Another blow to B.C. economy—Ottawa recognizes Aboriginal title – Fraser Institute
March 02, 2026
The blows keep coming for an increasingly beleaguered British Columbia. On the heels of a disastrous provincial budget that envisages a largely stagnant economy, historic deficits and a dizzying rise in government debt as far as the eye can see, comes news that the Carney government has concluded agreements with the Lower Mainland-based Musqueam Indian Band that promise to raise fresh questions about the status of property rights in B.C.
According to the federal government’s news release (dated Feb. 20), the Musqueam and the Government of Canada have jointly pledged to “recognize Musqueam’s Aboriginal rights and strengthen Musqueam’s roles in fisheries, stewardship and marine… management.” One of the three agreements goes further, recognizing that the Musqueam have “Aboriginal rights including title within their traditional territory,” and affirming that the parties intend to establish “a framework for incremental implementation of rights and nation-to-nation relations with Canada.”
