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B.C. halts proposed Land Act amendments

In a decisive move, B.C. Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen has announced the suspension of proposed amendments to the Land Act.

In a statement, Cullen said his decision comes after a thorough consultation process involving more than 650 representatives from various stakeholder groups across British Columbia. These groups, encompassing industries ranging from mining, forestry, oil and gas, clean energy, to recreational sectors such as adventure tourism, snowmobiling, hunting, and angling, provided valuable insights during the discussions.

The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to transparent and inclusive decision-making, aimed at fostering collaboration with First Nations and creating opportunities for economic growth and community development. Cullen expressed disappointment at the dissemination of misleading information about the proposed legislation, which had sowed division and distrust within communities.

“I’ve also heard that we need to take the time to further engage with people and demonstrate the real benefits of shared decision-making in action. We want to get this right and move forward together. For that reason, our government has decided not to proceed with proposed amendments to the Land Act,” Cullen said.

“We will continue to engage with people and businesses, and do the work to show how working together, First Nations and non-First Nations, can help bring stability and predictability, and move us all forward,” he added.

Addressing concerns raised during consultations, Cullen clarified that the proposed amendments would not impact existing tenures, renewals, private properties, or access to Crown land, contrary to some claims made by certain parties. He condemned deliberate attempts to undermine the process and emphasized the need for constructive engagement to achieve shared goals.

“Some figures have gone to extremes to knowingly mislead the public about what the proposed legislation would do. They have sought to divide communities and spread hurt and distrust. They wish to cling to an approach that leads only to the division, court battles and uncertainty that have held us back.