By Cheryl Jahn

provincial politics

Local MLA takes the lead in opposition of Bill 15

May 28, 2025 | 3:42 PM

VICTORIA – Bill 15, also known as the Infrastructure Projects Act, aims to expedite major infrastructure projects by allowing the provincial government to override certain regulatory and permitting requirements. This means that projects deemed to be of provincial significance can potentially bypass environmental assessments, public consultations, and Indigenous consent processes. It has been met with significant opposition from a number of fronts, especially First Nations.

“Certainly it falls against the commitment towards a reconciliation,” says Terry Teegee, Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations. “Six years ago we began this journey into the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and certainly the Bill 15 and also for Bill 14. It does not live up to our expectations in this relationship.”

Terry Teegee says the Bill has been introduced “under the guise” of the threat of US tariffs. And the Opposition Lead for the Conservatives says he’s spot on. “Bill 15 has absolutely nothing to do with tariffs, and there is no sunset clause on this bill. It’s in perpetuity that we’re putting this until the legislation is eventually changed. So this is about a government that has really not been able to get projects done on time and on budget whatsoever. And they’re looking for a workaround.”

The Opposition says the bill is about picking winners and losers on infrastructure projects.

Spruce Kings fall in Langley to Rivermen

9h ago

Sexual Assault and Harassment

Judge to rule on Canada Post employee's sexual assault and harassment case

Dec 13, 2025

Weather Alerts

Freezing rain warning issued for Prince George-area, snowfall warning remains for Williston, Pine Pass

Dec 13, 2025

“Unfortunately, this government is trying to take on arbitrary powers to pick winners and losers on projects, infrastructure projects. This isn’t about fast-tracking. It’s about sidelining communities from the process of actually deciding which infrastructure projects are the priorities in our province. And something we have real concerns with.”

Teegee says First Nations are not opposed to the development of things like hospitals and schools, but unilateral decision-making is a problem.

“First Nations and other local governments need more consultation and perhaps need discussions in terms of how decisions are made within our traditional territories, and now how this legislation is overreaching.”

Giddens says there is a better way to fix what is ailing infrastructure projects that come way over-budget and way over-schedule.

“We do it by fixing the problem in the first place. So fixing the permitting timelines and the actual permitting process to make sure that it can be legislated timelines that are government is bound by and consultation with communities does in fact happen because their input matters.”

The bill has been debated for several hours, but Giddens says it will likely be rammed through, with the government planning to invoke closure, which will end debate, despite a great many questions.