National

More 'Buy BC' ads coming as Eby touts local food in response to U.S. tariff threat

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Feb, 2025 02:43 PM

British Columbia Premier David Eby says it has been "absolutely inspirational" to see people step up across the province and Canada to support homegrown businesses in response to the tariff threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Eby made the comment during a visit to a Save-On-Foods location in Vancouver, where he highlighted efforts to boost local food production.

It’s heartwarming to see British Columbians coming together to support businesses at home.

We’re working with farmers and businesses to make more food grown close to home available year round.

Just look for that BuyBC logo!.

More on how you can help: https://t.co/ZZ85OP6ApV pic.twitter.com/C1BgHYEkOz
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) February 28, 2025

He says Windset Farms based in Delta entered into a partnership with BC Hydro last fall to expand its facility to become the largest LED-lit greenhouse powered by renewable electricity in western North America.

The premier says Windset recently signed an agreement with Save-On-Foods, "displacing American tomatoes" and giving B.C. residents access to local produce.

Jamie Nelson with Save-On-Foods says the company has more than 2,000 made-in Canada items on its shelves identified with Canadian flags, and they're "really excited" about pushing forward with the buy-local effort.

Eby says B.C. residents would soon start seeing more "Buy BC" advertisements, and the province has also launched a new website with a tool to help people buy local along with the latest information about tariffs and B.C.'s response.

The only thing certain about Trump is uncertainty, Eby added, and the B.C. government is "doing (its) best to diversify away from the United States in order to protect B.C. businesses and consumers from whatever is happening down south."

Asked about reducing barriers to interprovincial trade, Eby told the news conference that Economic Development Minister Diana Gibson was meeting with counterparts from across Canada to push for a "mutual recognition agreement" that would mean products approved for sale in one Canadian jurisdiction would be allowed in others.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Economists more confident in Bank of Canada rate hold as inflation ticks up to 1.9%

Economists are more confident the Bank of Canada might pause its interest rate cuts next month — tariffs notwithstanding — as Canada's annual inflation rate ticked back up in January. Statistics Canada's consumer price index on Tuesday reported the annual inflation rate rose to 1.9 per cent last month, up from 1.8 per cent in December, as the effects from a full month of the federal government's GST break were offset by higher fuel costs.

Economists more confident in Bank of Canada rate hold as inflation ticks up to 1.9%

Most passengers injured in Pearson airport plane crash released from hospital: Delta

Delta Air Lines says all but two passengers injured Monday when a plane crashed and flipped on the tarmac at Toronto's Pearson airport have been released from hospitals as of this morning. Delta says in a social media post that 19 out of 21 passengers initially taken to Toronto-area hospitals have since been released as the investigation into the cause of the crash continues.

Most passengers injured in Pearson airport plane crash released from hospital: Delta

B.C. Labour Relations Board finds Starbucks made threats against pro-union employee

The B.C. Labour Relations Board has found Starbucks wrongfully made "threats of adverse consequences" against an employee for her unionization activity, but found the company had a "legitimate business reason" to close down its only unionized location in Vancouver.

B.C. Labour Relations Board finds Starbucks made threats against pro-union employee

Flu activity in B.C. peaking as COVID-19, respiratory virus decline

The BC Centre for Disease Control says influenza A infections remain high and continue to increase, with the percentage of tests returning positive up to 24 per cent in the week ending Feb. 1. That figure is more than double that of the 11.7 per cent reported between Dec. 22 and Dec. 28.

Flu activity in B.C. peaking as COVID-19, respiratory virus decline

Workers at B.C. LifeLabs file 72-hour strike notice over wages, benefits

The union representing about 1,200 workers at LifeLabs throughout British Columbia says it has issued a 72-hour strike notice to the employer. The B.C. General Employees' Union says in a news release that the action comes after months of negotiations and LifeLabs' refusal to bring wages and benefits in line with the cost of living.

Workers at B.C. LifeLabs file 72-hour strike notice over wages, benefits

Canada still top of mind for Trump, 'not a good place to be'

As President Donald Trump signed an executive order for reciprocal tariffs on Thursday that escalates his trade threats, his administration took aim at Canada's digital services tax as a major trade irritant. The White House sent out a document calling digital taxes in both Canada and France "unfair" for taxing American companies.