Escalating Trade War Triggers Economic Concerns

As trade tensions worsen between Canada and the United States, British Columbia could face severe economic fallout, with estimates indicating 11,200 jobs in the province are in jeopardy. The situation makes B.C. the most impacted province per capita across Canada, according to the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, which noted that roughly 14 per cent of the province’s overall exports are directly affected.

Provincial Leadership Pushes for Stronger Countermeasures

Speaking from a Vancouver liquor store on Tuesday afternoon—a location highlighting B.C.’s standing ban on American alcohol products—Premier David Eby backed federal countermeasures while pressing for further action. “The only way to deal with a thug and a bully is to stand up to him,” Eby said. “That’s why the prime minister’s step was the right one.”

Eby urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to consider non-tariff pressure tactics, such as restricting U.S. access to thermal coal export terminals located at Roberts Bank. The American energy sector relies on the B.C. facility because shipping coal from domestic U.S. ports remains difficult. Eby mentioned the idea, previously brought forward by former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad, stating, “I think that this is something that the federal government should be looking at as well.”

Tariffs Follow Collapsed Trade Negotiations

The latest bilateral strain follows the breakdown of bilateral talks over the weekend. U.S. President Donald Trump launched a 50 per cent tariff targeting roughly $30 billion in Canadian exports, which went into force on Saturday. In response, Prime Minister Carney announced matching retaliatory duties on American products ranging from 15 to 50 per cent to offset the impact “dollar for dollar.” The Canadian tariffs are scheduled to take effect on Sept. 8.

Local Businesses and Supply Chains Face Hardships

Describing the retaliatory actions as a “body blow” for the provincial business community, B.C. Chamber of Commerce President Jen Riley warned that sectors like forestry are facing heightened risks. The industry is already struggling under existing softwood lumber duties that triggered mill closures provincewide. Riley pointed out that damage spreads beyond primary sites to downstream regional industries, such as Delta trucking operations forced to transport reduced freight loads. B.C. firms are also struggling with critical imported inputs, such as specialized agricultural machinery that cannot be easily replaced locally.

Riley plans to meet with federal and provincial representatives to advocate for long-term economic relief and sector-specific supports. Meanwhile, Ryan Mitton of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses cautioned governments against repeating previous pandemic-era relief errors, where small business owners faced complicated applications and long delays. Mitton cited complex cross-border supply chains, such as local agricultural products exported south for pet food processing before returning to Canadian retail shelves, as examples of operations getting hit from both directions.

Eby signaled agreement with these business concerns, promising that B.C. is advocating for simplified support programs for small and medium enterprises. “They’re going to need additional support, and they don’t need a huge number of complicated processes to go through,” Eby said.

They have proven they can win votes. Kerry-Lynne Findlay now has to prove they can govern.

By Chad Dashly | The Current

There is an uncomfortable conversation conservatives in British Columbia need to have.

The BC Conservatives are not ready for primetime.

That doesn’t mean British Columbia doesn’t need a conservative government. Quite the opposite.

Conservatives believe in fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, free enterprise, public safety and governments that respect the taxpayers who ultimately pay the bills.

British Columbia desperately needs a credible alternative capable of advancing those principles.

But wanting a Conservative government and believing the current Conservative Party is ready to govern are two very different things.

And conservatives shouldn’t be afraid to say so.

Give Them Credit

Let’s start by acknowledging what the BC Conservatives have accomplished.

Their rise has been remarkable.

In an extraordinarily short period, they went from the political wilderness to the Official Opposition and came within striking distance of forming government in 2024.

They have also built a serious fundraising operation.

According to Elections BC, the Conservatives raised more than $1.08 million in the first quarter of 2026 and another $1.146 million in the second quarter.

Those aren’t insignificant numbers.

This is no longer a fringe political organization.

It is a major provincial political party with a large grassroots constituency and a legitimate opportunity to form the next government.

But that is exactly why the standard must now be higher.

The Findlay Era Begins

Kerry-Lynne Findlay inherited both an enormous opportunity and an enormous challenge when she won the Conservative leadership on May 30.

And it was hardly an overwhelming mandate.

Findlay defeated Caroline Elliott 51 per cent to 49 per cent on the fourth ballot.

That tells us something important.

The party remains a coalition of different conservative factions, personalities and political traditions.

Findlay’s first responsibility isn’t simply defeating David Eby.

It is demonstrating that she can turn that coalition into a disciplined political organization capable of governing British Columbia.

That means moving beyond the insurgent politics that helped build the party.

It means becoming professional.

Predictable.

Disciplined.

And boring when necessary.

Because governing is frequently boring.

The Revolving Door Has to Stop

The recent changes at the top of the party organization demonstrate just how much rebuilding remains.

In August, party president Aisha Estey and vice-president Sharon White were replaced, with Mauro Francis becoming president and Pavneet Singh taking over as vice-president.

Perhaps those changes will ultimately strengthen the organization.

But they also continue a pattern of transition that has surrounded the Conservatives since their explosive rise.

Leadership changes.

Caucus changes.

Organizational changes.

Internal disputes.

Personnel controversies.

At some point, the rebuilding has to end and the governing preparation has to begin.

British Columbians aren’t electing a political start-up.

They are choosing a potential government.

Candidate Vetting Must Improve

This is another area where conservatives should demand higher standards.

Candidate vetting isn’t glamorous.

But it may be one of the most important responsibilities of a political party.

When you nominate someone to run for the legislature, you aren’t simply finding somebody to put their name on a lawn sign.

You are potentially selecting a future MLA.

Perhaps a parliamentary secretary.

Perhaps a cabinet minister.

Perhaps someone responsible for billions of dollars in public spending.

