Tuesday February 18, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
“This is going to be the issue of the session,” said Premier David Eby today about dealing with the tariff threat from the United States. “It is our primary focus.”
“Two months ago it would have sounded absurd,” said Eby about US President Trump’s words and actions toward Canada.
“It’s a moment when we can only rely on ourselves,” said Eby today.
“The president decided to do this to us,” said Eby.
Last week Eby said after his visit to meet with senior White House staffers in Washington that he would be taking the President at his word as to the seriousness of Canada becoming the so-called 51st state.
“If we can avoid it we will,” said Eby, otherwise there will be a trade war.
Protecting BC supports and economy:
Health care, education and new schools require a strong economy, the premier outlined.
“The threat is already manifesting through the uncertainty that the President has created here. We can’t go back to the old way of doing business. We need to diversify our markets,” said Eby today.
War imagery:
This afternoon after the Throne Speech, Eby was asked by one of the Legislative Press Gallery reporters as to the use of ‘war imagery’ in rhetoric and speeches about how BC will deal with the threat of tariffs.
This comes from a generation that has not experienced first-hand things like the Great Depression or either of the two world wars (or apparently have not heard first-hand stories from relatives or elderly people in their communities).
Eby seemed surprised at the question, and tried to bridge an understanding of the sense of urgency with an example of how COVID was a global threat and everyone pulled together.
“We talk about the moments in history when British Columbians and Canadians came together. Often they were global threats,” said Eby.
“We need everybody to come together,” he said, mentioning labour, business and Indigenous.
“This feels like an unprovoked attack,” said Eby about Trump’s actions now only one month in office. Eby said there is a feeling of continued threat to Canadian sovereignty.
Evolving response:
“Our response to the threat is an evolving response,” said Eby, given that Trump continues to change his tune or ramp up his threats against Canada.
“It’s reasonable to suggest it might shift again. We’re moving quickly at the speed that government allows, to respond to that,” said BC’s premier.
Acting with urgency:
As mentioned in the Throne Speech today, infrastructure projects will be prioritized to move faster. That will mean purchasing materials ideally before any tariffs are imposed.
Eby noted that it should be “easier to trade with other provinces” than with the US or presumably any other country.
“We’re going to have to be light on our feet to respond to this,” said Eby. Retaliation will be dealt with through legislation, he said.
NDP Government House Leader Mike Farnworth joined Eby for the media scrum after the Throne Speech. The house leader determines the order of legislation and proceedings in the Legislative Assembly.
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- BC Conservatives announce their shadow cabinet (November 20, 2024)
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