Premier David Eby claims Bill 15 is about building schools and hospitals. But beneath the surface, it’s a Trojan horse—one that could bulldoze environmental protections, override Indigenous rights, and accelerate fossil fuel expansion under the guise of progress.

This bill may sound like it’s necessary for B.C. to meet our growing infrastructure needs, but it hands sweeping, unchecked powers to the provincial cabinet that could have dangerous implications for our land, water, and democracy.

And this isn’t the first time Premier David Eby has tried to grant his government extraordinary new powers.

Déjà Vu: A Pattern of Power Grabs

Earlier this year, the Premier introduced Bill 7, a controversial proposal that would have given his cabinet the ability to change any law without approval of the B.C. legislature for up to two years.

Bill 7 faced immediate backlash and was so unpopular, Eby was forced to scrap it just weeks after introducing it.

Now he’s exploiting the Canada-first sentiment once again to push forward another Bill that would afford him even more unprecedented power — Bill 15.

What Is Bill 15 — and Why Should We Be Worried?

Bill 15 would empower Eby’s cabinet to bypass environmental assessments, overrule local governments and fast track approvals for projects they deem “provincially significant.”

This designation could be made behind closed doors by cabinet — with no clear criteria in law, no public transparency, and no meaningful consultation with First Nations or communities.

While this designation could include public infrastructure like schools — it could also include mines, hydro dams, roads, or industrial facilities.

The government claims projects like LNG terminals and pipelines are excluded. But that exclusion isn’t written into the law. There is nothing stopping this or a future government from adding LNG-related projects — or the hydro projects needed to power them — under the guise of “significant.”

In fact, the legislation doesn’t define what a “provincially significant project” even is. It leaves that decision entirely up to the Premier and cabinet. The legislation is vague by design — and the powers it grants go far beyond public infrastructure.

Fast-Tracked Permits, Delayed Oversight

Bill 15 reshuffles the permitting line — putting chosen projects at the front and pushing everything else back. It also revives the controversial “qualified professional” model, which lets industry-friendly consultants (not public regulators) sign off on permits with less government oversight.

This is something the BC NDP fought against for years and now, here they are, reversing course to reinstate a model they know is broken by design to favour corporations over the public’s interest.

This approach has already led to environmental disasters in B.C. A 2018 report by Mark Haddock found that professional reliance erodes accountability and lets corporate interests self-regulate — often with no consequences when things go wrong.

Now imagine that same model applied to a new mine, or a hydroelectric project built not to decarbonize B.C.’s buildings, but to power fracking and liquefied fossil gas exports.

That’s not climate leadership. That’s greenwashing industrial expansion.

Indigenous Nations Condemn Bill 15

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has come out strongly against Bill 15 (and its sibling, Bill 14), stating that it “completely disregards the rights of Indigenous peoples” and violates the spirit of BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

UBCIC wasn’t even consulted before the bill dropped. That alone should be a red flag.

As Grand Chief Stewart Phillip states:

“Unilateralism is not acceptable. Throughout our history we have been advocating that laws, policies and practices need to reflect and respect First Nations’ title, rights and jurisdiction. The Declaration Act was a turning point in our fight, and the Province must follow its own law.

Instead, the Province is now stepping back and has admitted that they’ve violated their own policies and processes that guide implementation of the Declaration Act in developing the Bills.

The Province is saying ‘trust us’ and that they won’t misuse the unfettered power these Bills provide; however, considering the Bills were created without consultation and cooperation and that the Province continues to refuse any amendments, it is unclear what this trust would be based on.

If the Province wants to fast-track projects, these Bills are not going to do that, they are setting the stage for bigger fights.”

This Isn’t Just About One Bill

Is this the kind of “democracy” and climate “leadership” we want in B.C.?

Do we trust unqualified cabinet ministers to decide whether a project is ecologically safe to move forward, without transparency or public input?

Do we want a regulatory system that cuts corners for polluters, or one that puts ecosystems and people first?
Does “elbows up” mean trampling the rights of communities and First Nations?

“Red tape” is just another word for environmental protection, public consultation, and consent. We can’t afford to let creeping authoritarianism and corporate influence ruin the places we love and call home.

Take Action Now

Bill 15 is moving fast. It’s up to us to push back. Here are some letter writing tools you can use to send a message today:

Stop Bill 15 – Protect Ecosystems and Indigenous Rights

Say No to Eby’s power grab

We can build the infrastructure we need — without building a system that silences communities and steamrolls the environment.

Let’s kill this bill before it’s used against us.