British Columbia91Ƶs premier is assembling a 91Ƶwar room91Ƶ over the looming trade war between Canada and the United States, with President Donald Trump91Ƶs threatened tariffs on Canadian goods coming as soon as Saturday.
A statement from Premier David Eby91Ƶs office says he is tasking a new cabinet committee with co-ordinating a 91Ƶwhole-of-government91Ƶ approach aimed at protecting B.C. workers, businesses and the economy against the tariff threat.
The committee is described as a 91Ƶday-to-day war room91Ƶ chaired by Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon.
Eby says Trump91Ƶs proposed 25 per cent tariffs are a 91Ƶdirect attack on B.C. families,91Ƶ and every minister has an important role to play in fighting back.
The statement says B.C. has a three-point strategy, which includes responding with 91Ƶtough counter-actions91Ƶ and outreach to American decision makers, as well as diversifying B.C.91Ƶs trade markets, strengthening the economy by expediting projects and supporting industries and their workers.
Nine other B.C. ministers have been named to the committee, including Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, Energy Minister Adrian Dix, Jobs Minister Diana Gibson, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar and Mining Minister Jagrup Brar, among others.
Trump has threatened to introduce 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods starting on Saturday, and his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters at the White House on Tuesday the plan was 91Ƶstill on the books91Ƶ for that day.
Eby said Tuesday he thought there was 91Ƶstill time for President Trump to work with us,91Ƶ as Canadian officials have indicated a strong desire to address his concerns around the flow of illegal drugs and migrants from Canada into the United States.
But he said the province would ensure every harm inflicted on B.C. families by the tariffs is met and matched with a proportional response.
Eby said it may be that the only way for Americans to hear the message that tariffs are unjustified and harmful to people and businesses, both north and south of the border, is to feel the consequences of Canadian retaliation.
Americans would see higher prices even if Canada did nothing, he told a news conference in Vancouver on Tuesday.
91ƵBut I believe that we can step up that pain, that we can target it to specific Republican districts where there is support for this agenda, and get the attention of folks about how integrated we are,91Ƶ the premier said.