Premier stands behind bill to fast-track infrastructure projects, despite growing backlash

Premier David Eby is not backing down from proposed legislation that would allow the government to fast-track infrastructure projects. 

This, despite considerable pushback from Indigenous leaders and opposition parties who fear Bill 15 is so broad, it will give the government carte blanche to steamroll over environmental protections and First Nations rights. 

"It's draconian legislation," says Tsartlip First Nations Chief Don Tom. "To me, this is a gold rush. This is a gold rush that opens anyone up for business."

The Infrastructure Projects Act, if passed, will speed up the approval process for hospitals, schools and bridges, as well as private projects like critical mineral mines, as long as they're deemed projects of "provincial significance." 

A separate piece of legislation will also speed up the approval of clean energy projects.  

The backdrop is the ongoing trade war with the U.S. and Eby's pledge to reduce B.C.'s reliance on our southern neighbour by boosting economic development in our own province. 

B.C. moves to speed up energy projects amid growing demand and environmental concerns

4 days ago

Duration 2:09

B.C.'s premier and energy minister are putting out a new call for electricity. The move comes as BC Hydro tries to boost its capacity to help build and power massive new projects. But as Katie DeRosa reports, critics are worried the energy projects could be fast-tracked despite potential concerns from First Nations and environmental groups.

But in the rush to do that, Tom says the premier has forgotten about the government's commitments to consult with First Nations under the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. 

Eby apologized for that during a meeting Wednesday with First Nations leaders, which Tom attended, but gave no indication the province would go back to the drawing board on the legislation. 

He told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition, that some of the backlash is due to a misunderstanding of the spirit of the legislation. 

"Nothing in these bills can be interpreted to take away any Indigenous rights or obligations that the government has," he said. 

The Early Edition10:46Premier David Eby on Bill 15, the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy and the latest on U.S. and Canada relations

Premier David Eby spoke with The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn on Thursday's program.

He says in many cases, First Nations communities are the ones that stand to benefit from the job-creating projects.

"A lot of the pressure we're feeling around these projects is coming from Indigenous leaders in different parts of the province. They want projects that they're supporting to move faster," Eby said.

The B.C. Greens, however, intend to vote against the bill. 

That's despite a co-operation agreement the Greens have with the NDP government to vote with them on certain pieces of legislation. 

"It's just too broad," said Jeremy Valeriote, interim Green Party leader. "We can't just throw open the door for cabinet to decide that anything, including a pipeline or an LNG project, could be provincially significant." 

Eby insists the legislation won't be used for pipelines or LNG projects. 

However, Dr. Tim Takaro, a Vancouver-based doctor and member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, says if that's the case, it should be specifically written into the legislation. 

Otherwise, it opens the door for future political parties to take a different interpretation. 

"It's crucial that we not make it easier to build fossil fuel energy infrastructure, and this bill does make it easier," Takaro says. 

The B.C. Conservatives also oppose the bill, which Leader John Rustad has called a "power grab." 

That means with its narrow one-seat majority, the NDP will have to use the Speaker to break a tie if all opposition MLAs line up against it. 

Speaker Raj Chouhan, who is an NDP MLA, but in his Speaker's role is supposed to be neutral, can vote to break a tie, to maintain the stability of the legislature. 

Nicholas Kenny, a political analyst and history professor at Simon Fraser University, says this bill exposes the shaky ground Eby's NDP government is on, considering its razor-thin majority. 

"This puts the government in a delicate situation because they're going to have to rely on that vote of the Speaker to break what we expect to be a tie," Kenny said.

"The government has said that this is a matter of confidence. So, if the government loses this vote, if somebody on the NDP side is sick or decides to go against their government and vote against this, we would be into a provincial election. The government would fall."

Eby remains confident he has the backing of all of NDP MLAs on this bill. 

B.C. government pulling part of tariff response bill

1 month ago

Duration 1:57

B.C. Premier David Eby said his party will be pulling Part 4 of Bill 7, his government's response to U.S. tariffs, in response to concerns from key stakeholders. Eby said that while his government needs to be able to act quickly in response to the U.S. president's economic targeting of British Columbia, democratic and legislative oversight is still a priority.

This is not the first time Eby's been accused of presenting a bill that would give his government sweeping powers in response to Donald Trump's tariff threat.

In March, the premier walked back a key portion of the government's tariff response bill, Bill 7,  which critics said would give the NDP unchecked powers to implement any measures that support the economy. 

Eby admitted then: "I didn't get the balance right in terms of the ability to move quickly and necessary safeguards."