NDP to face tough confidence motion on suspension of DRIPA

“These are important conversations that we have with all of our caucus members, I respect Joan and all of our indigenous members so much, I know that is incredibly challenging for them personally, I want to recognize that,” said Eby.

“His position is that they don’t want the government to touch DRIPA and that pausing DRIPA in their minds is repealing DRIPA, that is what Chief [Terry] Teegee said, so that is there line in the sand,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer.

With only a bare majority in Victoria, any votes from the NDP against the motion – or abstentions – could lead to the government falling.

“First the Premier said that they would be looking at amendments to DRIPA and now they are going to suspend it for three years, well that is conveniently after the next scheduled election if we even get that far,” added Stamer.

The BC Conservative Party has not been shy at voicing its concerns with the DRIPA, with all leadership hopefuls campaigning in the plank of repealing the legislation.

“The DRIPA legislation is flawed,” Stamer told CFJC News. “Even though it was passed back in 2019, it was a committee, it wasn’t the full house. Then as early as 2021 they made amendments and when they made amendments it was the last day of the session in may and there was 17 minutes to talk to the amendments and obviously those amendments weren’t effective either.”

Stamer clarified his belief that appealing DRIPA doesn’t equate to halting reconciliation.

“We do need economic reconciliation with our first nations, I think all of us if not most of us would agree on that. But again there are some significant structural challenges,” said Stamer.

Eby has not yet announced which day the confidence vote will come forward to the floor.

by Michael Reeve

NDP to face tough confidence motion on suspension of DRIPA

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