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Recurring talking point

“BC was forced into DRIPA. It was never properly debated.”

John Rustad, BC Conservative Party
BC Conservative Leader · Feb 2024

Fact-checked - verified

DRIPA passed the BC Legislature unanimously: 87 votes in favour, 0 against. Every party - including John Rustad himself - voted yes. During debate, the Minister of Indigenous Relations reaffirmed that DRIPA does not create a veto 'almost 20 times.' The Hansard record is public and searchable.

Sources

HansardHansardHansardLegal

Full source details

Bill 41 - Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, Third Reading

Hansard, BC Legislature (41st Parliament, 4th Session, Issue 299) · 2019-11-26

DRIPA recorded division - 87 yea, 0 nay (Rustad voting yea)

Hansard, BC Legislature (41st Parliament, 4th Session, Issue 299) · 2019-11-26

Bill 41 - Committee of the Whole (Minister Fraser on 'no veto')

Hansard, BC Legislature (41st Parliament, 4th Session, Issue 295) · Hon. Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation · 2019-11-21

British Columbia's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act: A First Look

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP · 2019-12-02

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APA
DRIPA Facts. (2026, April 1). DRIPA passed 87-0. Every party voted yes - including John Rustad himself. DRIPA Facts. https://dripafacts.ca/en/myth/unanimous-or-forced/
Chicago
DRIPA Facts, "DRIPA passed 87-0. Every party voted yes - including John Rustad himself," DRIPA Facts, April 1, 2026, https://dripafacts.ca/en/myth/unanimous-or-forced/.
MLA
DRIPA Facts. "DRIPA passed 87-0. Every party voted yes - including John Rustad himself." DRIPA Facts, 1 Apr. 2026, dripafacts.ca/en/myth/unanimous-or-forced.

First published: April 1, 2026