Adam P Olsen

NEW - BC Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee is pulling out of Premier David Eby’s Asia trade mission because of bills 14 and 15. The fallout continues.

#bcpoli

FNLC Expresses Profound Disappointment with the Passage of Bills 14 and 15 Working towards the recognition, implementation and exercise of our inherent Indigenous Title, Rights and Treaty Rights

“There is overwhelming opposition from First Nations all over the Province to Bills 14 and 15. With the Province’s forced closure of the Bills last night, reconciliation in B.C. is having a near death experience." Grand Chief Stewart Phillip www.ubcic.bc.ca/fnlc_express... #bcpoli

Just 5 yrs ago my colleagues in the @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social were accepting the gratitude showered on them for passing DRIPA. Now they are breaking that law & the interim policy they promised and dragging us back to the BC Liberals!

@bowinnma.bsky.social
@christineboyle.bsky.social

2/2

If the @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social is wondering how to relieve themselves of the stress of time allocation (closure) on Bill 15, all you need to do is amend the motion that put it on the clock! You don’t have to be limited by your motion if you choose not to be! 1/2

I heard @davidebybc.bsky.social say there would be no amendments, apparently the @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social had the time and space to make amendments, so why didn’t they co-develop them properly as FN have been asking for weeks?

cc. @christineboyle.bsky.social
@bowinnma.bsky.social

2/2

In case the @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social try to mislead BCers by saying their amendment would have addressed issues raised by FNs re: Bill 15:
Stop acting unilaterally.
Start honourably addressing the concerns we raise!
The message has been delivered with clarity—Stop playing games, Kill Bill 15!
1/2

Great to stand together against Bill 15 this morning. This bill is a blank cheque for Cabinet to pick and choose which projects avoid rigorous EA and permitting reqts without any clear guardrails to uphold Indigenous rights and governance and ensure environmental protections.

This quote from then-MLA Jenny Kwan could apply to Minister Ma's words in 2025 just as it did to Minister Falcon's in 2003:
“The legislation does not say what the minister claims.”

It is disturbing to witness people I celebrated the passing of the Declaration Act with, people who gladly accepted the gratitude and good feelings, now leading this regression!

@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social

"Then in debate the Minister brazenly goes on the record admitting she unilaterally re-wrote government policy, as well as unilaterally deciding First Nations wouldn’t be interested in the issue. This is not the behaviour of a democrat, and is totally unacceptable."

@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social

"The provincial government delivered a vague invite 7-10 business day before a virtual information session to talk about “concepts” of a plan to create the Ministry of Infrastructure and streamline approval processes..."

@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social

"Minister Ma and Premier Eby have blindsided First Nations leadership with a political sucker punch. They appear to be undeterred in their effort to turn the clock back on Crown-Indigenous relationships to the dark days of the BC Liberals."

@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social

Invitation or Illusion? Behind Bill 15’s “invitation” to First Nations lies a broken promise and unilateralism

Check out my latest post on David Eby's provincial power grab and the unilateral re-writing of Crown-Indigenous consultation policy.

@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social
@bowinnma.bsky.social
@davidebybc.bsky.social
@christineboyle.bsky.social

‘Kill the Bill.’ BC Faces Mounting Pressure Against Bill 15 | The Tyee The province is facing a wall of opposition from First Nations and municipalities over legislation meant to fast-track development.

“Our Chiefs are frustrated, upset and feel betrayed. At one swipe of the pen, the premier can cut all of this off to the fall, and that’s what we’re calling for — to kill the bill.” #bcpoli

First Nations Leadership Council & Union of BC Municipalities call for withdrawal of Bill 15 Working towards the recognition, implementation and exercise of our inherent Indigenous Title, Rights and Treaty Rights

"It is time for the Eby government to action their commitments to reconciliation and uphold their own laws and processes." Grand Chief Stewart Phillip www.ubcic.bc.ca/fnlc_ubcm_ca...

The Premier’s Promises Aren’t Enough to Save Bill 15 The infrastructure bill ignores Indigenous rights and the law. It should be shelved.

None of what Premier Eby promised is in Bill 15.

"Intentions and promises aren’t binding. Protection of basic rights shouldn’t depend on a premier’s judgment. And laws should recognize that governments come and go."

cc.
@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social
@bowinnma.bsky.social
@christineboyle.bsky.social

The Premier’s Promises Aren’t Enough to Save Bill 15 | The Tyee The infrastructure bill ignores Indigenous rights and the law. It should be shelved.

