By Tom Shypitka

Op-Ed Commentary

February 1 felt like the second coming of Y2K. Canadians watched the clock hit 2 p.m. EST, waiting to see if Donald Trump would take a sledgehammer to our economy and national pride. And sure enough, the 47th U.S. President is slapping Canada with brutal tariffs—25% on most industries, 10% on energy—taking effect as early as Tuesday.

So, what does this mean? How will it impact us? And more importantly, how will Canada (and B.C.) respond? Right now, our leaders are scrambling, caught flat-footed by a crisis they helped create.

We saw this coming

Frankly, I’m not even remotely surprised. As a former MLA and critic for energy, mines, oil, gas, and BC Hydro, I watched the BC NDP systematically gut our ability to be self-sufficient. They buried our resource sectors under layers of red tape, stalled permits, and pushed an ideological agenda that left us vulnerable.

Case in point: In June 2020, they introduced Bill 17, the Clean Energy Amendment Act, which removed BC Hydro’s obligation to be electricity self-sufficient. The result? B.C. went from a net exporter of electricity to a net importer, buying record amounts of power from the U.S.—at a staggering cost of nearly $1.4 billion in 2023-24.

And here’s the kicker: most of that imported power was generated from fossil fuels—while the NDP proudly banned local coal and LNG projects. Hypocrisy at its finest.

Forestry & the U.S. tariff scam

B.C. exports about 50% of Canada’s wood products. We’ve already been forced to pay an arbitrary U.S. import duty—now 14.5%—which nearly doubled last August. Why? Because the U.S. claims our use of Crown land gives us an “unfair advantage.” Meanwhile, they ignore the mountains of regulations and costs our industry faces.

Now, with an additional 25% Trump tariff on top of the existing duties, our forestry sector is under siege. How many mills will shut down this time? How many more communities will be left to rot because of failed leadership and a total lack of a plan?

David Eby’s empty rhetoric

David Eby has spent years obstructing natural resource projects in B.C. Trans Mountain Expansion? Fought it. Site C Dam? Opposed it. Coastal Gas Link? Resisted it. LNG exports? Blocked them.

Now, as the walls close in, Eby suddenly wants to be seen as a champion of self-sufficiency. He’s scrambling to repair the damage, but the reality is he helped put us in this vulnerable position. Worse, he’s pretending to take a hard stance against Trump with gimmicks like banning liquor imports from U.S. “red states.”

What kind of leadership is that? Does he even realize that B.C. shares a border with three red states? While he sits back sipping his Washington Cabernet Sauvignon, people in the Kootenays won’t be able to buy Montana whiskey, and those up north won’t be able to enjoy Anchorage Aurora Gin. It’s a childish, performative stunt that does nothing to solve the real problem.

A crisis of our own making—but also an opportunity

If there’s one thing that brings Canadians together, it’s a crisis. And make no mistake—this is a crisis. But instead of picking a losing fight with an economic powerhouse 10 times our size, we should be focusing on strengthening our own country.

Action Plan: Reclaiming Canadian self-sufficiency

Short to Medium Term (Immediate – four years)

1. End Interprovincial Trade Barriers– Ottawa and the provinces must act NOW.
2. Launch a “Buy Canadian” Strategy– Public education, national advertising, and subsidies to support domestic industry.
3. Restore Self-Sufficiency Laws– Prioritize manufacturing, refining, processing, and energy independence.
4. Secure Critical Minerals & Metals– Invest in geoscience and mining expansion.
5. Reopen Asia-Pacific Trade Offices– Rebuild lost partnerships in key markets.
6. Slash Bureaucracy– Create a ministry focused on red-tape reduction and fast-track permits.
7. Expand Value-Added Forestry– Fight U.S. softwood tariffs and cut our own excessive stumpage rates.
8. Restore BC Hydro’s Small-Scale Renewable Program– Support domestic power generation.

Long-Term (four plus years)

1. Massively Expand Infrastructure– Build refineries, processing plants, transmission lines, and pipelines. Revive Northern Gateway & Energy East.
2. Diversify Global Trade– Secure reliable, long-term export markets outside the U.S.
3. Develop a Liquid Ammonia Industry– Establish hydrogen export infrastructure.
4. Invest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)– Provide stable, clean power where it makes sense.
5. Expand Renewable Energy—Where Viable– Stop ideological bans and focus on what works.
6. Continue BC Hydro’s 10-Year Grid Expansion– Secure our long-term energy needs.

The bottom line

Canada has been caught unprepared, but this is a wake-up call. Trump’s tariffs will hurt Americans as well—and the worst thing we can do is react emotionally and play into his game. Instead, we need to focus on rebuilding Canadian strength, unity, and economic independence.

Talk is cheap. Leadership means action. It’s time for Canada to stand up—not by picking fights we can’t win, but by making damn sure we never get put in this position again.

– Tom Shypitka is former Kootenay East MLA

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