An alpine lake in a wide meadow, with rounded mountains behind it in the South Chilcotin.

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EDITORIAL · CROWN LAND · VANCOUVER-LITTLE MOUNTAIN

Asked whether the public can see how B.C. decides what Crown land and money to hand over, Christine Boyle told the legislature: “The simple answer is that no.”

Christine Boyle, now the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and the NDP candidate in Vancouver-Little Mountain, was Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in 2025. Asked whether people can see the criteria behind agreements that transfer public money and Crown land, she said the agreements are public but the negotiation mandates are confidential. She announced the shíshálh agreement months after NDP ministers signed it before the 2024 election, and she took a request to disclose the land’s value under advisement.

Backcountry Coalition ·

Christine Boyle in a green blazer, smiling, seated at a signing table in Victoria on 26 February 2025, when she was Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
Christine BoyleBC NDP candidate, Vancouver-Little Mountain · Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
First elected
19 October 2024
Indigenous Relations minister
November 2024 to 17 July 2025
Asked if the criteria are public
“The simple answer is that no”
Asked to disclose the land’s value
“We’ll take it under advisement”
Photo: Province of British Columbia (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Victoria, 26 February 2025

Christine Boyle, the NDP candidate in Vancouver-Little Mountain, was B.C.’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation from November 2024 until July 2025, and is now the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.23 On 30 April 2025, a Conservative MLA asked her in the legislature whether the public could see the criteria behind agreements that hand over public money and Crown land. She answered: “The simple answer is that no.”1

That answer came in a long afternoon of questions about the shíshálh Nation agreement on the Sunshine Coast. NDP ministers signed it 36 days before the 2024 election was called, and voters were not told about it until 29 January 2025, when Christine Boyle announced it.465 The same afternoon she said land transfer agreements “don’t typically include the assessed value of the land”, and when she was asked to disclose it, she said she would take it under advisement.1

01 Asked whether the public can see the criteria behind B.C.’s land and money deals, Christine Boyle answered “The simple answer is that no”

The record

  • Scott McInnis, the Conservative MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, led the opposition’s questions on her ministry’s budget on 30 April 2025.1
  • He said the government was “spending public money here — tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of millions of dollars in some cases — and transferring vast amounts of public land.”1
  • He asked: “Is it publicly available that people can see how these agreements are formed and based on what criteria?”1
  • Christine Boyle answered: “The simple answer is that no…. The agreements are public, but … our negotiation mandates are confidential to protect the public interest.”1

The exchange took several turns. Scott McInnis first asked how the government decides what each First Nation receives. “I think it’s fair that the public understands what the criteria are for the transfer of public money to various First Nations in these agreements,” he said. “I feel like the minister is avoiding this.” Christine Boyle replied that the province has “guidelines, policies and parameters that guide our negotiations” and that “negotiations require a certain degree of confidentiality.”1

He asked again whether those criteria are public. Her full answer was: “The simple answer is that no…. The agreements are public, but as I’m sure the member, again, can understand, our negotiation mandates are confidential to protect the public interest, just like any business or government-to-government negotiation would be.”1

Exhibit 01

Hansard · 30 April 2025, afternoon, Issue 51 · Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation estimates · 5:45–5:50 p.m.

lims.leg.bc.ca
From Hansard for 30 April 2025. Scott McInnis: Again, are these criteria public knowledge? I guess I'll try it again here with this question. Is it publicly available that people can see how these agreements are formed and based on what criteria? Hon. Christine Boyle, with two passages boxed: The simple answer is that no…. The agreements are public, but as I'm sure the member, again, can understand, our negotiation mandates are confidential to protect the public interest, just like any business or government-to-government negotiation would be.
The question and the whole answer, as the Hansard prints them.1 Source: lims.leg.bc.ca

He then asked whether the criteria for “the size and the scope of the land that’s transferred to nations” are made public. Christine Boyle described the steps of a land transfer, from identifying areas of interest to surveys, and did not say whether those criteria are published.1

Vaughn Palmer, the Vancouver Sun’s legislative columnist, wrote in August 2025 that her answer was “slamming the door on further disclosures.” He added: “I have no doubt that she was speaking for a premier and cabinet inclined to disclose as little as possible about the deals they make with Indigenous nations.”9

02 Christine Boyle announced the shíshálh agreement 166 days after it was signed, and told the legislature it could have been announced before the election

