B.C. premier congratulates Trump, looks ahead to 'shared priorities'
Political leaders in British Columbia offered their congratulations to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, as concerns loom about the impact his administration will have on the province’s economy.
On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to impose minimum tariffs of 10 per cent on all imports – something that raised significant alarm in B.C., given the U.S. is the province’s largest trading partner.
In a brief public message responding to Trump’s election victory, Premier David Eby said he’s “looking forward to working collaboratively on our shared priorities.”
“Americans have sent you to do a critically important job for them,” Eby wrote on social media, adding that British Columbians are “close neighbours with family, relationships and businesses on both sides.”
Conservative Leader John Rustad also congratulated the president-elect, while arguing B.C.’s top priority “must be to push America for progress on ending punitive softwood lumber tariffs.”
Over the summer, the U.S. government nearly doubled the duty on Canada’s softwood lumber imports, from 8.05 per cent to 14.54 per cent.
At the time, B.C. Forestry Minister Bruce Ralson called the hike “unfair and unwarranted,” and vowed to “pursue litigation under (the) North American Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the U.S. Court of International Trade and at the World Trade Organization.”
Similar economic concerns have been expressed nationally about Trump’s second term, though Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland tried to reassure Canadians the morning after the election.
“Canada will be absolutely fine. We have a strong relationship with the United States, we have a strong relationship with President Trump,” Freeland said.
“Let’s remember that our trading relationship today is governed by the trade deal concluded by President Trump himself and his team. That’s really, really important.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Premier Moe calls on Trudeau to denounce export taxes as retaliation option against Trump
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to publicly say that export taxes will not be used as a retaliatory measure should U.S. president-elect Donald Trump impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports, arguing that there are 'other ways for us to have an impact.'
Shoppers raise complaints after being charged twice for Walmart purchases
A Saskatchewan shopper is out more than $200 after being charged twice for her grocery purchase at a Regina Walmart.
Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike
Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week.
'Little girl deserves justice': Gallery erupts in anger as charges stayed against driver who killed child
In a tense courtroom, a judge stayed the charge against a Saskatoon woman who hit and killed a nine-year-old girl.
Skier who went missing at Sun Peaks Resort found dead
In a tragic turn of events, the 68-year-old man who went missing while skiing at Sun Peaks Resort earlier this week has been found dead, the RCMP confirmed Friday.
Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions
The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country's three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week.
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Here are the Canadian cities where snow has been a sure thing
With fewer than two weeks remaining until Christmas Day, weather forecasts and snowfall projections are starting to take shape but have yet to be finalized for cities across Canada.
A new AI-powered weather model could be key to the future of your forecast. But there's a catch
Accurately predicting the weather is hard — really hard, but a new AI-powered forecast model just hit a milestone that has experts saying your forecast could soon get more accurate, and further out, too.
'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves
Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump's promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance.