Two controversial bills on infrastructure and renewable energy are expected to receive royal assent today and become law.
The NDP government invoked closure to limit debate on bills 14 and 15 to push them through just before Parliament breaks for the summer. Speaker Raj Chouhan cast the tie breaking vote to narrowly get the bills past third reading last night.
Bill 15 would allow the government to fast-track infrastructure projects it deems “provincially significant.” Bill 14 aims to speed up renewable energy projects in the province.
Premier David Eby has argued the bills are needed to prevent costly, unnecessary delays on projects for schools, hospitals and transmission lines. However, he has insisted the broad powers granted by the legislation would not be used to bypass consultations or rush controversial projects.
The BC Greens failed in a final hour effort Wednesday to remove the bills from time allocation, which had curtailed debate on the legislation.
“It’s clear this is a deeply flawed bill,” said Green MLA Rob Botterell of Bill 15. “We’ve asked, but the government hasn’t explained why this Bill needs to pass before the fall session. If speed is the goal, then legal challenges would ultimately slow things down anyways.”
The bills have faced intense scrutiny not only from the Opposition Conservatives and the Greens, but also from many First Nations, municipalities and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce.
The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) said in a statement it’s “deeply disappointed” with the outcome.
The leaders had called on the government to “kill the bills,” saying there was a lack of meaningful consultation. They say the bills violate the government’s own Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act and mark a “backsliding” in reconciliation in British Columbia. The FNLC says it expects to see more legal fights as a result of the legislation.
BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee said in a statement “The passage of Bills 14 and 15 represents a new low point in the relationship between the Provincial Crown and First Nations…The damage to our relationship will be profound and lasting.”
The Union of B.C. Municipalities also said the government failed to properly consult with local governments on the bill. President Trish Mandewo said the language of Bill 15 is too vague and it risks government overreach.
Former B.C. cabinet minister Melanie Mark released a statement last night opposing the bills., saying “I am all for streamlining bureaucracy and getting to yes on infrastructure…however, I’m skeptical if getting to yes means bypassing constitutionally protected and inherent Indigenous/First Nations rights.”
Former federal justice minister and attorney general Jody Wilson Raybould also weighed in on social media, posting on X that Eby and his government “have abandoned the path of reconciliation by arrogantly passing Bill 15.” She says it’s part of a Canada-wide trend of pushing to fast-track projects, and warns it “will be a return to protests, uncertainty & conflict.”
Members of the Nisga’a Lisims Government met with the premier yesterday and released a letter afterward expressing support for Bill 14 and 15, noting the Nisga’a Nation is currently pursuing three major projects in the Nass Valley. But that statement stresses they want to work closely with the government on “further development of the Bills and the related regulations.”
Eby and Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma have acknowledged the consultation period for the bill was shortened.
Ma reiterated earlier this week that the government is committed to consult with First Nations in the development of regulations, and when deciding which kinds of projects to fast-track.
But some First Nations leaders have said that’s not enough. Speaking about the bills earlier this week, Tsartlip First Nations Chief Don Tom said “the era of trust is over” between First Nations and the B.C. NDP.
