The MLA for Kamloops South is raising the alarm over the removal of land title records from Kamloops

Despite B.C.’s Forests minister saying just last week his office had reached out to the Land Title Authority to ensure consultation with area First Nations but Todd Stone says the removal of records is not being paused but rather sped up.

“Notwithstanding all of the concerns that have been raised and the pleas for engagement we are moving ahead anyway. We have documentation that indicates that the packing of these documents and the move of these documents was not supposed to start until the end of 2019 or early 2020. We are now told a contractor has been hired and movers are hired and this work is going to begin next week. They are actually doubling down on this.”

Stone says the decision is a slap in the face to the city, First Nations, and regional district who are demanding meaningful consultations.

“This land titles file is a complete and total mess. Doug Donaldson the minister, Connie Fair who is the President and CEO, the Board of the Land Title Authority these people all need to come to Kamloops. They need to sit down with city council. They need to sit down with the TNRD. They need to sit down with First Nations Chiefs. Crazy idea but sit down with the actual people who work in the Land Titles Office and meet with the private registered agents and have a conversation.

He says we have not heard the last from First Nations Chiefs who are not happy with the decision saying those original land title records are crucial for land, title, and water claims.

Despite the promise to ensure consultation the Land Titles and Survey Authority posted the decision to remove the records on its website on April 3rd.

In estimates this week replying to a Todd Stone question Forests minister Doug Donaldson said he was informed verbally of the decision by the office in October of last year.