B.C. First Nations leaders have ramped up their attacks on the government’s new bill to fast-track infrastructure, saying the New Democratic party responsible for UNDRIP has utterly failed to consult them before tabling sweeping changes in the legislature.

The BC Assembly of First Nation, First Nations Summit and Union of BC Indian Chiefs issued a joint call Tuesday for the government to withdraw Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, that would let cabinet craft new environmental assessment processes, automatically issue permits and speed up construction on everything from mines to mills, power plants, schools, hospitals and more.

“Bill 15 is overreaching and enables the province to bypass permitting processes and expedite environmental assessment for any project they deem a priority,” BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee said in a statement Tuesday.

“The province is ramming through Bill 15 without any First Nations input who stand to be adversely impacted. This law may breach constitutional consultation requirements and is not consistent with the [United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples].”

Eby unveiled the legislation last Thursday. He said the changes would help him clear bureaucratic delays and permitting holdups by allowing cabinet to designate certain projects as provincially significant and then override........

© BIV