Image: S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance / Roughly 90 per cent of B.C. heritage sites are on Indigenous land.

By Alyssa Conti

HERITAGE CONSERVATION ACT

B.C. municipalities call for discourse before provincial changes to Heritage Conservation Act

Sep 24, 2025 | 10:10 AM

VICTORIA — The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) is now asking the province to take a beat before making changes to the Heritage Conservation Act, at least until they have meaningful discussions with local governments.

“We want to be very clear, UBCM recognizes and supports the importance of archeological conservation, particularly as it relates to Indigenous values,” said UBCM President Trish Mandewo.

“But while the Province took seriously its obligation to work with Indigenous groups in developing the legislation, engagement with local governments was largely disregarded.”

The Heritage Conservation Act oversees archaeological assessment and permitting at all cultural heritage sites in B.C.

Local governments have raised concerns about the impact on the cost and length of the permitting process for home and building construction.

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“To describe the Province’s effort to engage with local governments as woefully insufficient would be an understatement,” added Mandewo.

UBCM states that engagement at the municipal level consisted of a single three-hour webinar in mid-August, during which the province shared high-level information about its proposed changes.

“British Columbians deserve to understand the province’s intentions and to have an opportunity to provide input – doing the work behind closed doors in secrecy is not setting these important legislative changes up for success.”

The UBCM conference is set to run until Friday, September 26.