The standard therefore has to be substantially higher than finding people who agree with the party.

A government-in-waiting needs candidates with judgment, experience, credibility and the ability to withstand serious public scrutiny.

The next BC Conservative candidate class should be vetted accordingly.

Where Is the Governing Blueprint?

This may be the biggest issue of all.

What exactly would a BC Conservative government do?

Not philosophically.

Specifically.

If spending is too high, what gets cut?

If taxes are too high, which ones are reduced first?

If regulations are preventing investment, which regulations change?

If health care is broken, what structural reforms happen in the first 100 days?

If crime and addiction policies aren’t working, what replaces them?

If British Columbia wants more mining, forestry, LNG and energy development, what approvals change and how quickly?

How does the province reconcile resource development with Indigenous rights and consultation?

How does a Conservative government accelerate housing construction?

How quickly can the budget realistically return to balance?

These questions require more than slogans.

They require numbers.

Timelines.

Legislation.

Implementation plans.

And people capable of executing them.

That work should already be underway.

Opposition Is Easy

There is another political reality conservatives should understand.

Opposition is easy compared with government.

It is relatively easy to stand in Question Period and identify something that isn’t working.

It is much harder to fix it.

“Cut waste” sounds great.

What waste?

Which department?

Which program?

How much?

How quickly?

What happens to the people currently receiving the service?

“Reduce red tape.”

Excellent.

Which regulations?

“Fix health care.”

How?

“Build more housing.”

Where?

“Develop our natural resources.”

On what timeline?

That is where political rhetoric collides with governing reality.

A serious government-in-waiting has answers to those questions before the election begins.

Build the Cabinet Before You Need One

Findlay should also be thinking about something political parties often leave far too late:

Who actually governs?

The Conservatives should already be identifying potential cabinet talent — both inside and outside their existing caucus.

Finance.

Health.

Attorney General.

Energy and Mines.

Forests.

Housing.

Transportation.

Education.

Indigenous Relations.

Economic Development.

These aren’t communications positions.

They are enormous management responsibilities.

The party should be actively recruiting accomplished British Columbians from business, law, health care, academia, local government, First Nations and the resource sector.

The objective shouldn’t simply be winning 47 seats.

It should be assembling 47 people capable of governing.

There is a difference.

Conservatives Should Demand More From Conservatives

Some Conservatives will inevitably consider this criticism disloyal.

It isn’t.

Quite the opposite.

If conservatives believe in accountability, then accountability has to begin at home.

If we expect businesses to operate professionally, our political organizations should operate professionally.

If we demand fiscal discipline from government, we should demand organizational discipline from the party seeking to replace it.

And if conservatives criticize governments for incompetence, we cannot excuse incompetence simply because the people involved happen to wear our team’s jersey.

Conservatives should expect more from Conservatives.

Findlay Has an Opportunity

There is good news in all of this.

These problems are fixable.

Findlay has political and government experience.

The Conservatives have money.

They have MLAs.

They have members.

They have volunteers.

They have an energized political base.

And most importantly, they have time.

Their fundraising numbers suggest there is substantial appetite for what they are selling.

The question is whether the organization can mature quickly enough to deliver it.

Findlay now has an opportunity to professionalize the party, strengthen candidate vetting, recruit serious talent, develop detailed policy and turn an insurgent movement into a government-in-waiting.

That should be the mission between now and the next provincial election.

The Primetime Test

The BC Conservatives have already proven they can win votes.

They have proven they can raise money.

They have proven they can build a movement.

Now comes the difficult part.

They have to prove they can govern.

British Columbians aren’t simply choosing someone to fight David Eby.

They are choosing the people who could soon be responsible for hospitals, schools, highways, courts, policing, housing, natural resources and tens of billions of dollars of public money.

That requires something more than opposition.

It requires competence.

Discipline.

Professionalism.

And a credible plan.

British Columbia needs a strong conservative alternative.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay now has an opportunity to build one.

But until the BC Conservatives demonstrate that transformation, conservatives shouldn’t be afraid to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth:

They are not ready for primetime.

Atleast.  Not yet.

Former Mayor Criticizes Party’s Shift to Far Right

Randy Hawes announced on social media Monday, Aug. 24, that he has stepped down as president of the Abbotsford-Mission riding association and departed the Conservative Party of B.C. His resignation comes as party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay seeks to run for the seat. Hawes, a former Mission mayor and BC Liberal MLA, stated that Findlay represents “a huge step to the far right,” adding that her political direction is not what the province needs or wants.

Surprise Resignation of Sitting MLA Prompts Concerns

Hawes had served as riding association president since Gasper was elected, helping recruit new members and fundraise. However, Gasper recently stepped down as MLA to make way for Findlay, taking a new role as Findlay’s deputy chief of staff. Hawes said he received no advance notice of Gasper’s departure, learning about it entirely through news reports and social media. He criticized the move, arguing that an Abbotsford-Mission byelection is an unnecessary expense and suggesting Findlay should have instead asked her husband, Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman, to vacate his seat.

Broader Party Departures and Political Uncertainty

Reflecting on the party’s direction since Findlay became leader in May, Hawes expressed disappointment, noting he had hoped the party would remain centre-right rather than adopting what he described as a “MAGA-style right where you hate people.” He indicated he intends to work against Findlay’s candidacy while hoping a centrist alternative emerges. The departure follows other recent exits within the party, including party president Aisha Estey, vice-president Sharon White, and MLAs Ian Paton and Peter Milobar. In a Tuesday press conference in Vancouver, Findlay acknowledged the instability, telling reporters, “There may even be others that leave our caucus; I don’t know.” The Conservative Party of B.C. was not contacted for comment.