B.C. legislation would give government sweeping powers to respond to Trump threat [Video]

The British Columbia government has drafted new legislation that would give itself sweeping emergency powers to respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs.

The legislative package enables the province to toll U.S. vehicles transiting the province to Alaska and to drop major interprovincial trade barriers.

It also includes a provision allowing the province to bypass the legislature in order to “temporarily modify the application or effect of B.C. laws and regulations” in response to threats external to B.C.’s economy or Canada’s sovereignty.

The emergency powers would automatically expire in mid-2027.

Speaking in Victoria on Thursday, Premier David Eby denied that measure was a “power grab,” saying the government needs the ability to quickly respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s erratic and unpredictable executive orders and threats to annex Canada.

“This is emergency legislation, not everyday legislation,” Eby said, adding that the government would prefer not to use it.

“When there is an emergency like a natural disaster, we have …