Travel to the States has been a hot topic in the last couple of years, and B.C. Premier David Eby doubled down on his feelings toward it and President Donald Trump, as well as the trade war and his thoughts on buying American products.
Speaking from a liquor store in Vancouver yesterday, Eby delivered a stern response to the latest in the federal Trump tariff discussions.
In a bigger moment from the press conference, Eby pleaded with B.C. residents on the topic of U.S. travel, advising against it.
“And again, I’m asking British Columbians, if you have a choice, please don’t travel to the United States. Choose another place to do your tourism.”
Along with advising B.C. residents not to travel to the States, he also had a message to consumers about U.S. products.
“If you can choose a Canadian product instead of an American one, please choose it.”
Eby’s reasoning behind his messaging was that Canadian workers, across Canada, “need our support” due to the 50 per cent tariffs imposed on, as Eby said, “many products.”
He said one way we could support Canadian workers is by being our own best customer.
Based on recent reporting we’ve done on U.S. travel, and the response to those stories from locals, it doesn’t sound like Eby will have to do much convincing to turn people away from U.S. travel. However, it likely won’t be welcome news for businesses across the border, like in Bellingham.
A recent report from the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Border Policy Research Institute pointed out how “damaging” the drop in travellers has been to local businesses.
Bellingham food and beverage came out on top, as 91 per cent of respondents said that the decline in the industry has been damaging. An additional 64 per cent say they’re concerned about survival.
Eby also said he was encouraged by the messaging from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that he would do whatever it takes, for however long it takes, to support Canadian workers.
“The best thing that we can do to respond to these tariffs is to build up our workers, build up our trade infrastructure, and be less dependent on the United States.”
Eby also said something that many B.C. residents are probably already thinking: that any deal signed with the U.S. president, on travel or trade, “wouldn’t have lasted as long as it took him to write his signature.”
“This is a president that would’ve signed the deal, and then turned around and called it the worst deal,” Eby said, calling Trump a “thug and a bully.”