B.C. Premier David Eby is expected to share a list of 10 resource projects that he says the province will be fast-tracking in order to reduce its reliance on trade with the United States.
The premier has said the list includes mines, renewable energy and natural gas projects currently in the proposal stage.
Eby previously told reporters he would be revealing the list of private-sector led projects on Tuesday. He also said the projects are worth approximately $20 billion and will create 6,000 jobs, with a particular focus on resource-based communities where the threat of U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canadian exports are likely to hurt the most.
“We have a huge advantage in British Columbia here with our geographic positioning,” Eby said Monday, pointing to ports in both Vancouver and Prince Rupert that allow the province to ship its resources to overseas markets.
“We know that we have what the world we needs and we’re going to use that to our advantage.”
David Eby talks about how British Columbia will move forward following news that U.S. President Donald Trump will hold off imposing tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days. The premier had already ordered U.S. alcohol off shelves and started diverting critical minerals and energy to other trading partners.
Preparation for ‘worst-case scenario’
The premier first revealed plans to streamline permitting for the projects last week after meeting with his newly-formed provincial task force on economic security and trade following a promise from U.S. President Donald Trump that he would be imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods sold in the United States, with the exception of energy which would have a 10 per cent tariff.
Despite Canada securing a 30-day delay on that tariff this week, Eby says it is clear that British Columbia must become less economically tethered to its southern neighbour.
“We won’t leave our prosperity to the whims of unpredictable forces from beyond our borders,” he said Saturday after Trump made clear his plan to impose tariffs. “That starts with leveraging our incredible natural strengths.”
He repeated that message Monday after the 30-day pause was announced.
“We’ve got to prepare for the worst-case scenario even though we hope for the best,” he said. “If there’s a tweet tomorrow that puts the tariffs back on, we need to be prepared.”
B.C. exports to the United States
B.C. has paused some of its other retaliatory measures, includng pulling alcohol from Republican-led States off the shelves of provincially-run liquor stores and working with B.C.-based companies to divert the supply of critical minerals and energy destined for the United States to other jurisdictions.
However, Eby says those measures are still on the table should the tariffs materialize.
According to data from B.C. Stats, 54 per cent of exports from the province in 2023 were sent to the United States, compared to 77 per cent Canada-wide.
Sixty-seven per cent of B.C.’s exports to the U.S. are from the the wood, pulp and paper, metallic mineral and energy sectors.
The province’s next-largest export destination is China, which accounts for 14 per cent of goods sent to other countries, followed by Japan at 11 per cent.