B.C. introduces new mining claims framework to ensure First Nations consultation

Brenna Owen · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 26, 2025 8:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 22 minutes ago

British Columbia has introduced a caller model for consultation connected mining claims, but the B.C. Assembly of First Nations determination main says it "does not travel close" to the collaborative attack outlined successful the province's Indigenous rights law.

In an op-ed published by the Vancouver Sun, Terry Teegee says B.C.'s instrumentality adopting the United Nations Declaration connected the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reflects a "duty to consent," going beyond the work to consult First Nations connected issues affecting their lands, and the caller mineral model represents "a measurement backward."

A connection from B.C.'s Mining Ministry says the changes to the mineral tenure strategy were required to align with a 2023 B.C. Supreme Court ruling, which established that First Nations indispensable beryllium consulted astatine the clip of assertion staking.

It marks a displacement from the erstwhile practice, erstwhile consultation began later, during the permitting signifier for exploration.

Teegee says the model means companies tin nary longer registry ample swaths of onshore for mineral exploration and indispensable present notify First Nations and petition they respond. 

He says the displacement volition effect successful an influx of mineral applications, overwhelming First Nations offices that often look staffing and different capableness challenges, portion providing "limited opportunities" for nations to halt oregon modify mineral permits.

"The model risks perpetuating business-as-usual practices that exclude First Nations from captious decision-making processes," helium says successful the op-ed.

Under the caller Mineral Claims Consultation Framework, the state says individuals with a Free Miner Certificate tin use for a mineral oregon placer assertion by filing retired an online exertion successful the Mineral Titles Online system.

It says the state volition past consult with First Nations, past the main golden commissioner volition find whether the work to consult has been met and if the assertion should beryllium registered, denied, oregon registered with accommodations. 

All pre-existing claims volition stay valid, and decisions volition beryllium published connected the Mineral Titles Online website to guarantee transparency, the state says.

"Through the (new framework), we are ensuring we code our law obligations, and (are) bringing certainty to the earliest stages of the mineral exploration process," Mining Minister Jagrup Brar says successful the quality release. 

"We volition proceed to show and amended the model to guarantee that it is straightforward, just and results successful timely decisions."

The lawsuit that led to the caller model began successful 2021, erstwhile the Gitxaala Nation filed a petition challenging the province's online mineral tenure registry, which automatically granted mineral rights connected its territory without consultation.

The Ehattesaht First Nation filed a akin petition successful June 2022, and the B.C. Supreme Court heard the cases unneurotic the pursuing year.

The tribunal suspended its ruling for 18 months, allowing the state clip to marque changes to the mineral tenure system.

Teegee says successful his op-ed that portion the state has recognized challenges successful the referral process, it has recommitted to a "flawed strategy ... circumventing the substantive changes necessitated by years of ineligible battles and the provincial government's spending (of) millions warring First Nations successful court."