Richmond to host info session on land affected by First Nation title decision

The City of Richmond is expecting a big crowd at a public information session Tuesday on a landmark land claim ruling that has some residents worried.

A lot of questions will likely focus on the issue of land ownership after the B.C. Supreme Court granted the Quw’utsun Nation, whose members include the Cowichan Tribes, title over a 7.5-square-kilometre parcel along the Fraser River.

Some critcs have said Aboriginal title and fee-simple ownership cannot coexist in B.C.

Meanwhile, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) has described that sentiment as “alarmist,” saying the way the City of Richmond is framing the ruling amounts to fear-mongering.

The FNLC argues it is simply an extension of existing case law, and the ownership ambiguity is only being made worse by the city choosing to appeal the decision rather than enter a negotiation, as the court ruled.

Trevor Koot, CEO of the BC Real Estate Association, says the issue is obviously not simple, but he hopes the information session will help. Koots explains that the Torrens title system, which Canada uses, relies on measures of trust and confidence.

“The reality is the ruling itself has infringed on that trust and confidence. And so right now, I think regardless of your position, the way that this is out in the public — the way that the public is responding to the ruling and the exposure that it’s providing — is fundamentally breaking down the system that we enjoy in this province as the principal form of ownership,” said Koot.

But he says there is merit to the idea that the two can coexist, and the BCREA will not be an authority on the issue. Koot says that’s what makes public information sessions like the one planned for Tuesday night so important.

“These have been complex conversations for 200 years and will continue to be. And I think it’s [important to] be informed, participate in the conversation with respect, be curious. And at the end of the day, we’ll get somewhere,” said Koot.

As for how real estate issues will play out on the land in question, Koot says it’s too early to know.

“It’s a challenging environment right now, because things are moving quickly, where there aren’t really answers or the ability to provide high confidence and trust. And so the longer it takes, the more that breaks down; the more that fractures people’s ability to transact and participate in the opportunities in British Columbia.”

Tuesday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Vancouver Hotel on Westminster Highway.

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—With files from Mike Lloyd, Michael Williams, and The Canadian Press