Premier David Eby said B.C. will do "whatever it takes" to support British Columbians and "fill in the gaps" of the federal relief response to American tariffs that may come into effect at the beginning of next month.
Eby made that announcement Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 28) in Vancouver, where he said that B.C. will support Ottawa's response.
"We are tough – there is no free lunch here in Canada or in British Columbia," he said.
Eby made these comments as reports from the United States continue to point toward Feb. 1 as the starting date for tariffs of 25 per cent on all Canadian goods entering the United States.
Eby said B.C. will make sure Ottawa lives up to its promises, drawing a comparison between the potential effects of tariffs and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Through COVID-19, we supported businesses here in British Columbia with grants to be able to get through," he said. "The federal government had loans, they provided people support who were laid off through employment insurance. These are the kind of responses we expect through this period."
Eby paired this appeal to Ottawa with a promise to support Ottawa's support in noting Canada will respond “proportionately” and as necessary.
"We are going to fight for our country," he said.
According to Eby, internal projections point toward a recession worse than the recession of 2008. About 54 per cent of B.C. exports go to the United States and he implicitly acknowledged the superior resources of the United States.
"These are unjustified tariffs and it may be that the only way for that message to be delivered is for Americans to actually feel the pain and the consequences of this visited on them by Canadian retaliation against these tariffs," he said. "They are going to see impacts...but I believe that we can step up the pain, that we can target it to specific Republican districts where is support for this agenda and get the attention of folks about how integrated we are."
"There is no question, that we are up against a super-power and if the president wishes to use the might of the United States to attack families in Canada with the aim of getting us to agree to become the 51st state, then he is going to do it."
"But we will not back down just because the bully is more powerful and bigger than us."
Eby noted that tariffs will also have "significant effects" on the United States.
"I think there is still time for President Trump to work with us, because there is a strong desire on the part of the premiers and the federal government to address the concerns the president has raised."
Eby said B.C. is willing to support a coordinated national response on border security. But he added it won't do the job of the federal government. Others, including provincial Conservatives, have urged the provincial government to dedicate resources toward border improvements, then bill Ottawa.
The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan have announced they plan to dedicate provincial resources toward border security. Each province depends heavily on energy exports to the United States and have raised questions about retaliatory tariffs.
UBC political science lecturer Stewart Prest said those provinces are worried about "alienating not only their best, but really their only customer." But if Canada is to get through this, it needs to articulate "strong resistance" to any kind of demand, but also communicate a “continued willingness” to work with the Americans as partners, he added.
Prest specifically pointed to the experience of Colombia which had initially rejected participation in new American immigration policies, only in the opinion of many experts to cave to American pressure after Trump had threatened escalating tariffs.
"I think Canada can learn from that experience, simply refusing to be rolled, but also willing to work towards a compromise," he said.
The threat of tariffs appears against the backdrop of the provincial government preparing its budget, set to be delivered in early March.
"Every decision is being made through the lens of British Columbia and Canada potentially heading into a protracted trade war with the United States and all the consequences that that could mean for families," Eby said.
"We are going to make sure that we have the resources available to support people, whatever the consequences are."
