WATCH: Poilievre says BC 'unusually threatened' by impacts of Aboriginal land claims

NORTH VANCOUVER — Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has argued that because few treaties were signed in British Columbia, the province is "unusually threatened" by the impacts of Aboriginal land claims.

His comments come amid increased uncertainty regarding private property rights due to court rulings such as the Cowichan Decision.

"What's unique about British Columbia is that we haven't had land session treaties like in the Prairies for example," Poilievre said during a press conference in North Vancouver on Thursday, noting that in other parts of Canada, First Nations "ceded claims on large parts of lands in exchange for other things — the land they now do control, financial compensation, and other concessions."

He noted that as a result, BC has "a lot of claims with no session whatsoever."

"That's why BC is unusually threatened by [the Cowichan Decision]," Poilievre continued, "thought there are other parts of the country where this precedent could spill over."

He described BC as "ground zero," noting that "basically every square inch of the province is claimed by one or another First Nation."

"If you take the Cowichan ruling and apply the precedence province-wide," Poilievre claimed, "you could see basically every major BC community threatened by the loss of home ownership that we now face in Richmond."

First Nations have repeatedly clarified that they are not interested in private property.

While many in BC have pointed the finger at the provincial government, Poilievre reminded everyone that the Cowichan case was a federal lawsuit, and that Prime Minister Mark Carney "sets federal policies."

"Why has he kept Litigation Guideline 14 in the Attorney General of Canada's Directive on Civil Litigation Involving Indigenous People?" he asked. "That guideline stops federal lawyers from arguing that fee simple property rights take precedence over all other claims."

While guideline in question was brought in by the Liberal government in 2019, it has stayed on the books since then even as the situation evolved.

Poilievre explained that the Conservatives are hoping to change that via legislation mandating that the federal government argue in court that private property rights are paramount.

MP Jamie Schmale's motion calls on Ottawa to publish a plan within 30 days to protect property rights for Canadians affected by the Cowichan decision and Musqueam agreement, and appoint a special committee to study all legal, constitutional, and political steps that can be taken to protect private property rights in Canada.