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Indigenous Affairs

In question period, members discussed a court decision involving the Cowichan Nation and related land-title concerns in British Columbia, and a Conservative motion on private property rights that the House was to vote on later that day. Conservatives said the decision and a Musqueam agreement had left homeowners, businesses and municipalities uncertain about their land, and urged the government to change its legal approach and support their motion to prioritize private property rights. Liberals said the government is appealing the court decision alongside British Columbia, the City of Richmond and First Nations, that it stands for private property rights and reconciliation, and that no Canadian has lost private land in an agreement with an Indigenous community; they accused the Conservatives of raising unnecessary fear.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

5 statements

Taleeb Noormohamed

Liberal
“Conservatives are spreading false claims. Our government is appealing the Cowichan court decision and protecting private property owners. No Canadian has ever lost private land in an agreement with an Indigenous community. The Conservatives are putting the economy and reconciliation at risk.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 29 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yet again, it is either misinformation or disinformation coming from the Conservatives. Either way, Canadians need to understand the facts. The facts are that the government is appealing the Cowichan decision in the courts today and that the government has stood up for the rights of private property owners. It is also important that Canadians understand that not a single Canadian has ever lost any private property in any agreement with an indigenous community. Conservatives are spreading misinformation, risking substantial economic growth in British Columbia and putting at risk true reconciliation and economic growth.

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Jill McKnight

Liberal
“We will protect private property rights in British Columbia. The opposition is trying to scare people, and that does not help anyone.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 41 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our colleagues across the way have brought up this issue numerous times, and we have been very clear that we will stand for private property rights and protect those rights in British Columbia. This is about creating fear and uncertainty where it is unnecessary, and it is not helping us to move forward as a country, as a province and as a community. We are focused on defending private property rights in Canada, period.

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“The opposition is scaring people about private property rights. Our government protects private property rights and supports reconciliation with Indigenous people. We joined B.C., Richmond, and First Nations to appeal this court case. The opposition needs to stop scaring people.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 44 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 91 of 100

    Of this answer, 93% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is shameful to continue to hear members of the opposition fearmongering about private property rights. We, on this side of the House, stand for private property rights. We stand for reconciliation. We have appealed the case alongside the B.C. government, the government of the City of Richmond and first nations. We will continue to be there for private property owners and to work for reconciliation. The fearmongering has to stop.

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Randeep Sarai

Liberal
“The Conservatives are just trying to scare people. Nobody's private property rights are at risk. Our government is protecting them, and we always will.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 39 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only party in the House that is bringing that fear is the Conservative Party of Canada. The only party in British Columbia that is doing that is the Conservative Party of British Columbia, and the only reason they are doing this is to instill fear. Everyone knows that their private property rights are not at risk. The government is defending them as we speak, and that is how we will always protect the property rights of all individuals in Canada.

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Stephanie McLean

Liberal
“Our government supports the people of British Columbia, private property owners, and Indigenous people. We are challenging the court decision. The Conservatives are spreading false information to scare homeowners, but we are protecting them.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 30 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 19 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our government has said time and time again, and has shown through action, that we stand with the people of British Columbia, we stand with private title rights holders and we stand with indigenous people. We are taking the appropriate action, and we are appealing the decision in the courts. It is frightening how the Conservatives are attempting to whip up disinformation and scare private property owners, who need to know the government has their back.

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