The Chinese translation is being made; the original is shown for now.
As a part of the DRIPA action plan (2022) the BC government committed to align the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) with the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples by Spring 2026. This plan stalled and legislation was put on pause in January 2026 after significant industry and municipal government backlash.
AME has formally submitted feedback about the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) Technical Policy Paper.
Throughout the process AME has brought forward three principles:
- Final authority must rest with the province
- Science and facts are foundational
- Enforcements must remain the sole responsibility of the province
Recent updates appear to remove items that were flagged by AME as deeply concerning. While some of the language has been removed, the document still provides a clear path for Intangible heritage, consent-based decisions, and delegation of enforcement to nations. This needs further clarification and removal ahead of any further drafting of legislation.
AME is urging government to focus efforts on amending the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) to ensure stability. Legislative certainty is the cornerstone of a competitive investment environment. A newly reformed HCA enacted atop an unsettled DRIPA framework would fail to deliver that certainty and could materially undermine British Columbia’s standing as a destination for mineral exploration capital at a time when global competition for critical minerals investment is intensifying.