The record

  • The agreement renewing the 2018 shíshálh Foundation Agreement is dated 16 August 2024. Murray Rankin and Nathan Cullen signed it for the Province.4
  • It commits the Province to transfer six square kilometres of Crown land and, in Christine Boyle’s figure, “up to $79.4 million” over five years.41
  • The writ for the 2024 election was issued 36 days after the signing, and the vote came 64 days after it.6
  • Christine Boyle announced the agreement on 29 January 2025. Her release gave no dollar figure and no signing date.5
  1. 16 Aug 2024NDP ministers Murray Rankin and Nathan Cullen sign the agreement.4
  2. 21 Sep 2024The writ is issued for the provincial election.6
  3. 19 Oct 2024British Columbians vote. The agreement has not been announced.6
  4. 29 Jan 2025Christine Boyle, now the minister, announces it.5
  5. 30 Apr 2025In the legislature, she says it “could have” been announced before the election.1

Asked why the announcement took months, Christine Boyle said the renewal “was announced as soon as we could after ministers were sworn in and briefed and we could prepare a joint announcement and shared celebration. As I’ve said before, we acknowledge that we could have found a way to announce the renewal before the election. My commitment is to provide more timely information about these types of agreements.”1

Exhibit 02

Hansard · 30 April 2025, afternoon, Issue 51 · 4:20 p.m.

lims.leg.bc.ca
From Hansard for 30 April 2025. Hon. Christine Boyle: The foundation agreement continues the implementation of the 2018 foundation agreement. The foundation agreement renewal was announced as soon as we could after ministers were sworn in and briefed and we could prepare a joint announcement and shared celebration. Boxed: As I've said before, we acknowledge that we could have found a way to announce the renewal before the election. The answer continues: My commitment is to provide more timely information about these types of agreements to support public confidence in the work that we're doing together with communities, First Nations and non–First Nations alike.
Her answer on the timing of the announcement.1 Source: lims.leg.bc.ca

Scott McInnis replied that the ministry “had five weeks between the signing and the drop of the writ”, and that “it does have the appearance of being hidden from the public.”1 The Province’s own written answers, updated in October 2025, repeat the concession and print the questions residents sent in, including: “How come you kept your talks a secret till after the election?”7

In February 2025, Christine Boyle told The Globe and Mail that the announcement had been held back to allow time for a community celebration. She also said: “I understand that members of the community want to see more engagement from us on this, and that’s something we’re committed to.”8 Vaughn Palmer wrote that there was “little sign of contrition” from her when she was challenged over the late release.9 Our earlier editorial sets out what the agreement commits the Province to.16

03 Asked to disclose the value of about 1,500 acres of Crown land, Christine Boyle said she would take it under advisement

The record

  • The agreement commits the Province to identify 100 hectares of Crown land for cultural use and 500 hectares for economic development, six square kilometres in all.4
  • Christine Boyle said the land transfer agreements “don’t typically include the assessed value of the land, but they do include detailed maps.”1
  • Asked to make the value public, she said: “I really appreciate the member’s perspective on this matter, and we’ll take it under advisement.”1

Scott McInnis put it this way: when “1,500 acres, thereabouts, of quite valuable land in this province is transferred from, essentially, all of us publicly to a nation,” the public should know what it would sell for on the open market.1

Exhibit 03

Hansard · 30 April 2025, afternoon, Issue 51 · 4:55–5:05 p.m.

lims.leg.bc.ca
From Hansard for 30 April 2025. Hon. Christine Boyle: Section 3.9 of the agreement outlines that the province and shíshálh will conclude a land transfer agreement to enable the transfer of the cultural and economic lands. That land transfer agreement will contain detailed information as to the lands. Boxed: These land transfer agreements don't typically include the assessed value of the land, but they do include detailed maps. Scott McInnis asks that the value of the land being transferred be disclosed publicly. Hon. Christine Boyle, boxed: I'll just say I really appreciate the member's perspective on this matter, and we'll take it under advisement.
Her answer, the question that followed it, and her reply.1 Source: lims.leg.bc.ca

04 The agreement Christine Boyle defended has no public-access term for the land, and the Province says only that it will take access “into account”

The record

  • Section 3.8 of the agreement requires engagement with local government and a consideration of third-party interests and “existing authorized uses”. It does not guarantee public access to the land.4
  • The Province’s written answers say interests “may include maintaining public access to certain parcels, and we will take that into account.”7
  • The same answer says a joint land use plan “may result in changes to permitted uses and access to Crown lands.”7
Exhibit 04

Province of B.C. · shíshálh Foundation Agreement renewal, questions and answers · updated 8 October 2025 · PDF page 26

gov.bc.ca (PDF)
From the Province's questions and answers on the shíshálh agreement. Two passages are boxed: We recognize that interests may include maintaining public access to certain parcels, and we will take that into account when negotiating the terms of the land transfers. And: the joint plan may result in changes to permitted uses and access to Crown lands.
The Province’s answer to residents who asked about public access to the land.7 Source: gov.bc.ca (PDF)

When she announced the agreement, Christine Boyle promised “engagement with local governments, interest holders and Sunshine Coast residents so that everyone is informed about the work.”5 Asked about private property, she told The Globe and Mail: “This won’t impact private property rights.” Sean McAllister, a retired lawyer with the Pender Harbour and Area Residents Association, told the paper he had “grave concerns” about relying on “just a statement from the government”.8

