Canada's British Columbia to impose fees on US trucks heading to Alaska amid tariffs threat

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - British Columbia (BC) Premier David Eby announced that the province will impose fees on US commercial trucks traveling through BC to Alaska.

"The tariffs are on, the tariffs are off, the threats, orders rescinded, put in place — it’s all a deliberate tactic to weaken our resolve," Eby argued during a news conference on Thursday.

Describing the US President Donald Trump's trade tactics as "unacceptable," Eby said: "We are not going to accept these continual threats, this continued uncertainty. We are going to stand up for Canadians."

The fees, if approved by the provincial legislature, would grant BC the authority to impose costs on commercial trucks using the province as a transit route to Alaska.

Eby stated that Canada must take control of its trade policies and said: "We can never, ever again be in the position of being at the whim of one single person in the White House who it turns out is an unpredictable and untrustworthy partner who is not keeping his word."

He further took direct aim at the US president, saying "despite claims to want to strengthen the border, in fact, Trump wants to eliminate the border — he wants to not buy our resources and create jobs here and mutual opportunity on both sides of the border, he wants to just take them, he wants to annex Canada and turn us into the 51st state."

"That is not a kind invitation, that is a threat to Canada," Eby added.

Stressing the need for Canada to remain united in resisting US pressure, Eby said: "We are going to make sure the Americans understand how pissed off we are, how unified we are, how committed we are to working as a country to stand up for each other in our own independence on our own two feet."

"And I say we don't let up until the president takes the threat off the table."

Additionally to Eby, Ontario's Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that the province would add a 25% charge to electricity it sends to 1.5 million American homes and businesses, effective Monday.

Ford said the charge would apply even if US tariffs on Canadian imports are paused, as appears to be the case, until April 2. There must be a complete end to the tariffs, he said.