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B.C.’s embrace of United Nations declaration is ‘holding back’ First Nations
“Nobody knows what the rules are anymore,” says Ellis Ross. Too many civil servants have no idea how to interpret UNDRIP and it’s holding up First Nations’ economic progress.
Former Haisla Nation chief councillor Ellis Ross, whose parents attended residential school and who came in second for the leadership of B.C. United, is echoing the new position of B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad, who wants to repeal UNDRIP, saying it was established for conditions in other countries — not Canada.
“Returning lands,” Rustad says, “needs to be based on economic reconciliation, which is not about transferring potential from one group to another — but rather adding potential for all British Columbians.”
Rustad completed more than 400 agreements with First Nations when he was aboriginal relations minister in the former B.C. Liberal government.
UNDRIP is causing widespread “permit paralysis,” says Ross, who in May stepped down as MLA for Skeena, after announcing he will run for the federal Conservatives in the next election.
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