New documents show that the B.C. government is planning to transfer more than 120,000 hectares of provincial Crown land to First Nations.
The plan involves about 30 parcels of Crown land across the province. Some of the land includes important areas and landmarks near Victoria, including Hatley Castle. The total amount of land is more than twice the size of the City of Toronto and about 300 times larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
If the transfers happen, the land would become “treaty lands.” This means the land would have a special legal status and would not be controlled by local zoning rules in the same way as other land.
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B.C. Government Land Transfer to First Nations
Background History
The recent B.C. documents are the result of a treaty process that has been developing for decades. When B.C. joined Canada in 1871, most of the province was not covered by treaties with First Nations. This left many Indigenous land-rights issues unresolved.
In the 1990s, B.C., Canada and First Nations created a formal treaty process. It was made to settle questions about land ownership, compensation, resources and self-government.
One group involved is the Te’mexw Treaty Association, which represents five First Nations on southern Vancouver Island. Negotiations with B.C. and Canada began in 1995. In 2015, the parties reached an Agreement-in-Principle that included land transfers as part of future treaties.
The recent documents therefore do not represent a brand-new plan. They provide more detail about Crown land that has been identified for possible transfer as part of these long-running negotiations.
Recent Documents
Initially discovered by B.C. journalist Bob Mackin, the information was released on August 10, 2026 in the Public Accounts for 2025/26.
The proposed transfers are part of the B.C. government’s ongoing agreements and negotiations with First Nations. The newly revealed documents show how much land could be transferred and highlight some of the areas that could be affected.
In total, this adds to 135,425 hectares (approximately 334,642 acres), which includes locations such as Hatley Castle, Discovery Island Provincial Park, and Royal Roads University among others.
The list notes a variety of land transfers under section 28, “Contingent Liabilities and Contractual Obligations— Continued.” The sizes of land to be transferred ranges from 45,789 hectares in Kitsumkalum to 47 hectares in Tla-o-qui-aht. Respectively, these areas correlate with near Terrace and the west of Vancouver Island.
The plan has received criticism from B.C. Conservative Party.
“Recent media reports and government disclosures reveal that up to 24 million acres of B.C. Crown land… could be up for grabs.” – Conservative Party of British Columbia wrote in a media release
“There will be nothing left of B.C. by the time the NDP are finished with their plan to giveaway land that rightfully belongs to the people of British Columbia” – B.C. Conservative Party Leader Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay wrote in a social media post on Monday.
Which Areas Could Be Affected?
The Public Accounts, released today, include a list of provincial Crown land to be transferred to First Nations. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/ShuegO8HH6
— Bob Mackin (@bobmackin) August 10, 2026
The list includes 21 different areas, all varying in sizes. No maps have yet been released to note the areas that are specifically affected.
This is a developing story. Updates will be made as soon as information becomes available.
