Friday January 31, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 11:19 pm | Updated February 1, 2025]
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
On February 1 the day-to-day realities for British Columbians could change a lot.
No one seems to quite know how to absorb all this change so quickly. Trump got elected, he said tariffs would come, Trudeau and various of his ministers took diplomatic steps, councils and meetings and war rooms have been set up at federal and provincial levels.
The tariffs on Canadian exports to the US at a rate of 25% are expected to be announced on Saturday February 1, 2025 with a later date for oil and gas products (said to be February 18, 2025) at a rate of 10%.
That 18-day reprieve on the energy products could be seen to be a result of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s discussion with President Trump in Florida a few weeks ago (something she was chastised for as appearing to be a rogue actor in a way thought to be undermining Canada’s interests).
BC Premier David Eby will address media on February 1.
What is a tariff:
Trump calls ‘tariff’ oine of his favourite words in the dictionary. What is a tariff?
Strictly speaking, the Oxford Dictionary says a tariff is a tax that is paid on goods coming into or going out of a country. The word has been around a long time, and the concept is not really new. Economies for centuries have set conditions on trade with other jurisdictions.
Tariffs are meant to reduce pressure from foreign competition and reduce a trade deficit. They have historically been justified as a means to protect emerging industries and to allow import substitution industrialization (industrializing a nation by replacing imported goods with domestic production).
The Concise Canadian Oxford Dictionary offers this definition: “1a) A duty on a particular class of imports or exports; b) a list of duties or customs to be paid; 2) a table of fixed charges”. When used as a verb: “subject (goods) to a tariff”.
In the Canadian context — including BC — the tariffs that are expected to start tomorrow will be applied in some manner and to an unknown degree.
This is like waiting for a bomb to drop. But most Canadians who have busy lives and many who are struggling just to make ends meet are likely just waiting for the news bomb to drop without much further thought as to adjusting finances or lifestyle. There’s not much room for adjustment for many families.
So there is a sense of foreboding for what may come. How ironic, the literary pathos of a pending weekend of heavy snowfall in the weather forecast for Vancouver Island.
Cabinet committee:
Earlier this week, BC Premier David Eby assembled a 10-member BC cabinet committee on the economy and tariffs, from within his cabinet. Chaired by long-time MLA Ravi Kahlon (currently the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs), these key cabinet ministers have been meeting behind closed doors to review options for a BC response to tariffs on Canadian goods that are exported to the United States — presumably starting tomorrow.
Members of the BC cabinet committee are:
- Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs (chair)
- Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
- Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance
- Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions
- Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food
- Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
- Rick Glumac, Minister of State for Trade
- Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests
- Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals
- Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks
Earlier today, Jobs Minister Gibson was in Toronto with provincial and territorial colleagues, working together to strengthen Canada‘s Free Trade Agreement and stand up for fair trade. “The looming US tariffs pose a serious challenge, but we are tackling them head on to protect British Columbia, Canadian businesses, and jobs. A strong, united response is key to safeguard our economy and securing a fair future for all,” she wrote in social media earlier today.
Also earlier today, Finance Minister Bailey met in Vancouver for over three hours with leading economists (including from major financial institutions) from across the country for the annual BC Economic Outlook meeting where the BC finance minister picks the brains of the most influential and informed economic leaders.
Thoughts for overnight:
Forests Minister Ravi Parmar posted a feel-good message of support to British Columbians in social media this evening. Not quite like ‘knitting to fill the time as soldiers prepare for battle’, but in that genre:
“Tonight, many are going to bed uncertain about what tomorrow will bring. But one thing the people of British Columbia—should know is this: we’ve got your back,” wrote Parmar (MLA for Langford-Highlands).
“Our response to Trump—or anyone who tries to harm our workers and industries—will be tough, strategic, and focused on protecting British Columbians. We won’t back down from defending our people, our economy, and our future.”
Parmar concluded with: “British Columbians are resilient, and together, we’ll face whatever comes our way—head-on.”
The positive sentiments may or may not imply a sense of urgency. And there’s nothing any of us can do.
So it’s a quiet rainy (possibly snowy) night, with a different kind of day coming tomorrow.
===== RELATED:
- BC Premier David Eby on Feb 1 US tariff announcement (February 1, 2025)
- Feb 1 tariff announcement by US President Trump (February 1, 2025)
- BC Finance Minister gets input from top-level economists as US tariffs loom (January 31, 2025)
- Eby appoints BC cabinet committee on economy & tariffs (January 29, 2025)
- Jan 29: Bank of Canada drops interest rate to 3.0% (January 29, 2025)
- Eby appoints BC cabinet committee on economy & tariffs (January 29, 2025)
- Premier Eby continues his tough talk on US tariffs (January 28, 2025)
- Eby delivers tough tariff talk as ministers get mandate letters (January 16, 2025)
- BC Premier Eby on Canada’s strategy around US tariffs (January 15, 2025)
- Canada’s Premiers to discuss tariffs on Feb 12 in Washington DC (January 10, 2025)
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