Halford highlights DRIPA during NCLGA

“Indigenous peoples have made their way into communities and to just say that is not important any more,” said one member of local government. “I just really think that the messaging you’re bringing forward to the rest of us here is not something that we came here to listen to.”

Halford was asked why he broached the subject of DRIPA at this time and place.

“I think that part of the challenge right now is that this is a provincial government that does not want to have difficult conversations. Listen, we are seeing this play out in our courtrooms. We know there’s challenges with DRIPA. We’ve been very transparent on that from Day One and, unfortunately, this is a government that is continuing to duck the issue and that needs to change.”

The North Central Local Government Association is made up of civic officials – local government – none of whom have any sway in the decision around DRIPA one way or the other. Not so, says Halford.

“I think it has a lot to do with local government. I think the fact is, is that when you see some of these challenges, whether it’s the Mining Tenures Act, things like that, where DRIPPA is being used in those court decisions, that has direct impact on local governments to millions and millions of dollars that come into the communities.”

Halford says regardless of the level of government in question the message needs to be reinforced.

by Cheryl Jahn

Halford highlights DRIPA during NCLGA

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