British Columbians Strongly Support Protecting Private Property: Poll (News Release)

SURREY – A new poll finds that 78% of British Columbians say the B.C. Supreme Court’s Cowichan decision will hurt B.C.’s economy by undermining property rights. The decision granted Aboriginal title over approximately 800 acres of private land in Richmond – including farms, small businesses, and individual homes. Opposition crosses every region and every political party.

The poll was commissioned by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), Canada’s largest construction association.

According to the poll, the Cowichan decision has heightened concerns about private property not just in Richmond, but across B.C.

“Farmers, ranchers, small businesses and homeowners are struggling to understand the implications of this decision on land values, on when, and how, they can sell their properties, and on how projects get approved – there is a real risk that if the Government is not clear on its policy approach and what all of this means, B.C. will become uninvestable,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President and CEO.

The poll’s findings paint a clear picture:

• 80% of British Columbians believe that governments must protect private property
• 75% believe that it is not fair for the Courts to change the rules around property ownership
• 78% of British Columbians say the Cowichan decision will hurt B.C.’s economy by undermining property rights certainty
• 78% do not believe that First Nations should be given a veto over development projects in their traditional territories – including 69% of NDP core voters and 82% of swing voters
• 73% believe private property ownership in B.C. is now uncertain, including 58% of NDP core voters
• 90% of British Columbians believe that people fighting to protect private property are not motivated by racism

"These numbers tell a simple story: British Columbians understand that when courts can change the rules and hand rights to your land or your home you worked so hard for, to someone else in a trial you didn't know was happening, something is going badly wrong," said Gardner, noting Montrose Properties, a large landowner in the Cowichan/Richmond lands, was not notified of the court proceedings. "This isn't a partisan issue, there’s a strong consensus that cuts across every region, every age group, and every political party.”

“The strength of our democracy is respectful and robust debate on a wide range of issues that results in policies that are fair and strike the right balance,” said Gardner. “Getting economic reconciliation right is the key to our long-term prosperity, so it is imperative that Premier Eby engage all British Columbians in an open and transparent discussion on how we can work together to build shared prosperity.”

ICBA is calling on the Eby Government to: repeal the flawed Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA); repeal Section 8.1.3 of the Interpretation Act that directs every law in B.C. be made consistent with a United Nations Declaration; reinvigorate the treaty process to deliver clarity, certainty and finality with First Nations; legislate clear protections for fee-simple private property rights; and do all of this transparently, and with greater public engagement.

“By doing otherwise, Premier Eby risks undermining the broad public support for economic reconciliation and sowing division, uncertainty and confusion where there should be none,” said Gardner.

The full poll results are available HERE.

Survey Methodology: One Persuades surveyed 1,005 B.C. adults online, February 21–24, 2026, using a nationally representative panel. Margin of error ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Results weighted by age, gender, region, language, and past provincial vote (Statistics Canada).