Opposition Leader Calls for Immediate Appeal

VANCOUVER, BC: Opposition Leader John Rustad says “BC must appeal the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (Attorney General) decision to protect homeowners, farmers, and small business owners.” He says Premier David Eby’s immediate inaction amounts to denying British Columbians that appeal, leaving families, municipalities, and businesses in a state of dangerous economic uncertainty.

“Eby laid the groundwork for this mess years ago, and now he’s refusing to clean it up. Private property rights are the foundation of our democracy. You cannot have reconciliation by stripping away rights from one group to give them to another — and you cannot have economic stability without certainty in land ownership.”

Supreme Court Decision Impact

The B.C. Supreme Court decision grants Aboriginal title over major Richmond lands, including port facilities, municipal infrastructure, and private property — creating legal overlap that threatens investment, mortgages, and property security.

Economic Concerns at Critical Time

“This comes at the worst possible time — 16,000 jobs lost, record debt, collapsing investor confidence, and U.S. tariffs hammering our economy,” said Steve Kooner, Critic for Attorney General.

“Residents in my riding are worried that when their mortgages come up for renewal, overlapping Aboriginal title could cloud their freehold ownership. They fear a future where their homes are treated like 99-year leases, with no guarantee of renewal. That’s the kind of nightmare scenario British Columbians are bracing for — and Attorney General Niki Sharma is doing nothing to prevent it.”

Concerns About Community Division

Scott McInnis, Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, says the ruling is already causing unnecessary division.

“This decision has created conflict between the Cowichan, Musqueam, and Tsawwassen First Nations, and risks undermining trust between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across B.C. True reconciliation can’t be built on division or legal uncertainty.”

Call for Immediate Action

Kooner said the NDP’s silence is “effectively a denial” of an appeal, despite the fact that economic stability and reconciliation both depend on clear, secure property rights.

“By failing to act immediately, the NDP has chosen to leave British Columbians exposed to uncertainty that will drive away investment, slow the housing market, and punish families already struggling with higher interest rates. Eby and Sharma had years to resolve this — they failed then, and they’re failing now. That’s why an immediate appeal is the only responsible option.”