05 While Christine Boyle was minister, the guide outfitters lobbied her three times to put the Maanulth treaty’s access language into every First Nations agreement

The record

  • The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia filed four lobbying reports naming Christine Boyle as Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, between December 2024 and April 2025.10
  • Three of them carry the same request: “In all treaties, agreements, land entitlements or other agreements with First Nations that access language in the Maanulth Treaty be used.”10
  • The association asked that a displaced tenure holder be compensated where access is not provided.10
  • A meeting was arranged for three of the four reports, including the one of 21 January 2025.10
Exhibit 05

Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists · Lobbying Activity Report 1647-39257 · 21 January 2025

lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca
From lobbying activity report 1647-39257. Organization, boxed: Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia. Lobbying activity date, boxed: 2025-01-21. Arranged a meeting: Yes. Posted date: 2025-02-11. In-house lobbyist: Scott Ellis. Senior public office holder lobbied, boxed: Christine Boyle, Minister, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
Who lobbied, when, and who was lobbied.10 Source: lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca
Exhibit 06

Lobbying Activity Report 1647-39257 · specific topic of the lobbying

lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca
From the same report, boxed: access language in the Maanulth Treaty be used. The full entry: In all treaties, agreements, land entitlements or other agreements with First Nations that access language in the Maanulth Treaty be used. If access not provided to the outfitter then compensation payable to the displaced tenure holder. Treating all British Columbians equally and fairly will truly advance reconciliation.
What the association asked for, in its own words.10 Source: lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca

The registry records what a lobbyist asked for, not what the minister said in reply. The shíshálh agreement she announced in January 2025 carries no public-access term for the Crown land it transfers.4 In May 2025, Rob Botterell, the BC Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, told her in question period that the government had “displayed a troubling pattern of neglecting public consultation.” She answered that “engagement and consultation are important pieces of how we do all of our work here.”11

06 As housing minister, Christine Boyle’s ministry rewrote a municipal bylaw by provincial order, and her BC Builds program had finished 72 homes in two years

The record

  • On 7 April 2026 the Province changed the District of West Vancouver’s bylaw by order, after the district delivered 58 of its 220 first-year homes.13
  • Linda Hepner, the Conservative housing critic, called Christine Boyle’s Bill 25 “an overreach by this NDP government, undermining local democracy.”12
  • In July 2026 she wrote to Pitt Meadows that she “may consider compliance measures”. Mayor Nicole Macdonald called the letter “insulting, somewhat threatening, but also completely out of touch.”14
  • Asked in March 2026 how many BC Builds homes were finished, she said: “As of now, 72 units are complete.”15
Exhibit 07

Hansard · 10 March 2026, afternoon, Issue 138 · Housing and Municipal Affairs estimates · 3:25 p.m.

lims.leg.bc.ca
From Hansard for 10 March 2026. Hon. Christine Boyle: BC Builds was launched in February 2024, two years ago. It had a goal of starting construction in 12 to 18 months. Boxed: As of now, 72 units are complete, followed by: 2,717 more are in construction and another 1,570 are in development.
Her answer to the Conservative critic’s question about finished, occupied homes.15 Source: lims.leg.bc.ca

Linda Hepner replied that “72 complete in two years doesn’t seem particularly fast.” Christine Boyle said the program’s goal was to start construction quickly, and that its commitment was 9,000 units starting construction by 2029, with “some projects” being re-paced.15

07 Five questions about Crown land that Christine Boyle can answer before Vancouver-Little Mountain votes

Questions for Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and NDP candidate in Vancouver-Little Mountain

  1. Will you publish the criteria the Province uses to decide how much Crown land and money goes into an agreement with a First Nation?
  2. Did the Province ever disclose the assessed value of the six square kilometres of Crown land in the shíshálh agreement, after you took the request under advisement?
  3. Will a re-elected NDP government announce every land agreement within 30 days of signing, including during an election period?
  4. Should every land transfer agreement contain a written public-access term, as the guide outfitters asked your ministry?
  5. Did you or your ministry reply to the guide outfitters’ request to use the Maanulth treaty’s access language, and what did you tell them?

She said the agreements are public. The criteria behind them are not.

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Asked whether the public can see how B.C. decides what Crown land and money to hand over, Christine Boyle told the legislature: “The simple answer is that no.”

Christine Boyle, the NDP candidate in Vancouver-Little Mountain, was Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in 2025. Her full answer: the agreements are public, but “our negotiation mandates are confidential to protect the public interest.”

NDP ministers signed the shíshálh agreement 36 days before the 2024 election was called. She announced it in January 2025 and said it could have been announced before the election.

Asked to disclose the value of about 1,500 acres of Crown land, she said she would take it under advisement.

