The looming threat of tariffs from Donald Trump on Canadian goods entering the United States is dominating conversations everywhere I go -- whether in the constituency, in Victoria, or beyond. People are scared, and itBԪַ easy to understand why.
British Columbians are already struggling under immense pressure. Housing remains unaffordable and out of reach for too many, healthcare is deteriorating before our eyes, and the rising cost of living has left more than half of our population just $200 away from being unable to pay their bills.
This is British Columbia in 2025. Yet you wouldn’t know it from listening to Premier David Eby and his NDP Ministers, who seem more concerned with political optics than addressing the urgent challenges facing British Columbians.
Since being sworn into cabinet 67 days ago, EbyBԪַ government has done little beyond taking a two-month holiday while the legislature sits dormant. In that time, every NDP MLA received a fancy title and a pay raise and partisan staff hires ballooned; even Minister Ravi KahlonBԪַ office spent over $1 million on nine political hires. To top it off, EbyBԪַ former Chief of Staff Matt Smith walked away with a $278,629 severance package after being paid $482,730 for two years of work.
ThatBԪַ $761,359 dollars for two years of work, paid for by you, the taxpayer.
These extravagant payouts are being handed out while taxpayers shoulder the burden of a historic $9.4 billion deficit -- a deficit Eby created just two years after inheriting a $6 billion surplus from the late Premier John Horgan.
Adding insult to injury, Eby recently scrapped his much-touted $1,000 grocery rebate, a cornerstone of his 2024 re-election campaign. His excuse? TrumpBԪַ tariff threats make it too risky to provide struggling families with this desperately needed support.
But instead of tackling these economic challenges head-on, Eby has chosen to ramp up rhetoric against Trump, calling on British Columbians to cancel trips to the U.S., boycott American goods, and “buy local” as a form of retaliation. While supporting local businesses is always a good idea, itBԪַ naïve to think British Columbia can shield itself from the fallout of a trade war with the worldBԪַ largest economy.
EbyBԪַ posturing serves only one purpose: to distract British Columbians from his failing record. Our economy is flagging, private-sector job losses are mounting, and his failed drug policies have flooded BԪַBԪַ streets with cheap narcotics—contributing to the very fentanyl crisis Trump has criticized.
Let me be clear: I am no fan of Donald Trump. Still, some of his concerns are completely valid.
HeBԪַ asking Canada to take stronger action on illegal immigration, take better control of our border, and to curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. -- actions we should prioritize regardless of who occupies the White House.
EbyBԪַ Finance Minister, Brenda Bailey, even suggested targeting “red states” with retaliatory tariffs, restricting imports like bourbon, peanut butter, and orange juice. This kind of petty, performative politics does nothing to address the very real consequences of a trade war.
Leadership isn’t about puffing up your chest for domestic applause. ItBԪַ about rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work behind closed doors to secure meaningful outcomes. As a former lawyer, I know that tough negotiations require persistence, not publicity stunts.
David Eby has proven time and again that he prefers the limelight over meaningful action. Rather than exploiting international tensions to score political points, he should be working tirelessly to avoid a trade war and mitigate its impact on British Columbians.
The United States is our largest trading partner and closest ally, with a shared history and economic partnership that is the envy of the world. Now is not the time to provoke a trade war; itBԪַ the time to seek solutions.
Eby and his government must end their two-month vacation, return to the legislature, and get to work addressing the crises they’ve created.
If they’re unwilling or unable to do so, itBԪַ time to hand the reins to John Rustad and the Conservative Party caucus. We’re ready to lead, and we’re ready to deliver the leadership British Columbians deserve.
Amelia Boultbee is MLA for Penticton-Summerland
