'Never the 51st state': New B.C. border signs have a message for the U.S. president
People travelling across the B.C. border from the U.S. will see a welcome sign with a message targeted at American President Donald Trump.
Premier David Eby announced the new B.C. border sign today while sporting a red plaid jacket (which he said was the “single most Canadian piece of clothing” he owns), as he addressed people in Victoria on the first day of Canada’s counter-tariffs taking effect.
Next to him stood the sign that reads, “Welcome to British Columbia, Canada. Strong, proud, and will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!”
The purpose of the event was to show support for British Columbians on the first day of Canada’s counter-tariffs taking effect — and this B.C. border sign will be at all B.C.-U.S. border crossings, “as a reminder of who we are, and what we stand for,” said Eby.
“They carry a message that reflects the spirit of this moment,” he said. “This is a uniquely Canadian message. It’s confidence, good humour, and it’s unmistakably clear: British Columbia is part of Canada, and Canada is not for sale.”
Over the weekend, Trump shared a series of memes, including a map of North America with the U.S. flag imposed on Canada and Mexico.
“The president is clearly unhinged,” Eby said. “Those memes are bizarre. They are disturbing. They are not befitting the leader of the world’s largest economy. The world’s largest army.”
Does B.C. have a plan to support its residents?
With estimates that B.C. could lose thousands of jobs due to the trade war, Eby assured British Columbians that the Province has a plan to defend its people, while ensuring that public services are protected.
He said their government is working with the federal government to ensure that B.C.’s small businesses are supported when they are hit by these “unfair tariffs.”
But he also shared a more sobering sentiment.
“There is no getting around the fact that people will lose their jobs, and businesses will close on both sides of the border. That is the unfortunate reality of Trump’s trade war,” Eby said.
He asked British Columbians to look out for one another by choosing to buy B.C. or Canadian products and services.
“We can and must be our own best customer.”
Eby added that Canada has been dependent on the U.S. for “far too long” and that they are working on expanding trade partnerships into Europe and Asia.
“If there is any place prepared to meet the challenges of this moment, it’s British Columbia; we have the resources, the people, the talent, the technology, and the ambition to succeed.”
Will there be more countermeasures?
While B.C. stopped selling U.S. booze in 2025, Eby didn’t have any additional countermeasures to announce today.
But he said that the Province is currently looking at additional countermeasures to ensure that Canada has the best possible response with the least impact on British Columbians and the most impact on the people targeting Canada — particularly President Trump.
Eby said he’s asked the public service and all the ministers to “identify opportunities” to send a message to the American people about how “pissed off Canadians are,” as well as to find opportunities to build up B.C. and Canada by buying from B.C. and from Canada.
He said that there are many things in B.C. that Americans and American companies enjoy having access to that the Province is reviewing, and that there are “many ways to impose costs if necessary.”
Further, Eby stated that B.C. is “all in” on “Team Canada.”
Currently, Canada and the U.S. are not at the table together, he said.
“We’re not talking right now. The president is tweeting unhinged memes about the Prime Minister.”
“The only hope that we have is that the American people understand our relationship and support candidates that promote a strong, unified relationship between Canada and the U.S. And currently that is not this administration.”