BC politics · Elections BC · source-check
DRIPA repeal petition cleared by Elections BC — what would actually happen next
A BC Things Instagram post says a petition seeking to repeal B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA, has been cleared to move forward. The core claim checks out — but the process is slower and less automatic than a viral post can make it sound.
What Elections BC confirmed
Elections BC says the initiative petition is titled “Initiative: Repeal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.” The purpose of the petition and draft bill is to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, with repeal coming into force on royal assent if the bill were ultimately passed.
The proponent is Harman Bhangu. Elections BC says the petition will be issued on Monday, October 26, 2026. The detailed decision and news release say signature sheets must be submitted by Monday, January 25, 2027.
What would happen if the petition succeeds?
It would not automatically repeal DRIPA. Elections BC says B.C.’s initiative process is not binding. If enough valid signatures are collected and financing requirements are met, the initiative petition is referred to the Legislative Assembly. Next steps can include recommending introduction of the draft bill or referring the petition and draft bill for an initiative vote.
Elections BC also says only one initiative petition since 1995 — the 2010 HST petition — has met the requirements and gone to the Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives.
Signing and advertising rules voters should know
No online signatures
Elections BC’s FAQ says there are no official initiative petitions online. Signatures must be in ink on official paper petition sheets.
Canvassers must register
Canvassers must be registered voters and must register with Elections BC. Signatures collected by unregistered canvassers can be disqualified.
Advertising is regulated
Elections BC says initiative advertising is regulated during the petition period. Sponsors must register before conducting advertising and must include authorization information.
Personal data warning
Elections BC says petition sheets are available for public inspection for one year after filing/submission, though voters may request that residential address and phone number be obscured.
What DRIPA does
The B.C. government says the Declaration Act was passed in 2019 and establishes the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as B.C.’s framework for reconciliation. The government describes four key areas: aligning provincial laws with the UN Declaration, creating and implementing an action plan in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples, annual reporting to the legislature, and provisions enabling agreements with Indigenous governing bodies.
The Province’s June 2026 annual-report release says the Declaration Act Action Plan has 89 actions and that work was underway on 84 of them during the 2025–26 reporting period.
Political dispute
The Canadian Press reported that Bhangu is the B.C. Conservative transportation critic and that critics say DRIPA creates uncertainty around private property and resource development. CP also reported that B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee called the repeal effort concerning and said opposition to DRIPA was being used as a wedge issue. NewsForBC treats those as attributed political positions, not findings of fact.
Claim-by-claim check
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Petition bid to repeal DRIPA has been cleared to move forward. | Confirmed. Elections BC approved the application in principle. |
| It needs 10% of registered voters in every one of B.C.’s 93 electoral districts. | Confirmed. Elections BC states this threshold. |
| It would automatically repeal DRIPA if signatures are collected. | False/misleading. Elections BC says the initiative process is not binding and goes to the Legislative Assembly for next steps. |
| The petition is currently signable online. | No. Elections BC says initiative petitions must be signed in ink on official paper petition sheets; there are no official online petitions. |
| DRIPA is mainly a law-alignment/action-plan framework for UNDRIP implementation. | Confirmed. B.C. government pages describe law alignment, action planning, annual reports and agreement provisions. |
Records wanted / next checks
- Final number of signatures required by electoral district after the Oct. 26, 2026 voter-list calculation.
- Registered canvasser and opponent lists once posted.
- Registered initiative advertising sponsors and spending limits.
- Any updated Elections BC clarification of the Jan. 25 / Jan. 26 due-date discrepancy.
- Any government or court records addressing whether consultation duties arise later in the process.
Sources
- Elections BC — Application for Initiative Petition Approved.
- Elections BC — Current initiative petitions.
- Elections BC — Initiative FAQs.
- Elections BC — financing and advertising rules.
- B.C. government — Declaration Act overview.
- B.C. government — 2025–26 Declaration Act annual-report release.
- The Canadian Press report.
Source package
Source note Claim table Captured Instagram image Reasons PDF