Rustad’s Indigenous Platform Doubles Down on His Dangerous Commitment to Repeal Indigenous Human Rights

September 30, 2024

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) Today, Mr. Rustad committed once again to pull the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) if elected.

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is astounded that Mr. Rustad chose to announce his continued crusade to repeal the Declaration Act on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation of all days. This “plan” will set us back decades and will continue to pit First Nations against other British Columbians. This is not leadership. The FNLC notes that Mr. Rustad’s platform includes a number of things the Eby government is already working to do: loan guarantees for equity in natural resource projects; capacity building; treatment and recovery services; transferring authority over child welfare services. It also includes a commitment to “strategic land return to First Nations” and returning 20% of BC’s forests to FN to manage, despite the current government having already transferred over 20% of forestry tenure to First Nations and set up collaborative planning through forest landscape planning tables.