US EditionEby says DRIPA law could be amended after First Nations win appeal in mining case
The court found B.C.'s automated mineral claims system conflicts with UNDRIP's standards, requiring immediate reforms to respect Indigenous consultation and consent, the ruling said.
- On Dec. 5, 2025, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act must incorporate UNDRIP into B.C. law with immediate legal effect, finding the mineral claims regime inconsistent.
- Background: the automated online `free miners` registry let claims on Crown land before consulting First Nations, and the Declaration Act passed in November 2019 as B.C.'s UN framework.
- Civil liberties and First Nations leaders said the ruling `breathes new life` into the Declaration Act, while the Gitxaala Nation called it `precedent-setting` and Kasari Govender, B.C. Human Rights Commissioner, welcomed it as `groundbreaking`.
- Premier David Eby, British Columbia Premier, said his government will likely amend the Declaration Act rather than appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, warning the ruling `potentially puts courts in the driver's seat` instead of British Columbians.
- The Opposition B.C. Conservatives urged Eby to recall the legislature to repeal the law, while the Association for Mineral Exploration said it will review the decision and possible appeal.
36 Articles
36 Articles
St Catharines Standard
Court decision recognizes UNDRIP as law, but leads province to look at revising legislation
By Nora O’Malley
Eby says B.C. may revise DRIPA legislation, worries court is 'in driver's seat'
B.C. Premier David Eby says he is open to revising the province's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). His comments come after B.C.'s Court of Appeal found that the legislation is incompatible with the province's current system used to grant mineral rights because it fails to ensure First Nations are notified when claims are made in their territory.
Winnipeg Free Press
Eby says UNDRIP law could be amended after First Nations win appeal in mining case
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
Eby says UNDRIP law could be amended after First Nations win appeal in mining case – Energeticcity.ca
SURREY — British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government will review a court decision that appears to show “confusion” over his government’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and will amend the legislation if necessary. Eby says the B.C. Court of Appeal ruling, in which the Gitxaala and Ehattesaht First Nations challenged the province’s mineral tenure system, “potentially puts courts in the driver’s seat instead of Brit…
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