EXCLUSIVE POLL: 57% in BC worried Indigenous land claims threaten private property

Nearly half of all British Columbians fear their private property rights are under attack because of Indigenous land claims, following a landmark court ruling that affirmed Aboriginal title.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Nearly half of all British Columbians fear their private property rights are under attack because of Indigenous land claims, following a landmark court ruling that affirmed Aboriginal title over a fully developed urban area, including privately-owned homes.

The survey, conducted by One Persuasion Inc. from November 27 to December 5, found 57 per cent of respondents in B.C. are very or at least moderately concerned about current or future claims affecting their property. Twenty-six per cent are not very concerned, while 31 per cent are not concerned at all.

The ruling in Cowichan Tribes v. Canada, issued by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Barbara Young in August, recognized the tribes’ title over about 7.5 square kilometres in southeast Richmond, B.C., including areas with private holdings.

While the decision clarified that Indigenous title and private ownership can overlap without automatic extinguishment, it has nonetheless sparked fears of uncertainty in property transactions and values. It remains unclear how the decision will affect homeowners in the affected area.

Reports from both individual property owners and at least one business in the area indicate the case has already derailed real estate deals, prompting a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing governments of misleading landowners.

Poll breakdowns show regional variations.

Concern was highest in the Interior region of the province, where 36 per cent reported being very concerned, compared with 31 per cent in Greater Vancouver and 22 per cent on Vancouver Island.

Income and education also influence views significantly.

Among households earning over $150,000, 36 per cent said they were very concerned — the highest of any income bracket.

Those with the lowest incomes, by contrast, had the least amount of concern, with only one quarter of respondents expressing a high-level concern over the issue.

Intriguingly, in terms of education level, respondents with postgraduate degrees reported the lowest level of strong concern at 26 per cent, followed closely by those with the least education at 27 per cent.

Political leanings reveal the starkest divide, however.

Nearly half of those who said they voted for the BC Conservatives in 2024 described themselves as very concerned.

Among BC NDP voters, 45 per cent said they were either “very concerned” or “moderately concerned.” Those who did not vote or could not recall how they voted reported similar levels of concern to NDP supporters.

The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus four percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Subgroup results carry higher margins. Responses were weighted for age, gender, region, language and past provincial vote based on the latest Statistics Canada census data.