HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 The Interpretation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 238, is amended by adding the following section:

Section 35 of Constitution Act, 1982 and Declaration

8.1 (1) In this section:

"Declaration" has the same meaning as in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act;

"Indigenous peoples" has the same meaning as in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act;

"regulation" has the same meaning as in the Regulations Act.

(2) For certainty, every enactment must be construed as upholding and not abrogating or derogating from the aboriginal and treaty rights of Indigenous peoples as recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

(3) Every Act and regulation must be construed as being consistent with the Declaration.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.