Eby addresses Trudeau’s pending exit, possible U.S. tariffs and more in first newser of 2025
Posted January 7, 2025 11:55 am.
Last Updated January 7, 2025 7:51 pm.
In his first address of the new year, B.C. Premier David Eby thanked outgoing Liberal Leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his service to Canada.
“Without doubt, there were moments of frustration, that I’m sure, went in both directions, but we got some big things done together,” Eby shared, noting child care as one of them.
“He got the country through a global pandemic, and there’s a big shift for him and for his family — I want to wish them luck with their next steps,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!On Monday, Trudeau announced his intent to resign from the Liberal Party leadership and subsequent prime ministership once a new party leader is chosen. Parliament is now prorogued until March 24, and a leadership race is now underway.
Eby explained that despite the instability in Ottawa, the country’s premiers are coming together this week to discuss their Council of Federation response to the U.S. tariff threat, as part of a “unified Canadian response.”
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has said he will impose “substantial” tariffs on Canada and Mexico when he returns to the White House in less than two weeks.
Trump said previously he’ll slap 25 per cent duties on imports from America’s closest neighbours unless they stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across the border.
Canada is not becoming the 51st state, Eby declared
On Tuesday, Trump further threatened Tuesday to use “economic force” to make Canada the 51st state and doubled down on his tariff threats.
“You get rid of that artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security,” Trump said, referring to the border between Canada and the U.S. “And don’t forget, we basically protect Canada.”
Responding to Trump’s continued calls to assume Canada, Eby shared that “the reality is, we are very closely tied, and we prosper by working together.”
“Delivering that message is very key. Canadians are proud. I’m proud to be Canadian. We are not becoming the 51st state,” Eby declared.
“I think that one of the recognitions of both Canadians and Americans is that we are different places. We have different priorities, and yet, neighbours and friends, and in many cases, family. And there’s no benefit that comes from hurting both sides of the border with the proposal that’s been put forward, we should be working together.”
Premiers set to lobby U.S. government officials on tariff threat
Eby noted that leaders are working on visiting Washington, D.C., to lobby the incoming U.S. government and state governors.
“I’ve also been engaging with my counterparts south of the border, as have businesses in the province. Our response will have three key components. One is to support federal government discussions and evaluations of retaliatory tariffs,” he explained.
“One part around ensuring that our province, our economy, is adapting to the new realities through expedited permitting, through necessary response work that we were already initiating in response to forestry and the impacts on that sector, as well as permitting times to make sure that we’re adapting. And then finally, diversifying our trade partners, making sure that we’re in a position to respond to replace U.S. customers that we may lose for our exports as a result of the tariffs.”
Eby described the possibility of tariffs as “unjustified,” and said there are two things provinces are looking to the federal government for in response to the threat.
“One is certainly they have a role to play in nation-to-nation discussions with the United States; government to government discussions at the most senior level,” he explained.
“In addition, there is the issue of the border, these tariffs are totally unjustified. We can address the issues of the border without the tariffs. It makes no sense to punish both Americans and Canadians to address that issue. We can do it together,” he added.
“We need the federal government, because it is a federal responsibility to show strong leadership on addressing the border issues, and they’ve made moves in that direction. We expect them to continue that work, but without question, given the state of the Federal Government currently, the leadership on this file has to come from the premiers across Canada, and so we’re going to continue to do that work.”
After Trudeau’s announcement Monday, questions over who is going to replace him began circulating. Rampant speculation and rumors regarding former B.C. premier Christy Clark’s desire for the top job only intensified.
Eby said that having a premier from B.C. is a “positive thing,” as having the focus on the eastern provinces, such as Ontario and Quebec, has been a “big challenge.”
“Ms. Clark and I have had disagreements over the years. We were in different political parties during her time in provincial government,” he explained. “Ms. Clark will bring the discussion of B.C. issues and a B.C. focus that other candidates will have to respond to. And I look forward to working with whoever is successfully elected as the leader of the federal Liberal Party and I wish all the candidates the best of luck.”
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