Former B.C. attorneys general sign letter in defence of modern treaties as land claim controversy continues

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPolitics Former B.C. attorneys general sign letter in defence of modern treaties as land claim controversy continues The letter comes as new treaties cause controversy over land claims, including the possible transfer of two provincial parks Author of the article: By Alec Lazenby Published Sep 14, 2026 2 minute read Join the conversation Among the signatories are (from left): Former B.C. Liberal attorney general and finance minister Mike de Jong, former NDP premier Ujjal Dosanjh, and former NDP attorney general and Indigenous relations minister Murray Rankin. PHOTO BY PNG/GOVERNMENT OF B.C. Article content Amid continuing controversy over Indigenous land claims, 11 former B.C. attorneys general from all political stripes signed an open letter in defence of modern treaties. Article content “Modern treaties are good for reconciliation — and good for British Columbia. They establish clear rights and responsibilities for Indigenous nations, public governments, communities, businesses, lenders and investors,” wrote the signatories. Article content Article content Article content “They also respect private property and do not put ordinary homeowners’ or businesses’ private property at risk.” Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Among the signatories are former NDP premier Ujjal Dosanjh, former NDP attorney general and Indigenous relations minister Murray Rankin, and former B.C. Liberal attorney general and finance minister Mike de Jong. Article content The other signatories are: Former Social Credit attorney general Brian Smith; former B.C. Liberal attorneys general Geoff Plant, Wally Oppal, Shirley Bond and Suzanne Anton; and former NDP attorneys general Colin Gabelmann, Andrew Petter and Graeme Bowbrick. Article content The letter comes as a pending modern treaty with the Kitselas nation raises concerns about overlapping land claims from the Nine Allied Tribes and the Lax Kw’alaams Band, with the neighbouring nations threatening to go to court over the treaties. Article content At the same time, former B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Caroline Elliott and others have spoken out against a modern treaty…