(xÊ·məθkÊ·É™yÌ“É™m (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sÉ™lilwÉ™taɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC — May 15, 2025 — Source: First Nations Summit — The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) convened an emergency meeting with First Nations leaders, resulting in a unified rejection of Bills 14 and 15 and a call for their immediate withdrawal. Premier Eby attended part of the meeting but disappointed the leaders by indicating his intention to proceed with the Bills.
Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act, and Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, are currently in the Committee stage with limited time left in the legislative calendar. A motion passed by House leader Mike Farnworth schedules a final vote by 8 p.m. on May 28. Concerns have been raised by First Nations, the Union of B.C. Municipalities, environmental organizations, the B.C. Green Party, and the B.C. Conservatives regarding the hasty and unilateral development of the Bills and the broad powers they would grant the government.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, emphasized the need for laws to respect First Nations’ title, rights, and jurisdiction, stating that the Province has violated its own policies in developing the Bills. B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee condemned the BC government’s approach and insisted that Premier David Eby is disregarding the necessity of obtaining consent prior to the bills’ passing. NasuÊ”kin Cheryl Casimer of Ê”aqÌ“am expressed alarm over the Bills’ development without meaningful consultation and the risk they pose to First Nation lands, waters, resources and territories
