The B.C. government’s bungled, confusing, contradictory response to the Cowichan Nation title ruling has left the public increasingly concerned about threats to their private property, and increasingly displeased with First Nations reconciliation efforts broadly, according to a new Angus Reid poll.

The recent survey found 67 per cent of respondents seriously concerned the Cowichan ruling could impact private property rights, 61 per cent supportive of the government’s appeal, and 60 per cent convinced the court case harms the relationship between Indigenous groups and the rest of the province.

Around 44 per cent of people said Premier David Eby’s government is “focused too much” on reconciliation at the expense of other priorities, according to Angus Reid.

The survey is a cautionary note for the NDP government—not just on the continued fallout over the Cowichan court ruling’s impact on private property rights, but on the Eby administration’s larger missteps on the reconciliation file over the last three years.

On each issue, the government deflected questions about potential impacts as “misinformation” and public concern as “fearmongering,” leaving the public confused and angry.

There was conflict over new restrictions to private docks in Pender Harbour in early 2023 that forced the shíshálh Nation and government

© BIV