British Columbia is at a crossroads, facing a choice between moving forward together or fracturing into conflict, according to provincial Minister Ravi Kahlon. In a stark warning, he states that calls to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) would not resolve land title disputes but would instead guarantee years of court battles, stalled projects, and set the province's relationship with First Nations back a generation.
The Economic Cost of Abandoning Partnership
Kahlon emphasizes that the path to prosperity in B.C. is built on partnership, not conflict. He points to a direct link between cooperation with First Nations and economic stability. When governments walk away from agreements, construction sites go quiet, permits are delayed, and investment dries up, he argues. The result is layoffs for workers and lost revenue for communities needing schools, hospitals, and homes.
In contrast, projects developed in partnership with First Nations get built. They create jobs, provide contracts for local businesses, and generate revenue. Kahlon credits this model of stability for positioning B.C. to secure close to $100 billion in major private sector investment, including billions in mining, clean energy, and LNG projects that are advancing through Indigenous partnerships.
DRIPA as a Foundation, Not the Source of Title
The minister directly addresses critics and confusion stemming from recent court decisions, which he acknowledges have caused worry for families, homeowners, and businesses. However, he clarifies a crucial point: the concept of First Nations title is not an invention of DRIPA. It is enshrined in Canada's Constitution and predates Confederation itself.
Therefore, repealing the act, as suggested by the B.C. Conservatives, would not make existing title claims—such as the significant one involving the Cowichan Tribes—disappear. It would merely abandon the framework for addressing them collaboratively, reverting to an adversarial system. "Repealing DRIPA would return us to a dark time," Kahlon writes, emphasizing that the act passed unanimously in the legislature, reflecting a broad consensus for partnership over endless conflict.
A Choice Between Certainty and Chaos
The column, published on January 6, 2026, frames the decision as one with profound consequences. Walking away from DRIPA and the reconciliation process is portrayed not just as an abandonment of responsibility for past harms but as a "massive economic mistake." First Nations leaders have warned that every major project in the province would be in jeopardy without the certainty provided by these partnerships.
Kahlon concludes that the province cannot afford to turn inward and fight. After facing external economic threats the previous year, the forward path for B.C. is clear: building together in partnership with First Nations is the only route to shared jobs, prosperity, and stability for all communities across the province.
