Eby pressing ahead with fast-track infrastructure despite First Nations pushback

VICTORIA – B.C. Premier David Eby appears to be forging ahead with the NDP government’s controversial set of bills aimed at streamlining approvals for renewable energy and infrastructure projects, despite mounting opposition from First Nations leaders.

Bill 14 seeks to expedite the permitting process for renewable energy developments. Bill 15 would create a two-tiered system for infrastructure projects, giving the province broad powers to fast-track those it deems to be of provincial significance, potentially including exemptions from certain regulatory and environmental assessment requirements. The government is trying to pass the bills before the legislature adjourns for the spring session next week.

Eby attended a virtual meeting Wednesday with members of the First Nations Leadership Council and issued a statement afterward.

“We had a productive, respectful, and at times, frank conversation,” he said. “I made it clear that our government is committed to reconciliation. I committed that a private project proposed would not proceed through the faster processes outlined in this bill without the consent of the Nation whose core territory the private project is on.”

However, Eby also reaffirmed his intention to move forward with the legislation, saying it “will see schools, hospitals and projects of provincial significance built faster.”

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip responded in a statement issued by the B.C. Assembly of First Nations.

“Unilateralism is not acceptable,” he said. “The province is saying ‘trust us’ and that they won’t misuse the unfettered power these bills provide; however, considering the bills were created without consultation and considering that the province continues to refuse any amendments, it is unclear what this trust would be based on.”

Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma spoke to reporters at the legislature ahead of Wednesday’s meeting. She acknowledged that consultation with First Nations had been shorter than the government would have preferred.

“The consultation timelines were truncated in order for us to move quickly on the legislation, and we are clearly hearing now from Indigenous leaders it was too fast and that they feel left out,” she said. “We need to put effort into repairing that trust and those relationships.”

Ma said there would be deeper consultations with First Nations on individual projects, but gave no indication that the bills themselves would be changed or delayed.