majority control.
• Status: No final decisions or ownership transfers have been finalized yet.
• Musqueam Revenue-Sharing Agreements: YVR sits on Sea Island, which is traditional Musqueam territory. While First Nations do not own a equity stake in the airport operations itself, the Musqueam Indian Band signed a long-term sustainability and friendship agreement receiving 1% of YVR’s annual gross revenue, as well as a historic federal ground-lease revenue-sharing agreement signed in early 2025.
Jay Voorhees,
Did you know Voorhees is a Danish name? Kind of odd to use an online handle with a colonialists name when you clearly have such racism towards them all.
First Nations now owns a 20% stake of YVR worth billions. This decision was made on a federal level not provincial so there’s absolutely nothing anyone in BC can do about it 😂😂
bloody useless is all i can say, secret deals, should be ashamed of yourself
UNDRIP and the future of the Indian act needs to be put to all Canadians in a general election.
Enough is enough.
Australia recently voted against extending similar right to their aboriginals that would have seen massive land transfers and fewer rights for the vast majority. There is no reason Canadians shouldn’t get the same opportunity to vote on tens of billions per year in spending on things that most don’t support.
at- Anonymous
October 16, 2026 at 1:14 am
And yet there’s still some complete morons who will vote for the NDP!! Worst government in BC history.
Yup the voter is FN – Jay Voorhees
And yes he is a moron. Actually he is the biggest moron on this comment section.
Here comes the boom JV!
And yet there’s still some complete morons who will vote for the NDP!! Worst government in BC history.
F*ck Eby and the NDP.
Nothing but a pack of greasy lying radical leftist lunatics that are completely consumed with themselves and their last for power and control.
Boot the Human Question Mark and his Cartel to the curb.
Same as Ndps Mike Harcourt bank in the day with the Western Star truck land deal that gave millions for nothing ,try tell this truth
Niki Sharma is a racist. See her post elsewhere and nothing was mentioned in the debate!
Here is some Liberal History.
“ Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chrétien, tried to abolish the Indian Act through the 1969 White Paper. [1] The 1969 White Paper ProposalOfficial Title: Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Status.
Core Goal: Eliminate Indian status, dissolve the Department of Indian Affairs, and end the special legal relationship between Indigenous peoples and the federal government.
Key Actions: Proposed ending treaties, converting reserve lands to private property, and transferring service responsibilities to the provinces.
Trudeau’s Vision: Based on the idea of individual equality, Trudeau viewed the Indian Act as a discriminatory law that hindered First Nations from being equal citizens in his vision of a “just society”.
See folks not all that long ago even Liberals thought this was a good idea.
What can be voted in can be voted out.
useless bloody eby
This is nothing new for this government to make these very important decisions around Crown land and First Nations and not tell anybody about it,” he said.
“So I am shocked that… David Eby and the NDP have not learned their lesson that the public has zero appetite for reconciliation which is done behind closed doors“
As reported here.
No misinformation or lies just the actual facts!
“ The policy was not included in the NDP’s election platform.”
“ reports emerged about a confidential land deal.”
Of course it wasn’t disclosed. 75% of BC is fed up with this.
As the headline says yet another non disclosed deal.
Fact of the matter is that 70% of deals with the FNs are NDF!
We talking about deals with people that are paid for with public assets.
No other entity or business gets that.
It’s always full public disclosure when dealing to tax payers money.
This needs to stop.
Racial Discrimination: Differential treatment that unjustly limits the rights and opportunities of individuals based on race.
So, how is it that giving natives all these special rights and benefits, that nobody else gets, is not racism? Oh yes, cause of “reconciliation”, the newest FN scam
The FN graft is unreal
First ten dollar daycare and now this!
Out with the NDP and in with the new!
What more evidence do people need?
OUT with the NDP! Vote BC Conservative!
The UN declaration was never about commiting to financial obligations nor was it ever meant to be binding. Eby is writing blank cheques with taxpayer money. Time for an NDP enema.
What about the “Human Rights” of everyone else on the planet, are we to just walk out of our homes and into another country because the Indians said so? I don’t think so! 😡. Eby, go home put your slippers on, read the newspaper and let someone who knows what to do take over, meaning someone who knows what the “Right Thing” to do is.
Why does the government believe accountability and transparency are a problem?
way to go Eby. Give away the province before the electorate turfs you. You will not be getting my vote this time. I fell for your 1000 grocery benefit lie
I missed the first hour last night
Did conservatives know that last night ?
Dorekson is out to lunch over DRIPA. Previous Conservative Govts took the Anti Indigenous road in the mid 1800’s.
BC’s first Governor James Douglas was part black himself. He had a lot of experience with Indigenous Peoples in his long employment in the Hudson’s Bay Company. He pushed for decent reservations for the Vancouver Island Indigenous peoples, but his correct assessments were turfed by the land greedy Conservative Govts.
@ MSGH
define “racist”, the way people throw that word around, I think most don’t even know what it means
Why are so many conservatives racist?
Greens make me sick, they are even worse than the NDP.
Going down in flame Eby.
time to get the firing squad ready, all sounds like a get the natives to vote NDP.
No need for the conservatives or other candidates to try and discredit EBY he does a great job of that himself !!! Like all NDP MP’s he’s looking out for himself.
Isn’t that she!t illegal, cutting backroom deals selling crown land!
Hope someone checks in on Eby a few months from now…
This whole thing has completely backfired and If I were as despicable as him id be considering ending it all. Shame, poor thing is gonna be in for a rough time…