MLA Kirkpatrick reintroduces bill to remove discriminatory covenants on land titles

Karin Kirkpatrick, MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano, has reintroduced a private member’s bill for a second time to remove discriminatory covenants in land title documents that restrict people of colour from purchasing or occupying land.

“Racial segregation should belong in a history book, not in any legal document in 2023. Unfortunately, racial covenants are still common on property titles across British Columbia,” said Kirkpatrick.

“Documents that discriminate against a person based on race, ancestry or place of origin are not only offensive and exclusionary, but they also violate the Human Rights Code. Striking out this decades-old language is not enough as it is still visible and hurtful to read. These covenants should be fully removed to rectify historical wrongs, because bigotry and xenophobia have no place in our society today.”

Despite being void and unenforceable, racial covenants are still common across B.C. An example of such covenants reads, “no person of the African or Asiatic race or of African or Asiatic Descent (except servants of the occupier of the premises in residence) shall reside or be allowed to remain on the premises.” The Land Title Amendment Act, 2023 requires registrars to cancel and remove such discriminating covenants.

“British Columbians, no matter their backgrounds, deserve a province where all can feel welcome and safe in their communities,” added Kirkpatrick. “Equality and diversity should be a non-partisan issue but the NDP gave this bill the cold shoulder when I introduced it for the first time last November. I urge Premier Eby to turn his anti-racism slogan into action and support the removal of such shameful covenants, especially at a time when hate crimes are running rampant in B.C.”