Despite continued rhetoric and red herrings from Federal and Provincial Conservatives, private property rights not at risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2026

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC) – Pierre Poilievre’s trip to BC to announce his intention of tabling a bill that he claims will protect private property rights, cites the Cowichan decision and the Musqueam bilateral agreement with Canada as rationale. The Conservatives are seeking to direct the federal government to restore its outdated denialism and extinguishment arguments, arguments that are already settled in law, from Supreme Court of Canada decisions Delgamuukw, Haida and Tsilhqot’in. The opposition motion is scheduled for parliamentary vote on Monday May 25, 2026.

The ruling in the Cowichan case recognized First Nations title in a specific area following years of historical evidence and constitutional analysis. Contrary to the Conservatives’ misinformation on private property rights, the court did not order the seizure of homes, did not invalidate the ownership of any private property anywhere in British Columbia, and did not eliminate BC’s current land title system.

The decision primarily addressed lands involving Crown and municipal interests and explicitly left questions involving private fee-simple lands to future negotiation processes, such as those in the BC treaty negotiation process, other reconciliation processes, or other legal proceedings.

To read full release, click “DOWNLOAD PDF” below and to the right.