---
title: "BC NDP prepared plan to transfer 400 Crown parcels to First Nations before election call"
description: "Confidential Ministry of Forests documents from September 2026 show the NDP government had mapped out transfers of about 400 Crown land parcels to First Nations through treaty and reconciliation agreements."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ndp-crown-parcels-first-nations-oct16-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T18:42:29.720Z"
---

Confidential BC Ministry of Forests documents, dated September 10, 2026, outlined a plan to transfer about 400 Crown land parcels to First Nations through existing treaty and reconciliation agreements, Daily Hive Vancouver reported on October 16. Premier David Eby confirmed the number at a press conference on October 15, the day Northern Beat first reported on the documents.

The documents set out four proposed changes to the Forest Act. The main change would allow up to 5% of the annual allowable timber cut in a given area to be removed from the harvest base without triggering compensation payments to timber licence holders. The same 5% threshold already applied to parks and conservation areas. A separate 5% allowance existed for access purposes such as highways, pipelines, and power lines, and the documents proposed keeping the combined ceiling at 10%.

The Ministry of Forests documents were prepared less than two weeks before Eby called a snap election on September 22, 2026. Participants in the consultation process were required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Eby defended that requirement as routine for sensitive government work.

At his October 15 press conference, Eby said some of the 400 commitments were more than a decade old and had been publicly discussed as part of treaty negotiations. He said the transfers would reduce pressure on the provincial budget but gave no combined area for the parcels and no figure for the anticipated savings.

The documents stated that 80% of First Nations' annual timber harvesting allowance in British Columbia is held through affiliated businesses, with 20% held directly. The legislative schedule in the documents called for a cabinet decision in July 2026, consultations in Fall 2026, and legislation in Spring 2027.

Wes Mussio of the Homes Not Bank Machines Coalition called on the government to release full details before voting day. Daily Hive Vancouver quoted Mussio: "Voters have a right to know what a government intends to do before they give it a mandate, not after." Mussio also said the plan "sends a chilling message to business" because deals on Crown lands could affect forestry, mining, and other resource ventures.

Eby said the transfers would "enable forestry to go ahead in a number of different parts of the province" as well as reduce budget pressure, without providing figures to support either claim.

Advance voting is open from October 16 to 21 at locations listed at [Elections BC](/bc/provincial-2026/races/mla), and general voting day is October 24, 2026. [David Eby's candidate page](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/david-eby) lists his district and the BC NDP's party page is at [/bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp](/bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp).

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