The British Columbia Trucking Association has come out in strong opposition to the provincial government’s Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act, which, among other measures, grants the authority to impose tolls on U.S. commercial vehicles traveling to and from Alaska.
The legislation, introduced by Democrat Party Premier David Eby on March 13, aims to provide the BC government with tools to swiftly counteract economic threats from the United States, including the ability to levy fees on non-Canadian commercial vehicles utilizing provincial infrastructure such as highways.
Ocean transit will not be impacted by the bill, as those modes are federal jurisdiction, Eby said. But the bill does refer to ferries in Part 3, under “Tolls, Fees and Charges,” where it explicitly includes ferries under the “provincial undertaking” definition:
- Section 13(b) covers ferries to which the Coastal Ferry Act applies (which includes BC Ferries.)
- Section 13(c) includes ferry terminal properties as defined under the Coastal Ferry Act.
In addition, Section 14 grants the Lieutenant Governor of the province the power to establish a system of tolls, fees, or charges for using ferries and ferry terminals. These tolls would be payable to the government, and failure to pay could result in enforcement actions listed in Section 15.
In other words, the bill allows the government to regulate ferry pricing, impose new tolls or fees, and enforce payments related to ferry services in BC.
Alaska Marine Highway System ferries historically have stopped in Prince Rupert, although more so in the past. As of this year, the AMHS has advised that Prince Rupert sailings are canceled for the 2025 schedule due to required emissions upgrades to the ocean-class vessel MV Kennicott that serves the route.
The bill also exempts indigenous people in ways: “For example, it does not allow government to override permitting processes or First Nations consultation. If passed, most of the legislation would take effect upon royal assent,” the government of British Columbia explained.
The trucking association President and CEO Dave Earle cautioned against implementing such tolls, highlighting the potential for retaliatory measures from the US that could adversely affect BC’s economy.
Earle emphasized that while the intent to protect local industries is understandable, the repercussions of provoking a trade dispute might outweigh the intended benefits, according to CTVNEWS.ca. The government says the tariffs will impact about 10,000 commercial trucks going to Alaska annually, which works out to nearly 28 per day.
Premier David Eby has defended his legislation, calling it a necessary response to the “unpredictable and chaotic” threats posed by the President Donald Trump.
Premier David Eby was asked about the possible retaliations by Trump.
“I understand that Alaskans might feel anxious about the idea of an additional charge on trucks going from Washington state to Alaska,” he said to CTVNEWS. “But we need Alaskans to send the message to Donald Trump about how intertwined we are about the connections between our economies, that we built the Alaska Highway together … I hope very much that the elected Republicans in Alaska are sending that message to the president, because you can see very quickly how destructive a trade war is.”
If passed, the bill will allow cabinet to take action to:
- Remove or amend barriers that impede interprovincial trade;
- Impose tolls/fees on non-Canadian commercial vehicles using the province’s public infrastructure such as highways;
- Direct public-sector bodies to ban the use of US suppliers when procuring goods and services; and
- Make changes to allow for fast action if trade tensions escalate.
British Columbia has already taken these actions:
- Liquor: BC Liquor removed all American products from store shelves and will stop importing it. Red maple leaf labels have been added to Canadian products to show shoppers where the liquor is made.
- Procurement: BC government and Crown corporations will buy goods and services from Canada and other countries first, not the United States.
- Tesla: Tesla electric vehicle charging products are no longer eligible for CleanBC or BC Hydro rebates unless purchased or received pre-approval before March 12.
