Bruce Pardy: B.C. Aboriginal agreements empower soft tyranny of legal incoherence – Financial Post

Aug 26, 2025

They say existing property rights will be honoured but give jurisdiction to local Native councils whose law doesn’t recognize them

In April 2024, the B.C. government agreed to recognize and affirm the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title to the archipelago on Canada’s west coast. In December, Ottawa did likewise. These agreements signal danger, and not just on Haida Gwaii.

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The agreements tell two conflicting stories. One is that a new era has begun. Colonial occupation has ended and Haida Gwaii will now be governed in accordance with Haida Aboriginal title. But the second story is that private property will still be honoured, federal, provincial and local governments will continue to exercise their jurisdiction, and the province will still provide and pay for health, education, transportation and fire and emergency services.

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