Ask your candidates to make the criteria for Crown land deals public.

backcountry.cx/editorials/christine-boyle-crown-land-secrecy/

#BCpoli #BCElection #VancouverLittleMountain #CrownLand

Sources

  1. ↩ Hansard, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Wednesday, 30 April 2025, afternoon sitting, Issue No. 51, Committee of Supply, estimates of the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Minister Christine Boyle and Scott McInnis, from 4:15 p.m. (the signing date and the announcement), 4:55 to 5:05 p.m. (the land and its value) and 5:40 to 5:55 p.m. (the criteria and the negotiation mandates). lims.leg.bc.ca
  2. ↩ Province of British Columbia, news release 2025PREM0071-000686, “Updated cabinet sworn in to meet the needs of British Columbians in a changing world”, 17 July 2025: Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs; Spencer Chandra-Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. And the Province’s biography of Christine Boyle: first elected in 2024, appointed Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation in November 2024. news.gov.bc.ca · biography
  3. ↩ Elections BC, 2026 Provincial General Election: candidate list, read 15 October 2026: Christine Boyle, BC NDP, Vancouver-Little Mountain; final voting day scheduled for 24 October 2026. elections.bc.ca
  4. ↩ shíshálh Nation / British Columbia Foundation Agreement: Addendum Regarding Medium-Term Milestones, dated 16 August 2024: the Province represented by the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship; sections 3.6 and 3.7 (100 hectares for cultural use and 500 hectares for economic development); section 3.8 (engagement with local government and consideration of third-party interests and existing authorized uses); the signature page (Murray Rankin and Nathan Cullen for the Province). gov.bc.ca (PDF)
  5. ↩ Province of British Columbia, news release 2025IRR0003-000057, “shíshálh Nation, B.C. renew landmark reconciliation agreement”, Sechelt, 29 January 2025, quoting Minister Christine Boyle. It gives no dollar figure and no signing date. news.gov.bc.ca
  6. ↩ 2024 British Columbia general election, Wikipedia, read 15 October 2026, citing Elections BC: writ issued 21 September 2024; general voting day 19 October 2024. wikipedia.org
  7. ↩ Province of British Columbia, shíshálh Foundation Agreement renewal: questions and answers, published 15 May 2025, updated 8 October 2025: the answer on announcement timing and the residents’ questions under it (page 2), and the answer on Crown land transfers and public access (PDF page 26). gov.bc.ca (PDF)
  8. ↩ Justine Hunter, The Globe and Mail, “B.C. government announces First Nations land pact on Sunshine Coast, months after deal was inked”, 24 February 2025: Minister Christine Boyle on the delay, private property and engagement; Sean McAllister of the Pender Harbour and Area Residents Association. theglobeandmail.com
  9. ↩ Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, “B.C. NDP sticking to secretive ways, if replies to complaints over shíshálh deal are any indication”, 20 August 2025. vancouversun.com
  10. ↩ Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia, Lobbying Activity Reports filed by the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (designated filer Scott Ellis) naming Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: 1647-38585 (2 December 2024, meeting arranged), 1647-39257 (21 January 2025, meeting arranged, posted 11 February 2025), 1647-41120 (10 March 2025, meeting arranged) and 1647-42015 (14 April 2025). 38585 · 39257 · 41120 · 42015
  11. ↩ Hansard, Monday, 26 May 2025, afternoon sitting, Issue No. 69, oral questions: Rob Botterell (BC Green, Saanich North and the Islands) on the Declaration Act and on consultation, and Minister Christine Boyle’s answers, 2:10 to 2:15 p.m. lims.leg.bc.ca
  12. ↩ Hansard, Thursday, 30 October 2025, afternoon sitting, Issue No. 95, second reading of Bill 25, the Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act: Linda Hepner, Conservative critic for Housing. lims.leg.bc.ca
  13. ↩ Province of British Columbia, news release 2026HMA0038-000377, order to the District of West Vancouver, 7 April 2026: “delivered only 58 of its 220 net-new units year 1 housing target”; the provincial order changing the district’s bylaw. news.gov.bc.ca
  14. ↩ Neil Corbett, Maple Ridge News, “Minister ‘threatens’ Pitt Meadows over missed housing targets”, 27 July 2026, quoting Minister Christine Boyle’s letter of 14 July and Mayor Nicole Macdonald. mapleridgenews.com
  15. ↩ Hansard, Tuesday, 10 March 2026, afternoon sitting, Issue No. 138, estimates of the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs: Linda Hepner and Minister Christine Boyle on BC Builds, 3:25 to 3:35 p.m. lims.leg.bc.ca
  16. ↩ Backcountry Coalition, editorial on the 2024 shíshálh agreement. backcountry.cx

Sources were read on 15 and 16 October 2026. Photo: Province of British Columbia, BC Gov Photos on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.