Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Jen Thomas has slammed David Eby and the BC NDP for ramming through controversial Bills 14 and 15 without properly consulting indigenous groups.She said the lack of consultation with indigenous leadership signalled "steps backwards."Both Bill 14, which allows the government to streamline energy projects, and Bill 15, which does the same for infrastructure, passed by the slimmest of margins, requiring a tie-breaking vote from the speaker.."I think the government's up to something, that's what I think," Thomas said when asked about the legislation at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's annual Reconciliation in Action event on Thursday. "I look at it as steps backwards."She went on to explain that during an All-Chiefs Meeting, the premier and Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma had come in to try and convince them that it was the right decision, but that it was hard to believe..Earlier in the discussion, Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow had suggested that First Nations should look past the government's lack of consultation and work with them, trusting that they'll listen now."I'd like to believe what Chief Wayne said," Thomas added, "but I just think they're up to something."She pointed out that at a similar process is playing out at the federal level with Bill C-5."I just don't get it," Thomas lamented. "We just signed our reconciliation agreement with the federal government, now they're gonna push this through where these projects are gonna go through quicker in our territory?".Business groups, and all opposition MLAs were vocally critical of the bills as well, warning that they presented a slippery slope towards authoritarianism..Controversial BC NDP Bills 14 and 15 pass by slimmest of margins.The Renewable Energy Projects Act passed 47-46, with the BC Conservatives, BC Greens, and all three Independents voting against. Less than an hour later, a vote on the Infrastructure Projects Act yielded the same results.
