B.C. premier pulls American liquor from shelves following tariffs

Premier David Eby says the province is prepared as newly-imposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports hang over the release of his government’s budget.

Effective immediately, Eby says, the province will pull “all red state liquor products off of the shelf” as a deliberate, and targeted message to politicians who back U.S. President Donald Trump’s choice to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports.

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Speaking to media in Victoria, Eby says the budget will reflect his earlier announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs, targeted tariffs, and specific embargos on the U.S.

“We didn’t ask for this fight that the president has brought to Canada and to British Columbia. But I’ll tell you this, we’re not going to shrink from this,” said Eby.

On Friday, he said the B.C. government is “doing (its) best to diversify away from the United States in order to protect B.C. businesses and consumers from whatever is happening down south.”

Speaking Tuesday, he restated that sentiment, now adding that “all bets are off” when it comes to upholding U.S. trade agreements.

“For everything that the government buys, whether it’s Crown Corporation, health authorities, [or] core government, we’ll be buying Canadian first, and we’ll be prioritizing B.C. products. This is something that we can’t do ordinarily,” he explained.

Eby also says the province will ensure that the affected industries will receive supports and the province will help industries pivot to global and domestic markets in response to the threat.

“As a province, will fill in the blanks wherever there’s an area of concern that we have that isn’t being addressed by the federal government. We’ll make sure that we’re there,” the premier promised.

He says the province’s response will be “pretty straightforward.”

“It’s a message to Americans about what this is going to cost them: everything from the cost of pasta to the cost of a home, or a car, or to turn on the lights, or to fill up a tank of gas, is going to go up in a way that is noticeable and significant for American families. For Americans who work in manufacturing, the factories that you work in, the inputs that you use to make, the things that are sold around the world, have just become significantly less competitive. Your jobs will be taken by people living in countries than the United States, we have access to the raw materials that Canada provides without tariffs. Our response is also to use the market power that we have as British Columbians to send a message. We’re not as big in a powerful market as the United States, but there are many American jobs that depend on the purchases made by British Columbians and by Canadians.”

Eby also restated his January announcement that B.C. is fast-tracking 18 resource projects to help the province rely less on the U.S.

He says British Columbians can also support the province’s and country’s efforts by continuing to be mindful of their purchasing power.

“When you’re at the grocery store, it’s your chance to buy B.C. by Canadian,” said Eby. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear Canadian businesses like Windset Farms, a huge greenhouse operator, talk about the spike in business that they’ve seen from British Columbians and Canadians buying Canadian products first… if you have a choice about where to travel, to avoid travelling to the United States, choose to visit somewhere in Canada or somewhere else in the world. Today is our chance as Canadians, as British Columbians, to send a message as well.”

Last week, Eby said the provinces and territories “need to start acting like a country” on trade and he’s willing to enter bilateral agreements with other jurisdictions if the federal government can’t get an agreement.

Eby says his government could enter a “coalition of the willing” with other provinces to recognize each others regimes for trade and professions, and if a product is good enough to be sold in one area, then it’s good enough for B.C.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office says he directed the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) Tuesday morning to stop selling American alcohol.

Ford said Monday the LCBO buys about $1-billion worth of U.S. alcohol every year.

The BC NDP is expected to deliver its annual budget Tuesday, for which the details will be released to the public at 1:30 p.m.

Eby says the budget will deliver for people feeling afraid in a time of uncertainty.

“The finance minister will present our budget, which is in this context of a changing world. And every one of you in this room, and everybody watching at home, is a key part of our success. Going forward, we’re going to pull together, we’re going to fight, and we’re going to win,” said Eby.

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This is a developing story. More to come.

—With files from The Canadian Press