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ARTICLE · 20 NOVEMBER 2019

British Columbia's UNDRIP Legislation—A Framework To Advance Reconciliation

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On October 24, 2019, the British Columbia (B.C.) government introduced Bill 41 – 2019, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, fulfilling its February 2019 announcement

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David Bursey
David Bursey
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On October 24, 2019, the British Columbia (B.C.) government introduced Bill 41 – 2019, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, fulfilling its February 2019 announcement that it would table legislation implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The statement released by the Premier's Office touted that the legislation: 

"... will move the Province forward with a clear action plan for reconciliation, supporting predictability and economic opportunities, while respecting Indigenous human rights."

Bill 41 was developed jointly between the B.C. government and the BC First Nations Leadership Council, and follows in the footsteps of a similar federal bill (Bill C-262), which passed in the House of Commons but died on the Order Paper in the Senate in June 2019. 

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