Canada’s Supreme Court will hear British Columbia’s appeal of the Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner) ruling, which found the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) incorporates UNDRIP and creates immediate, legally enforceable obligations. The case follows a 2023 BC Supreme Court decision that the province’s automatic online mineral claim staking system breached the constitutional duty to consult Indigenous nations. Mining executives say the evolving interpretation of DRIPA is injecting significant uncertainty into BC mineral tenure and project approval processes, with no hearing date yet set.

Midway through 2026, the Institution of Civil Engineers is moving to formalise its next phase of work after a first half-year focused on asset maintenance, ethics, intelligence and stewardship across the profession. Trustees are steering efforts towards more data‑driven asset management, with emphasis on whole‑life performance of critical infrastructure and clearer ethical frameworks for use of digital tools and automation. For practitioners, this signals tighter expectations on maintenance strategies, evidence‑based decision‑making and governance around intelligent infrastructure systems.

The Institution of Civil Engineers has revised and modernised its Code of Professional Conduct to tighten expectations on ethical behaviour, competence and accountability for members and registrants. The refreshed code is expected to place greater emphasis on managing safety risks, transparent decision-making on major infrastructure projects, and responsible use of emerging tools such as digital twins and AI-based design optimisation. Firms will need to review internal procedures, training and project governance to ensure alignment with the updated professional and regulatory obligations.