B.C. premier urges Ottawa to rethink fighter jet purchase and coal shipments in U.S. trade war response

British Columbia Premier David Eby urged the federal government to consider non-tariff measures in response to escalating U.S. tariffs, including reviewing a planned fighter jet purchase and speeding up the phase-out of American thermal coal shipments from a Metro Vancouver port. Eby expressed support for Ottawa's dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs announced Tuesday, which target over 700 products and take effect Sept. 8. He said he would propose the non-tariff ideas to Prime Minister Mark Carney while committing to work in lockstep with the federal government. The premier also encouraged Canadians to buy local products and avoid traveling to the United States. B.C. Federation of Labour president Sussanne Skidmore called government support a solid start but said business aid should be conditional on protecting jobs.