Richmond mayor in hot seat as residents press for answers about First Nation title ruling

Tensions boiled over during a public information session in Richmond Tuesday, with some residents turning their frustration on the city’s mayor.

The meeting was designed to inform certain property owners after the B.C. Supreme Court granted the Cowichan Tribes title over a 7.5-square-kilometre parcel along the Fraser River.

Hundreds packed the Sheraton Vancouver Hotel in search of answers. But when landowners pressed for clarity — each given a three-minute time limit — many felt Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie dodged most questions.

Several residents were furious that they only found out about the court ruling through a letter the city sent out earlier this month.

“I should not have had to come here and waste my time. To listen to you to tell me to go talk to my MLA,” said one vocal resident, addressing Brodie directly.

“You don’t have an answer to why you didn’t reach out. You’ve been the mayor for 24 years in Richmond.”

Brodie appeared to be unable or unwilling to answer most questions, repeatedly turning to representatives of the Cowichan Tribes for answers.

One resident asked, “If I don’t own my land anymore, why am I going to pay the City of Richmond taxes?”

Brodie responded, “Does he own his land anymore?”

The same resident questioned why Brodie had held the information session at all.

“I’ve gotten zero information aside from what’s on this piece of paper, which is on the website already. So why didn’t you reach out to us earlier?”

The City of Richmond and provincial government are both appealing the ruling, with the city saying that Aboriginal land title and private property ownership cannot coexist.

Critics say the way the city is framing the decision amounts to fear-mongering, arguing it is simply an extension of existing case law, and the ownership ambiguity is only being made worse by choosing to appeal the decision rather than enter a negotiation, as the court ruled.

The city says more than 100 residents could be affected by the ruling.

B.C.’s Premier David Eby says his government will be asking for a stay of the implementation of the Cowichan Tribes case.

Eby says a stay would give the British Columbia Court of Appeal an opportunity to consider and decide on the landmark case.

With files from Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press