Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is the latest politician to wade into the precedent-setting Cowichan Nation court ruling, appealing to the federal government to try and overturn the case.

“This decision creates the risk of profound harm not just to the B.C. economy, but to the entire Canadian economy,” Poilievre wrote in a letter to Attorney General Sean Fraser released over the weekend.

“The federal government must argue in court against the Cowichan ruling, which threatens the property rights of Canadians and is already scaring away jobs and investment.”

Poilievre’s comments come after a week of intense debate over the Cowichan ruling at the Union of BC Municipalities meeting in Victoria.

Local politicians heard from provincial party leaders, legal experts and municipal colleagues on the potential impact of the BC Supreme Court decision in August that places Indigenous title above private property rights in legal hierarchy. It has caused widespread concern over the indefeasibility of the fee-simple land title system, which underpins private land ownership and much of the provincial economy.

Poilievre said the lead lawyer for the Cowichan Nation, David Rosenberg, has already stated publicly that the case may require governments, businesses and people who own land in the more than 300 hectares in Richmond covered by the ruling, to obtain consent or compensation from Cowichan Nation before future sales.

“It is already causing investment to flee, with businesses and homeowners facing difficulties as funders have major concerns about the uncertainty this situation has........

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