Image: B.C. Premier David Eby talking to a group of business leaders in Japan. / B.C. Govt / Flckr

By Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Coming together to support B.C.

Jun 4, 2025 | 8:43 AM

This Spring, our government has been taking action to combat the real economic threat of U.S. tariffs and Trump threatening Canadian jobs, and British Columbians have been with us every step of the way. Despite the uncertainty, we have worked as a province to keep our elbows up — together.

It was my first session in the BC legislature as an MLA, and it was so exciting and impressive to see it all come together, and how passionate my colleagues are about supporting British Columbians.

Our province is in a strong position to meet the moment: we have valuable resources to share with the world, the people to power progress, and the opportunity to be global leaders.

We wouldn’t be where we are without all of you, whether you shopped local, boycotted American liquor, or changed your travel plans to support local Canadian communities, you’ve been steadfast in your support. B.C.’s sense of community has bloomed over these past months: together, we’re supporting each other and our country.

On the ground, we’re helping to move big projects forward, create good meaningful jobs here at home, and strengthen our relationships with other trade partners.

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This week, Premier David Eby is leading a trade mission to Asia to strengthen partnerships and help open doors for B.C. workers and businesses in Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Our team will be promoting B.C.’s strengths and seeking to build relationships that will support new trade and investment in key sectors, including surging demand in Asia for clean energy, B.C. wood and forestry products, technology, LNG and critical minerals, and agricultural and seafood products.

Deputy Premier Niki Sharma is in Saskatoon, meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers to help advance major projects that focus on local jobs and benefits. With ports that connect two-thirds of the world’s population, abundant resources, and skilled, resilient people, B.C. is in a strong position to help lead in Canada’s new economy.

This is not a fight that any of us asked for, and our American neighbours are our friends, but we will remain ready to respond and pivot as necessary. We have been cultivating trade with other provinces, talking to American citizens and representatives who oppose tariffs, and diversifying where we sell our products internationally. We’re also working hard to lift credential recognition challenges so that more U.S. healthcare workers who want to can come work here and contribute to our system of care.

Strengthening these relationships help build on the work we’ve done recently like introducing the Infrastructure Projects Act. We need long-term care homes, hospitals, and cancer centres, childcare centres, schools, and student housing. We need highways, mines, and wharfs. This bill will make sure that British Columbians are getting the services that they need in their communities, faster. Our priority is people, and this is the next step forward to support them while maintaining our commitment to B.C.’s high environmental standards.

We will continue to tackle the threat of tariffs head-on and work to solidify B.C. as national leaders. British Columbians are stepping up to the plate, and we are right there with them.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.