British Columbia petition to repeal Indigenous rights act approved

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act DRIPA initiative petition Elections BC British Columbia politics

Elections BC has granted in-principle approval for an initiative petition seeking to repeal British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The petition is being led by Harman Bhangu, a B.C. Conservative MLA and transportation critic.

DRIPA was passed unanimously in 2019 to align provincial legislation with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, the act has become a point of political contention. Critics, including Bhangu, argue the legislation poses threats to private property rights, while some legal rulings have highlighted inconsistencies between provincial mining rules and the act.

To succeed, the petition must collect signatures from 10 per cent of registered voters in each of the province’s 93 electoral districts. The signature collection period is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026, with a deadline for submission to Elections BC on January 25, 2027. If the signature threshold is met, the matter will be referred to the provincial legislature for further decision, though the process is non-binding.

Entities

B.C. Conservatives · British Columbia · David Eby · Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act · Elections BC · Harman Bhangu · Shipra Verma

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Chief Electoral Officer Shipra Verma stated the matter is within the jurisdiction of the legislature and the draft bill is clear and unambiguous. www.narcity.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Harman Bhangu, a B.C. Conservative transportation critic, is the proponent of the petition. elections.bc.ca · www.narcity.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The petition process is not a binding process; if successful, it results in a referral to the legislature. www.narcity.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Signature sheets must be submitted to Elections BC by Monday, January 25, 2027. elections.bc.ca · www.narcity.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] To succeed, the petition must collect signatures from 10% of registered voters in each of British Columbia's 93 electoral districts. elections.bc.ca · www.narcity.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Elections BC has granted in-principle approval for a petition to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). elections.bc.ca · www.narcity.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com

Sources

Application for Initiative Petition Approved | Elections BC [elections.bc.ca]

16 days ago

Langley-Abbotsford MLA Starts Petition to Repeal DRIPA – Maahs Reaction “Let’s Go!” [fraservalleynewsnetwork.com]

16 days ago

Elections BC allows petition seeking Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [lethbridgeherald.com]

15 days ago

Elections BC allows petition bid for Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [looniepolitics.com]

16 days ago

Langley MLA behind petition to repeal a B. C. Indigenous act [aldergrovestar.com]

16 days ago

Elections BC allows petition bid for Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [www.brandonsun.com]

16 days ago

Elections BC allows petition bid for Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [cheknews.ca]

16 days ago

B. C. Conservative MLA makes move to repeal DRIPA [ca.news.yahoo.com]

16 days ago

Elections BC allows petition bid for Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [www.castanet.net]

16 days ago

Elections BC allows petition bid for Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [www.narcity.com]

16 days ago

Elections BC allows petition bid for Indigenous law's repeal to proceed [www.winnipegfreepress.com]

16 days ago