A prominent British Columbia lawyer and expert in Aboriginal law has issued a scathing critique of the provincial government's implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). King's Counsel Michael Lee Ross, a lawyer with over 30 years of experience, told CBC News he has "never seen this level of ineptitude and incompetence" in government.
The criticism follows comments from B.C. Premier David Eby, who recently stated that DRIPA has been "probably the most challenging issue I've worked on in government." The legislation, passed in 2019, aims to align provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Ross's criticism centers on the government's approach to the mandatory action plan required by the law. He argues the process has been rushed and lacks meaningful consultation, leading to confusion and frustration among First Nations. The provincial government has acknowledged the complexities but maintains it is committed to a collaborative implementation process.
The debate highlights the ongoing tensions and significant practical challenges in translating the principles of UNDRIP into concrete provincial policy and law in British Columbia.
