4 hours Ago By Wolf Depner
B.C. Premier David Eby promised a B.
C.-first approach following threats by U.S.
president-elect Donald Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican goods unless border security improves. "For me, a British Columbia-first focus will be my priority," he said Wednesday at the provincial legislature prior to a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other provincial and territorial leaders. Eby added he will assemble business and labour groups to discuss ways to protect B.
C. jobs and families. "These tariffs are unjustified and they will hurt Americans just as much as they hurt Canadians.
" The threatened tariffs, would devastate key industries in British Columbia if Trump were to follow through. But with key Canadian industries dispersed among certain provinces and regions — forestry and energy in western Canada, auto-manufacturing in Ontario, for example — it creates potential for conflict about which industries to protect. The unpopularity of Trudeau my also hurt Canada's negotiating position.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, meanwhile, has publicly refused to describe the tariffs unjustified, and urging the federal government to address border issues. "It's important to recognize that these tariffs are absolutely unjustified," Eby said, before noting provinces including B.C.
have consistently raised concerns about border security with Ottawa. "Now, it's being raised by (Trump)," he said. "It doesn't justify the tariffs.
It is a serious issue that Ottawa needs to deal with and now they have one more reason to deal with it." Eby added he sees Ottawa, the provinces and the territories are on the same page. "There are 13 of us plus the Prime Minister," he said.
"It's a big group of people, different political perspectives, but on this issue of ensuring that we are protecting the people in our country from these unjustified tariffs, I believe we are completely in line on that." More to come..
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