B.C. fast-tracking 18 resource projects to reduce reliance on United States
Premier says province must prepare for tariffs to return and start sending more exports elsewhere
B.C. Premier David Eby's office has shared a list of 18 resource projects that he says the province will be fast-tracking in order to reduce its reliance on trade with the United States.
They are a blend of energy, mining and critical mineral projects that are already on the books, but which the government says it will be working to expedite through the approval process.
In an email, Eby's office said that combined, the projects are worth approximately $20 billion and will employ 8,000 people across the province. Eby previously said the focus is on resource-based communities where the threat of U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canadian exports is 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 needs, and we're going to use that to our advantage."
The list includes:
- The Eskay Creek Gold/Silver project seeking to revive a historic mine site near Stewart, in northwest B.C., as well as the expansion of the Red Chris gold and copper mine, also near Stewart.
- An expansion of the Highland Valley Copper mine in Logan Lake, in southwest B.C.
- The Mount Milligan gold and copper mine in Fort St. James, west of Prince George.
- The Cedar LNG natural gas export facility in Kitimat, near B.C.'s North Coast.
- The NEBC Connector, which seeks to build two 213-kilometre pipelines from the Montney region of northeast B.C. to transport natural gas liquids and condensate to Alberta.
- An expansion of Enbridge's infrastructure, including pipeline and power lines in the Chetwynd and Hudson's Hope regions of northeast B.C., known as the Aspen Point program.
- The creation of a new B.C. Hydro-led transmission line to supply energy to northwest B.C..
- The funding of several previously-announced wind power projects throughout B.C.
The province says it is working to identify other projects.
In an interview, Energy Minister Adrian Dix said though many of the projects have already been identified as priorities, they would now be moved to the top of the queue for assessment and permitting.
"It's critically important that we move through these stages of the process, not to take away from standards, but to ensure that these projects happen in the fastest possible way," he said.
Some of the projects have faced pushback, in particular the Eskay Creek and Red Chris mine projects which have faced challenges from Alaskan-based Indigenous governments who say the projects will impact their territory. The Highland Valley mine expansion is also facing opposition from the Skeetchestn and Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc bands in the B.C. Interior.
Jessica Clogg of West Coat Environmental Law said she worries the province is using tariff threats to drum up support for projects that might otherwise face more scrutiny.
"I do think it's shameful that resource companies and the business sectors are taking advantage of the current economic instability to apparently put forward a list of potentially risky projects," she said.
"I think at a time when we are being threatened as Canadians, there's no more important time than to centre the values that we believe in... Things like sustainability, Indigenous self-determination, long-term resilience."
Dix said the province says it will continue to engage and consult with Indigenous groups impacted by the projects, noting that several — notably the wind power projects — will be at least 50 per cent owned by First Nations.
He also said many of the projects are aimed at helping B.C. reduce its carbon emissions.
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, including 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.
With files from Katie DeRosa the Canadian Press