Eby defends talks on transferring Crown land to First Nations

Parcels of Crown land in the talks, about

400 parcels

Confidential documents show the British Columbia government negotiated to transfer some 400 parcels of Crown land to First Nations and to limit compensation for forestry companies holding tenures, according to reports.

The NDP says cabinet approved only talks on options for legislation, that about half the parcels could affect forestry, and that the plan was put on hold when the election was called.

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.

— David Eby, NDP leader

Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson says he would repeal DRIPA, the province's Indigenous rights law, which Eby credits for partnerships behind projects such as LNG Canada Phase II.