Private property concerns are being highlighted by MLA Kiel Giddens following Premier David Eby's suspension of certain parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, also known as DRIPA.

By Tommy Osborne

DRIPA suspension

Private property concerns highlighted as province suspends parts of DRIPA

Apr 6, 2026 | 4:56 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Following Premier David Eby’s announcement to suspend certain parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, also known as DRIPA, one BC Conservative MLA is highlighting concerns this could create for private property owners.

“We’re just leaving this air of uncertainty, both for First Nations and for the public that wants that certainty for their private properties and for investments in the province,” said Prince George – Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens.

Giddens calls private property the “underpinning of our economic base in Western Society,” so he says uncertainty caused by the decision to pause certain aspects of DRIPA, on top of the lack of clarity surrounding what specifically will be paused, is cause for concern.

“It’s so important that we have protection for that. And what this NDP government has done is just put an air of uncertainty around that. That’s not fair to homeowners. We want to move forward with reconciliation, but we had reconciliation before 2019 when DRIPA was introduced, and it will continue, those rights are protected in the Constitution, but what we need here is a legal certainty in the province, and that’s not what we’re getting from the NDP,” Giddens said.

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“We need certainty in this province to move forward economically, whether it’s forestry, mining, oil and gas, all of that needs certainty to proceed,” he continued.

Giddens noted the suspension from Eby has a three-year deadline, which would come after the fall election, which he says is the current government kicking the can down the road to avoid responsibility.

“They don’t have a plan moving forward, and that’s what’s creating this chaos. It’s not fair to British Columbians, it’s not fair to First Nations, it’s not fair to anyone in this province,” Giddens said.

by Tommy Osborne

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Private property concerns highlighted as province suspends parts of DRIPA

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