By Matthew Rowley
British Columbia Premier David Eby’s approach to Donald Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs is a prime example of everything wrong with most Canadian politician’s approach to the issue.
His entire approach is centred around optics and attempts to gain politically from very serious potential harm to the people of BC. And he is achieving his goal. In a Research Co poll, 67 per cent of respondents rated Eby’s response highly.
Eby is a tiny chihuahua, sure that he is the biggest and toughest person on the street.
Eby reminds me of a character in the Disney musical Oliver and Company – a wonderful children’s film, full of enjoyable music and unique characters. There is the kind and intelligent Oliver, street smart Artful Dodger, and the beautiful and pampered Georgette, all working together to tell a heartwarming story of a group of people (or dogs) becoming a family.
Eby is more like Tito, however. Tito is a tiny Chihuahua, who is sure that he is the biggest and the toughest person on the street, strutting about and posturing while throwing out threats of dire results if anyone chooses to mess with him.
The character in the film is meant to be a comedy sidekick, producing laughs because no one takes him seriously. I doubt this is what David Eby has aimed for the last few weeks, but it is what he has achieved as he has come out with bold statements regarding Trump’s threatened tariffs.
Rather than consider what is truly good for his people, rather than reaching out to Trump and co. and trying to come to some agreement or understanding, Eby has immediately gone into Tito mode and is jumping around and barking from his side of the border.
After lecturing Trump and company (who, as we know, hang on the Premier’s every word), Eby went on to threaten an immediate and crippling assault against the vaunted might of the United States: no more Tennessee booze! Red states like Tennessee will feel the wrath of the British Columbia consumer, while wines from Blue states like California will, of course, still be on the menu.
But it gets better! Eby has directed the BC government to buy Canadian goods and services first! While the first policy is a blow that would be hard to take, the second will of course utterly level those pesky Yankees, leaving them with no option but to sue for peace before Eby bites their ankles off. This devastating double hit will surely reduce the $26 billion worth of goods that BC imports from the USA every year, stopping the … $30.337 trillion American economy in its tracks.
Eby is getting a short term boost that will give him a week or two of warm fuzzy feelings. It is the political equivalent of the “fun uncle” showing up for the weekend with non-stop video games and ice cream for the kids. Highly popular, but leading to headaches and sick stomachs when the sugar high wears off. The economic harm of tariffs is not being addressed, there is no real solution, and Eby’s measures compound the pain rather than helping.
Contrast this with Conservative leader John Rustad’s approach to tariffs. Rustad is certainly not anyone’s cool uncle, more closely resembling the wise grandfather who sits with the grandkids presenting lessons on life.
Not so flashy, but longer lasting.
Each of Rustad’s proposals is in the power of the BC government to implement.
In a ten point plan he sent to Eby, Rustad outlined a positive plan that recognizes the tariff threat as a wake up call to develop BC’s wider economy and position within Canada. He recommended working for greater interprovincial free trade, calling back the legislature, developing British Columbia’s liquified natural gas resources, eliminating the Carbon Tax, eliminating regulations that slow down energy projects, developing the mining sector, reducing costs in forestry, and creating new natural gas-powered generation projects.
Each of Rustad’s proposals is in the power of the BC government to implement. They are smart, economically significant, and add to the province’s GDP rather than dragging it down through tariffs, embargoes, or taxes. Even if there were no external threat providing the impetus to implement them, they are all solid plans for advancing the economic well-being of the regular people of BC.
Rustad is mapping out a path that will ensure that whatever happens south of the border, people are given the tools they need to build their own prosperity.
But these proposals are not grabbing the headlines. Why? Because Rustad has chosen not to adopt the Tito mentality. Rather than yap and jump about, puffing out his chest and making grand gestures to the wind, Rustad is taking the less sexy and dramatic route of mapping out a path that will benefit regular British Columbians, to ensure that whatever happens south of the border, people are given the tools they need to build their own prosperity.
This strikes at the core of the question: what is the role of a political leader in tough times?
From the current Canadian climate it is possible to believe that the sole purpose of a party leader or government is to look good and win elections. From every level of government we are swamped with press releases and projects whose only purpose seems to be short term polling bumps or targeted bribery of select voting blocs.
Political leaders like Eby seem to have lost the plot. They have atomized the people of our provinces and country into data points to be manipulated into voting the way they want. They have turned government into a cycle of cool uncles lavishing sugary gifts upon the populace to gain yet another political win.
We need to turn our backs on carnival performers like David Eby, and embrace Rustad’s statesmanship, the long term vision, and the self-sacrificial attitude that chooses to do what is best for people rather than what serves electoral success.
Across the country we see politicians of various stripes salivating over the opportunity to use Trump’s tariffs as a political tool. Federal Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland crows about her ability to stand toe to toe against Trump. Prime Minister Trudeau breathlessly declaims about his plan to spend more money than Midas while instituting his own tariffs so that he can prove he is just as tough as Trump.
In contrast Alberta’s Danielle Smith has done solid work actually going down to Mar A Lago and Washington, DC to talk to those who wield the power in the United States . Smith has also advanced economic growth policies and attracted investment to the province.
Federally, Pierre Poilievre has produced a solid plan of practical economic growth boosters, targeted reductions in regulations, and innovative investment ideas to cut taxes, jumpstart growth, and diversify Canadian trade both internally and externally.
In British Columbia, John Rustad has stepped forward with thoughtful policy, crafted to produce long term benefit for the people. These plans may lack the Tito style of an Eby, strutting about and banning bourbon, but in the long run they are good for real people — who are in real economic pain now — and whose pain will only increase because too many politicians for too long have only looked to the next poll or next election.
Let us hope that common sense catches on, and voters elect sensible politicians like Rustad, Smith and Poilievre, who believe that doing what is right for everyday people builds not only strong electoral coalitions, but stronger provinces and a stronger Canada.
Matthew Rowley is president of Training Leaders International Canada, an overseas teaching organization. He holds a Bachelor of Theology from Clearwater College, an MDiv from Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, and a PhD from McMaster Divinity College. His scholarship is heavily focused on the early development of the Canadian political, church, and educational systems, and he works to educate people on the history and philosophy of conservatism. He currently resides in Water Valley, Alberta.
