A bombshell ruling in British Columbia has sent shockwaves through the world of property ownership. The province’s highest court declared Aboriginal title over parts of Richmond—allowing private ownership and Indigenous title to coexist on the same land.
Property owners across Metro Vancouver and beyond are gripped with fear. They worry this landmark decision could slowly erode the very foundation of private property rights in Canada.
Now, the federal Conservatives are fighting back. They’ve tabled a motion demanding Ottawa take immediate, concrete action to protect homeowners and businesses.
“Despite claiming to believe that property rights are ‘fundamental,’ neither Prime Minister Mark Carney nor his Attorney General have changed the government’s litigation position,” the Tories said in a blistering statement. “When homes are at stake, Canadians deserve action—not empty words.”
The motion calls for private title to remain paramount over all other claims. It also demands the government scrap a controversial directive that prevents its lawyers from arguing for “extinguishment” of Aboriginal claims in court.
That directive—ratified in 2021 by former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould—bars Crown lawyers from using defences like extinguishment, surrender, or abandonment. The government claims these strategies inhibit reconciliation.
Conservatives want that policy reversed. They also demand property protections be written into every future agreement with First Nations, a plan within 30 days to safeguard property rights, and a special committee to study every legal, constitutional, and political step needed to protect owners.
“If the Liberal Prime Minister wants Canadians to trust his rhetoric, he must wholeheartedly support this motion,” the Tories declared. They threw down the gauntlet: “We call on MPs from all parties to stand on the right side of history—defending Canadian homes and businesses while advancing meaningful, lasting reconciliation.”