Premier Eby made many personal assurances how Bill 15 will/will not be used by his gov't. He has no control over how gov'ts in the future use it. For his promises to be meaningful he must amend his flawed legislation! Put your promises in writing Mr. Premier!
cc. @christineboyle.bsky.social

Question for @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social
Will you force MLA’s Davidson, Phillip, and Toporowski carry the burden of Bill 15?
The BC legislature is a toxic place for Indigenous people, but @davidebybc.bsky.social is taking it to another level making Bill 15 confidence
Cc. @christineboyle.bsky.social

NDP's fast-track legislation condemned by B.C. Indigenous leaders Vaughn Palmer: B.C. government failed to follow its own law on consulting Indigenous groups before introducing project legislation

In the elxn last Fall, I was worried that a BC Conservative government would be an existential threat to the critical advancements we have made to Indigenous reconciliation.

Through Bill 15 turns out the threat is @davidebybc.bsky.social & @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social!

vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...

After hearing many concerns re Bill 15, at 9pm last night HL Farnworth moved time allocation on the bill. There has been 0 debate! @bcndpcaucus.bsky.social is willing to sidestep democracy, I imagine they’ll also sidestep EA’s and FN’s rights for their favoured projects. UGH!
@bowinnma.bsky.social

Bulldozing Rights: The Fast Track becomes the Main Track The Infrastructure Projects Act undermines First Nations rights and environmental protections under the guise of efficiency

s.20 is meant to create the impression of DRIPA compliance. It’s narrow in scope, leaving the rest of the bill’s broad discretionary powers intact.
Bill 15 guts FN consultation, bypasses environmental protections, and centralizes power in Cabinet.
adampolsen.substack.com/p/bulldozing...

FNLC Questions Regressive, Conflated Infrastructure Projects Act; Alarmed by Province’s Backsliding on Reconciliation Efforts Working towards the recognition, implementation and exercise of our inherent Indigenous Title, Rights and Treaty Rights

“In developing Bill 15 the Province conducted no meaningful consultation and cooperation with First Nations and did not adhere to its own Interim Approach on the Alignment of Laws (Interim Approach)." Grand Chief Stewart Phillip www.ubcic.bc.ca/fnlc_questio...

Bulldozing Rights: The Fast Track becomes the Main Track The Infrastructure Projects Act undermines First Nations rights and environmental protections under the guise of efficiency

Bill 15: Infrastructure Projects Act (2025) is appalling!
It bulldozes FN's rights, title, and consent. It renders environmental assessments meaningless!
@bowinnma.bsky.social
@tamaradavidson.bsky.social
@christineboyle.bsky.social
Read on Substack.
adampolsen.substack.com/p/bulldozing...

@davidwcochrane.bsky.social masterful job over the past few days. Sharp, but respectful, reporting and interviewing! Excellent work!

MLA Dallas Brodie's behaviour is corrosive, divisive, and reprehensible "We need courage not cruelty, and partnerships not provocation!"

My first time back to QP since retiring from #bcpoli. I was on the floor as Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie continued her ugly assault on residential school survivors and First Nations leaders in British Columbia.

Why would an MLA choose to incite distrust rather than build understanding?

In one of his final moves as prime minister, Trudeau argues for bold RCMP reform | CBC News Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is using some of his final hours in office to call for a drastic and controversial shakeup to one of the country’s most emblematic institutions: the RCMP.

BC has done the work, but the BC NDP decided policing/public safety reform was not a priority, even as BCers became more concerned about public safety.
Also, whatever Farnworth was working on, wasn’t police reform!

@bcndpcaucus.bsky.social
@davidebybc.bsky.social
@nikisharma.bsky.social

Just a few of my thoughts about John Rustad's toxic politics following last week's implosion.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Agree with Eby on this one!

Restoring Brentwood Bay: A Collaborative Vision for Environmental and Governance Renewal Overcoming Jurisdictional Gridlock to Protect Our Waters, Restore Ecosystems, and Strengthen Community Stewardship.

Check out my latest post.
Despite years of frustration I hold on to hope that we can finally get it right.

Restoring Brentwood Bay: A Collaborative Vision for Environmental and Governance Renewal open.substack.com/pub/adampols...

BC Public Safety at a Crossroads: Time for Transformational Reform Former MLA and committee member reflects on how an all-Party plan for police reform was ignored—and why it still matters.

Check out my latest post: BC Public Safety at a Crossroads: Time for Transformational Reform

The Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General has a road map for public safety reform. All we need is the political will to deliver it.

open.substack.com/pub/sthenep/...