By Brenna Owen British Columbia’s deputy premier and attorney general, Niki Sharma, said she doesn’t want strides made with the province’s Indigenous rights legislation to get lost amid criticism of the law and questions about its future. Sharma said B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act has led to legislation recognizing Indigenous self-governance over children and families as well as recognizing First Nations as full partners in emergency management. “I don’t want us to forget about that. It’s also been a tool that has unlocked prosperity for people across this province,” she said, noting seven of the 20 projects under consideration for fast-tracking by Ottawa’s major projects office are located in B.C., including three phases of the North Coast Transmission Line. “We are punching above our weight as…






