As a Saanich councillor, I am compelled to voice urgent opposition to Bill 14 (Renewable Energy Projects Streamlined Permitting Act) and Bill 15 (Infrastructure Projects Act), currently at the committee stage with a final vote looming by May 28. These bills represent a profound threat to the authority of municipally elected governments and the rights of First Nations.
I call on residents of Saanich, the Capital Regional District (CRD), and local governments across British Columbia to join me in demanding the immediate withdrawal or significant amendment of these bills.
Bill 14 and Bill 15 grant the provincial cabinet sweeping powers to designate projects as “provincially significant” and fast-track them by bypassing critical environmental assessments, municipal permitting processes, and First Nations consultation. The term “provincially significant” remains undefined, leaving the door wide open for abuse of power. This vagueness undermines the ability of local governments to represent their communities’ interests, eroding the democratic foundation enshrined in the Community Charter, which mandates local government input. Worse, these bills were developed without meaningful consultation with First Nations, municipalities, or the public.
The First Nations Leadership Council, in an emergency meeting with Premier David Eby, unanimously rejected Bills 14 and 15, citing their direct threat to Indigenous title, rights, and jurisdiction. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, condemned the province’s unilateral approach, stating, “Unilateralism is not acceptable.” He warned that these bills, far from expediting projects, are “setting the stage for bigger fights” by violating the province’s own Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities, environmental organizations, the B.C. Green Party, and the B.C. Conservatives have also raised alarms. UBCM president Trish Mandewo called Bill 15 an “unnecessary overreach” into local decision-making, while the B.C. Greens’ interim leader Jeremy Valeriote criticized its “sweeping powers” to bypass environmental and Indigenous oversight. Environmental groups like Wildsight warn that these bills could greenlight projects with insufficient scrutiny, risking lands, waters, and ecosystems.
The province claims these bills will speed up critical infrastructure like hospitals and schools, but the lack of transparency and consultation undermines trust. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma admitted the government erred in not consulting First Nations adequately, yet Premier Eby refuses to withdraw or amend the bills.
This dismissal of legitimate concerns, coupled with a rushed legislative timeline, as House Leader Mike Farnworth’s time allocation motion ensures a vote within days, suggests a government prioritizing expediency over accountability.
As Saanich residents and local governments, we cannot stand idly by. These bills threaten our ability to shape our communities, protect our environment, and honour our commitments to reconciliation. They risk entrenching a system where provincial fiat overrides local democracy and Indigenous rights, with no guarantee that future governments will wield these powers responsibly.
I urge residents of Saanich and the CRD to act now. Contact Premier Eby, your MLA, and local media to demand the withdrawal of Bills 14 and 15 or, at minimum, substantial amendments to ensure robust consultation, clear definitions, and protections for municipal and Indigenous authority. Local governments across B.C. must unite with the UBCM and First Nations to amplify this call.
Together, we can stop these bills and ensure that governance in B.C. respects the rights and voices of all communities. Let us stand with First Nations, municipalities, and concerned citizens to demand better.
Nathalie Chambers
Saanich
