Letters to the Editor: January 17, 2026

Letters to the Editor of Kelowna Courier and Pentiction Herald

Dear Premier Eby:

On behalf of the Kelowna Citizens Safety Association, we are writing to urge your immediate and decisive leadership in addressing the growing land title and economic uncertainty arising from the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, (DRIPA).

As Premier, and pursuant to your Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office to His Majesty the King, you carry a clear responsibility to protect the integrity of British Columbia’s land title system and the economic stability that homeowners, renters, farmers, municipalities, and businesses depend upon. Recent court decisions, including the Cowichan/Richmond ruling[1] affecting private fee simple land and the Gitxaala[2] decision impacting mining tenure, have intensified public concern and exposed the risks created by DRIPA driven policies.

These decisions, combined with the implementation of DRIPA, are creating a parallel land governance framework that undermines certainty across the province. The impacts extend well beyond legal theory and are already affecting mortgages, insurance, housing availability, municipal planning, resource development, agriculture, and long-term investment confidence.

We recognize that your Government faces critical and time sensitive decisions, including the pending appeal deadline in the Gitxaala matter and the need for a strong and proactive approach to the Cowichan/Richmond ruling. We urge you to vigorously pursue these appeals to their fullest extent and to publicly demonstrate the Province’s commitment to defending the security of freehold title and the Torrens land title system.

We fully support reconciliation that benefits Indigenous and non-Indigenous British Columbians but there must be a balance of interests on the land. Reconciliation must not erode private property rights, public access to Crown land, or public confidence in the Rule of Law. British Columbia already has an established and workable framework in the BC Treaty Process, which has delivered modern treaties while protecting freehold land and shared public access. Recommitting to this process is essential to restoring stability and public trust.

As Premier, the responsibility to restore confidence in British Columbia’s land title system now rests squarely with your office. Repealing DRIPA is essential to restoring Legislative accountability and providing the economic and psychological certainty required by homeowners, families, and investors across the province.

We ask that you respond promptly with clear and specific actions your Government will take to protect home ownership, stabilize housing markets, and restore long-term economic certainty in British Columbia.

Lloyd Manchester, president

Kelowna Citizens Safety Association