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The Politics of Process: B.C.’s Mineral Claims Regime and the Threat of an FPIC Freeze

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In this Brief, Minh Do examines the legal and political fallout of Gitxaała v. British Columbia, tracing how B.C.’s mineral claims system permitted companies to acquire rights to Indigenous lands without consultation or consent – all while the province continues to defend state control over decision-making processes and ask what remains in UNDRIP if governments alone decide, when, how, and whether it applies.

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The New Impact Assessment Regime: Cooperation Agreements, the Return of Provincial Power & Discretionary Indigenous Rights

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Following Canada’s push for accelerated resource development, new “Cooperation Agreements” between the federal and provincial governance promise faster approvals for industry. In this Brief, Hayden King examines these agreements and finds that there are trade-offs for efficiency and coordination. This approach hands more authority to provincial governments, many already facing criticism for weak environmental oversight and inadequate consultation with Indigenous communities, and raises concerns about how Indigenous rights will be respected when the federal government abdicates its responsibilites.

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“Fast-Track” to Disaster: BC’s Bill 14/15, Indigenous Rights & the Climate Crisis

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Janna Wale and Michaela McGuire review BC’s Bill 14 and 15, finding much to be concerned about and an urgency to address it. These concerns relate to Indigenous rights but also the health of the environment — both of which appear to be sacrificed for “fast-tracked” industrial development in the province.

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