BC Conservatives Unveil 10-Point Tariff Response Plan

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad is calling on Premier David Eby to take immediate action to protect British Columbia’s economy by responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Tariffs by implementing his Tariff Response Plan without delay.

“For too long, the NDP has failed British Columbians with reckless policies that drive up costs, kill jobs, and push investment out of our province,” said Rustad. “David Eby has ignored the warning signs. Our economy needs urgent action, not more excuses.”

The Tariff Response Plan is a bold strategy to restore economic growth, cut government waste, and get British Columbia back on track. Rustad has sent a formal letter to the Premier outlining the plan and demanding immediate action.

“The cost of inaction is too high,” Rustad added. “British Columbians deserve leadership that puts jobs and prosperity first. If David Eby won’t act, we will.”

 

RUSTAD TARIFF RESPONSE PLAN

1) Immediately negotiate a Canada Wide Free Trade Agreement

a. Inter-provincial barriers are the equivalent of between a 21 and 25% tariff

b. Open flow of all goods and commodities, including energy, will help to offset our dependency on the USA

2) Immediately call back the legislature to implement a Fiscal Emergency Bill

a. Bill should ask for additional fiscal room to implement port and border security measures

b. Bill should identify additional funding to reopen BC’s trade offices foreign countries

c. Bill should suspend all but the essential requirements in the Environment Assessment Act

d. Bill should suspend all but the essential requirements for development permits

e. Bill should implement a quick 3-month review to eliminate as much government wasteful spending as possible to get our fiscal house in order.

3) Work with LNG Canada to immediately advance phase 2 of their Kitimat LNG project. This would inject billions in additional construction activity into BC’s economy

4) Immediately provide a 10-year extension to already permitted natural gas pipeline projects

5) Immediately eliminate the Carbon Tax to reduce costs for consumers and businesses

6) Immediately eliminate the requirement for LNG projects to use electricity for compression

7) Immediately eliminate the CO2 emissions caps/targets to unleash investments in BC

8) Work with the Mining Sector to approve and advance the approximate 17 mining projects in BC that are ready to go. This would inject about $36 billion in economic activity during construction, create 10s of thousands of jobs and significantly increase BC’s GDP and revenue.

9) Immediately strike a task force to provide targeted cost reductions for BC’s forest sector

10) Stop work towards a power line from the Northeast to the Northwest and replace the project with natural gas fired electricity generation directly in the Northwest


BC is under a threat that has not been experienced in our lifetime. It is unfortunate that the USA has decided to treat its greatest trading partner and greatest friend this way.

Rather than retaliate and exasperate the problem, lets use this opportunity to rapidly advance BC’s economy. This will more than offset the impacts of the USA tariffs as well as create a lasting benefit for all British Columbians