Stand.earth urges B.C. NDP to immediately change course on undemocratic fast-tracking legislation

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, BC)  – Stand.earth is calling on the Premier Eby and his government to immediately change course on Bill 15 and other “fast-tracking” legislation, after deeply concerning developments in the Legislative Assembly yesterday signal that the province is intent on passing bills by the end of May without full debate. Stand is joining First Nations leaders and other environmental organizations in voicing alarm at proposed legislation that is currently slated to be passed at the end of the spring session this month.

Yesterday in the Legislative Assembly, the B.C. NDP massed a motion of closure on Bill 15 and other bills, which limits usual democratic processes like debates and meaningful engagement. 46 NDP MLAs voted in support of this motion, which sets up Bill 15 and others to be quickly passed at the end of May when spring session ends. Throughout this process, Premier David Eby and his caucus have failed to properly co-develop legislation with First Nations title and rights holders. As recently as this morning Premier Eby indicated his unwillingness to adhere to calls from First Nations leadership — casting doubt on the integrity of his intentions in meeting with the First Nations Leadership Council last night.

“This latest move by the B.C. NDP signals a dangerous willingness to override its own commitments under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and B.C. residents’ rights to engage with projects that will impact their communities. This is fundamentally undemocratic.” said Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner at Stand.earth. “Steamrolling human rights and environmental assessments is never acceptable. While Premier David Eby and Minister Bowinn Ma are trying to justify their power grab, their own election promise to pass legislation on biodiversity and ecosystem health has been put on the backburner.”

Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, allows cabinet to override important regulatory processes designed to safeguard communities and the environment, and ensure just opportunities for public engagement to fast-track projects as it sees fit. It comes alongside Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects Streamlined Permitting Act, which consolidates oversight for several projects – including the North Coast Transmission Line specifically designed to power fracked gas development – under the sole purview of the B.C. Energy Regulator. 

“British Columbia needs more renewable energy but it cannot come at the expense of our province’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples or environmental regulations.” said Sven Biggs, Canadian Oil and Gas Program Director at Stand.earth. “Building new clean energy is important but it is not a substitute for a plan to fight climate change. The release of the Climate Change Accountability Report last week showed B.C. is way off track to reach our legislated climate targets. The Premier and his Cabinet should be fast-tracking developing a new stronger climate plan rather than engaging in power grabs and political games.”

Stand.earth is calling on the provincial government to drop all fast-tracking legislation, to re-affirm its commitment to DRIPA and working alongside First Nations on future legislation, and to refocus its efforts to pass overdue legislation to safeguard at-risk ecosystems like the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework.

“The province is moving forward in bad faith in the name of economic security and climate change to side step the important checks and balances that have been built in to ensure meaningful consultation with local communities and First Nations take place”, said Sunil Singal, Climate Campaigner for Stand.earth. “By ramming through Bill 15 and other bills, the province is creating more economic and environmental uncertainty. If the province truly thinks the current regulatory process is broken, then lets work to find a better process, not act like our neighbours down south by throwing out democratic debate about the merits of changing the regulatory process.”  

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