BC Speech from the Throne

Days after Canadians displayed national pride like they never have before on Flag Day, members of the BC Legislature stood united against punishing American tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. 

In a gesture of solidarity seldom seen in the chamber, MLAs from all three parties stood together and sang O Canada. 

Patriotism was a key theme of the first Speech from the Throne since the provincial election last fall, capturing the public mood in BC and across the country as Canadians wait for the next threatening social media messages or Executive Orders from the White House. 

Building on key themes from his platform, Premier David Eby used the Throne Speech to build the case there is life in BC after what was described as a “broken trust” relationship between Canada and its largest trading partner. 

New Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia read a speech written in the spirit of Winston Churchill that focused on the collective desire of Canadians and British Columbians to protect its sovereignty from economic and other threats emerging from outside its borders. 

The key themes emerging from the Throne Speech included: 

• Growing the economy and creating good jobs for people. 

• Strengthening healthcare so people can get quality care when they need it. 

• Helping with costs, including homes people can afford. 

• Building safer communities. 

While Trump’s tariff threat cast a shadow over the session opening, the Throne Speech sent a clear message that BC will stand up to the challenge and will emerge stronger and more resilient. 

The Throne Speech included specific actions to build an economy less dependent on trade with the United States. 

It recommitted to moving forward on prioritizing 18 major projects that include natural gas and clean energy, as well as critical mineral and mining projects including legislation that will enable this work to proceed faster. 

In addition to creating more than 8,000 jobs, the projects are expected to generate between $5 billion to $6 billion in capital spending with First Nations holding a 51 per cent equity stake in these investments. 

The speech also touched on internal trade, especially focused on on-going work to build a strong trading relationship with nearby Alberta, as well as moving forward on a tax credit to ensure continued growth of the film sector. 

These measures are all designed to make BC more tariff-proof and less vulnerable to predatory actions from the United States. 

At a time when British Columbians are feeling especially patriotic, the Throne Speech focused on a key area of national pride – namely the public health system. 

The Throne Speech commits to hiring more doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to address the fact that more of their colleagues are retiring while the province’s population is aging. 

In addition, the speech renews the commitment to build more hospitals and community clinics to expand health services provincewide. 

While the budget is not until March 4, the Throne Speech sent a clear message that the government is moving forward with a series of belt-tightening measures in response to fiscal pressures and the threat of tariffs. 

It announced a review of all government spending. This is on top of the public service hiring freeze announced last week, and the decision to cancel a $1,000 grocery rebate promised during the past provincial election. 

In addition to getting its own fiscal house in order, the government used the Throne Speech to signal new measures to ease pressures on people’s pocketbooks. 

This includes legislation coming this session to stop credit card fraud, unfair billing practices from cell phone companies and to recover costs from wrongdoers. 

The Throne Speech also recommits to affordable childcare, affordable public car insurance and affordable housing, including 300,000 more middle class homes over the next decade. 

In some of the strongest language used in the Throne Speech, the government made a more robust commitment to stopping the production and trafficking of illegal drugs such as fentanyl. 

Taking ownership of the public anger over the production and trafficking of illegal drugs, the Throne Speech said: “our hearts are filled with rage at the predators who move precursor chemicals and lethal drugs into our country.” 

In what was also an overture to US lawmakers, the Throne Speech highlighted drug trafficking and border control as an area of shared jurisdiction where both sides could work on measures to protect citizens on both sides of the border. 

In both spirit and substance, the Speech from the Throne sent a clear message that the session will be among the most consequential in the province’s history, a document well suited for these tumultuous times.