Homeowners warned private property may be in doubt following BC court's Indigenous ruling
Hundreds of Richmond, British Columbia, homeowners have been warned their private property could be jeopardized by a recent court ruling granting Aboriginal title to the Cowichan Tribes.
“…the Court has declared aboriginal title to your property which may compromise the status and validity of your ownership...”
Hundreds of Richmond, British Columbia, homeowners have been warned their private property could be jeopardized by a recent court ruling granting Aboriginal title to the Cowichan Tribes.
The letters have raised growing fears that similar decisions could undermine land ownership across British Columbia, as several other cases involving Aboriginal title are before the courts.
In a notice distributed this week, residents were advised that the B.C. Supreme Court’s Cowichan Tribes decision “could negatively affect the title to your property.”
“If you look at the draft map attached to the briefing, your property is located within the Claim Area outlined in green,” the letter reads.
The city’s correspondence included a staff briefing paper and a draft map showing areas potentially subject to Aboriginal title or ongoing claims.
“For those whose property is in the area outlined in black, the court has declared Aboriginal title to your property which may compromise the status and validity of your ownership — this was mandated without any prior notice to the landowners,” the letter continues.
The ruling, issued earlier this year, granted “dual title” ownership to hundreds of acres of private property in Richmond, a large metropolitan suburb of Vancouver and home to B.C.’s largest and only international airport. This means certain property would be owned both privately and under Aboriginal title.
Although the ruling didn’t go as far as to call for the requisitioning of private property, it remains unclear what impact the dual title will have on lending, tax implications or private property ownership generally.
The ruling could have wide-reaching implications for land ownership, municipal zoning, and private property rights in affected areas.
Richmond officials said the city was not notified before the judgment and is reviewing the legal and financial impacts.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie says the city is organizing a public information session on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Richmond City Hall to explain the decision’s implications and the pending appeal.
Residents are being asked to confirm attendance by phone or email ahead of the public session.
Could have implications? Seems clear the courts just gave private property to Indians. Massive abuse of authority and over reach.
BC has become an NDP manufactured basket case of insanity and lunatic government created racist policies.....