New legislative session comes at 'most consequential time' in B.C. history since WW II: throne speech
Speech comes as looming U.S. tariffs threaten the Canadian economy
B.C.'s lieutenant-governor opened the 43rd parliament Tuesday with a throne speech that painted a picture of a provincial government defending its people from an economic war waged by its southern neighbours.
"We open this first session of British Columbia's 43rd Parliament at the most consequential time for our province since the Second World War," said B.C.'s new lieutenant-governor, Wendy Cocchia, reading the speech. "In the face of an unprecedented and unjustified threat to our economy, British Columbians are joining with all Canadians to fight back."
Those opening lines set the tone for the rest of the throne speech.
The speech also stressed that Canada will not be the 51st state, a prospect that's been repeated numerous times by U.S. President Donald Trump.
While the speech did not refer to Trump by name, the president and his tariff threat loomed throughout.
"During its first four weeks, the new United States presidential administration has taken our country on a roller-coaster ride. And we must be prepared for this to continue for the next four years. The historic bond between Canada and the United States has been strained in profound ways. Trust has been broken and will not easily be repaired."
The speech doubled down on wartime rhetoric amid the economic threat.
"When Britain stood alone in Europe against the Nazis, Churchill made a desperate appeal for more military equipment. British Columbia answered the call."
Premier David Eby defended the wartime references.
"Regardless of whether your house is bombed or whether you're foreclosed from it because you're fired, makes very little difference to a family. And this feels to British Columbians and Canadians, and I think rightly so, it feels like an unprovoked attack. And we're facing continual threats to our sovereignty from the president of the United States," Eby told reporters after the throne speech was read.
"We fought next to the Americans during World War II side by side. That's why it feels like such a betrayal."
The speech pledged not to "leave our future success to the whims of unpredictable forces from beyond our borders [or] leave people here to fend for themselves."
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad slammed the government for presenting a throne speech with few new ideas and blaming the United States for the NDP's financial mismanagement.
"David Eby is looking for an enemy. He's looking for an excuse. He wants to blame someone for his failures," said Rustad, the Official Opposition leader. "I think it's wrong to blame the Americans for the failures we have done in British Columbia."
The speech also referenced Finance Minister Brenda Bailey's ongoing spending review, an effort to dig the province out of a $9-billion deficit.
"Difficult times, such as this, call for action that is both thoughtful and tough," the speech read.
Bailey has insisted the spending review does not mean cutting essential services or support for British Columbians in the midst of an affordability crisis.
Bailey announced last week that tariff threats from Trump have forced the government to renege on a key election promise — the $1,000 grocery rebate cheque that would have gone out to 90 per cent of British Columbians this spring.
The throne speech did not make any major new promises, but repeated past government announcements, including efforts to fast-track natural resource projects.
It also confirmed that the government will introduce legislation to allow the B.C. Energy Regulator to act as the "one window" for permits to support the $3-billion North Coast Transmission Line, which will provide the power necessary for B.C.'s liquefied natural gas and mining sectors.
Legislation will also be introduced to protect British Columbians from credit card fraud, unfair practices by cellphone companies and to recover health-care costs from wrongdoers, the speech said.
Throne speech kicks off spring session
Rustad had urged Eby to recall the legislature in December to pass emergency funding for port security, but the government refused.
The NDP has a bare majority with 47 seats, plus support from the two B.C. Green MLAs.
The B.C. Conservatives have 44 seats.
The NDP's Raj Chouhan was elected to be Speaker of the House.
As per Westminster tradition, he was dragged to the Speaker's chair by the house leaders, the NDP's Mike Farnworth and the Conservatives' A'aliyah Warbus.
Chouhan was the Speaker in the last NDP government, and the New Democrat MLA for Burnaby-New Westminster is expected to remain neutral except when voting to break a tie.
Fentanyl a key issue for opposition
Rustad says key issues for his members during this session will be fentanyl, the borders and "what's going on with Trump."
He slammed the NDP for failing to address in the speech any solutions to the fentanyl crisis or port security, which have been cited by Trump to justify tariffs.
Canadian premiers visited Washington, D.C., last week to meet with U.S. lawmakers shortly after Trump delayed his plans for a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods and a 10 per cent levy on energy.
The NDP will present their budget on March 4, the same day that Trump's sweeping tariffs are set to take effect.