VICTORIA — British Columbia is making contingency plans to reduce its reliance on electricity from the United States after the start of the continental trade war.
Such plans are typically made to prepare for natural disasters or emergencies, but this one has been spurred by something else.
"Unfortunately, now it's contingency planning around a man-made disaster, made by the president of the United States," Premier David Eby told reporters outside the Parliament buildings on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports on Tuesday.
"We are never going to put ourselves in the position again of being so dependent on the United States," Eby said, adding that the uncertainty and potential instability coming from south of the border mean the province needs backup plans.
"We've also been forced into contingency planning around if the United States takes a similar step as Mr. Ford is proposing, against us."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off the electricity it provides to three border states, resulting in concerns the United States could respond in kind.
"We do import electricity from the United States at times of low cost, when it's beneficial for British Columbians," Eby said.
The U.S. federal agency through which B.C. buys and sometimes sells electricity has recently been "seriously" weakened by layoffs orchestrated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, Eby said.
He said that adds to his government's concerns.
"They assure us that they are focused on the high-voltage network that we depend on. But from a distance, the chaos, the uncertainty and potential instability that these kinds of decisions cause means we have to have backup plans in place," he said.
"This is one of the reasons you saw Minister Dix entering into agreements with Alberta to find ways that we can strengthen our (connections) across the mountains, to be able to sell electricity more readily to Alberta."
The premier later addressed the legislative assembly about the trade war, saying Canadians would keep their "elbows up" and it would be a "grave mistake" for the United States to see their politeness as weakness.
"For those of you who may not be hockey fans, elbows up means the other team is trying to take advantage, and if they come at you, they're going to feel it," Eby said.
Opposition Conservative Leader John Rustad said in his response that the province needs to do everything it can to end the "vulnerability" created by importing 20 to 30 per cent of its electricity from the United States.
"There are hard days ahead of us. We've had somebody who has smacked us across the head, and unfortunately our hands have been tied behind our back because we have been left vulnerable," Rustad said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2025.
Marcy Nicholson, The Canadian Press
