British Columbia municipal leaders meet to discuss Indigenous rights and e-scooter safety

Local leaders are gathering in Vancouver for the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention to address several pressing regional issues, including crime, affordability, and Indigenous rights legislation.

A major point of discussion involves the future of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). While Premier David Eby previously moved away from plans to amend or suspend the law following opposition from Indigenous leaders, provincial Conservatives have called for its complete removal. Deputy Premier Niki Sharma is scheduled to participate in a plenary session regarding the legislation.

Additionally, municipal leaders are raising concerns over e-scooter safety. Patrick Johnstone, the mayor of New Westminster, described e-scooters as a “novel threat” to seniors on sidewalks and called for consistent provincial regulations and better transportation infrastructure to prevent crashes.