David Eby

VICTORIA — A First Nations leader says the BC government wants amendments that propose a “gutting” of its own reconciliation legislation. Robert Phillips, a member of the political executive of the First Nations Summit, says the First Nations Leadership Council has received and reviewed changes the province wants to make to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA. Phillips said the details of the proposed changes are confidential for now. “But at this point, it’s pretty much almost gutting DRIPA out,” Phillips said of the proposed amendments. …The BC government said that it is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal of the landmark court ruling that found the province’s mineral claims regime were “inconsistent” with the law, while it would also be proposing amendments to the DRPIA Legislation in the coming session of the legislature.