Proposed legislation in British Columbia to give the cabinet sweeping powers to respond to threats from foreign governments amid Canada's tariff fight is "a step in the wrong direction for democratic institutions," the president of the provincial chamber of commerce says.
Fiona Famulak becomes the latest to voice concerns over legislation tabled this month that the provincial government says it needs to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a letter to Premier David Eby and Attorney General Niki Sharma released Wednesday, Famulak said the legislation known as Bill 7 lacks "guardrails" and allows the government to make nearly any change it wants to provincial laws "with the stroke of a pen."
"As a nation, we universally decry the progression towards authoritarian rule through decree by the executive branch of the United States. There is no justification for taking similar steps here in British Columbia or Canada," Famulak said.
"By not being accountable to the legislature, government is requiring that we move forward on faith and trust alone. This is neither sufficient nor acceptable."
Bill 7 would give the cabinet powers to react to challenges from the actions of a foreign jurisdiction, or for a purpose “supporting the economy of British Columbia and Canada” without requiring debate in the legislature.
Famulak said the organization, which represents 36,000 businesses in the province, is concerned the legislation would allow government to remove or impose new conditions on existing licences or permits if it believes the action would support the economy, throwing business operations into flux.
The bill also includes sections that would give cabinet the power to implement charges on vehicles using B.C. infrastructure, allow the politicians to make directives about public-sector procurement, and eliminate provincial trade barriers by allowing goods produced, manufactured or grown elsewhere in Canada to be sold or used in B.C.
Ravi Kahlon, chair of B.C.'s cabinet committee on tariff response, said in a statement Thursday that they are hearing some concerns and questions about specific details of the bill and are talking to government partners now.
"We want to address any concerns and ensure B.C. is prepared to act with urgency to respond directly to Trump’s actions and protect B.C. businesses and jobs — as people expect us to do. This may mean additional guardrails," his statement said.
Famulak said the chamber "wholeheartedly" endorses the removal of interprovincial trade barriers as part of the government's response to the "unjustified and counterproductive tariffs."
After praising the legislation's focus on internal trade when it was released, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade issued a letter the next day calling for the separation of the internal trade section from the rest of the bill.
"The other parts of Bill 7 are truly unprecedented in scope, including the sweeping powers that would be conferred to the cabinet," president Bridgitte Anderson said in her letter.
"While it's clear Trump's trade war has spurred an economic emergency, it is not clear to us that the sweeping powers are required or justified."
When the bill was tabled, Eby said Trump is “unpredictable” and “erratic” and the province needs to be able to move quickly to minimize damage from his actions.
“When there’s an emergency, like a natural disaster, we have these authorities. This is a human-caused disaster," he said.
The legislation comes with a 2027 sunset clause and requires that the government report on its actions.
Trump has placed and then paused 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods since he became president, and on Wednesday signed an order that would put a 25 per cent tariff on automobile imports to the United States starting next week.
On April 2 he is set to implement what he calls "reciprocal" tariffs by raising U.S. duties to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports.
B.C.'s government has said a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods and a similar response from Canada would cumulatively cost the province $69 billion in lost GDP if the trade war lasts the entire four years of the Trump presidency.
Concerns about the provincial legislation have also been raised by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, which called the bill an unprecedented attempt to concentrate power in the hands of the premier that must be stopped.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said the bill "erodes the distinction between the legislative and executive branches of government in British Columbia, thereby putting pressure on the constitutional principle of the separation of powers."
Politicians return to Victoria next week and the bill is expected to be a major test for Eby's government, which holds a majority of only one seat.
The BC Green Party, which signed a confidence agreement with Eby's New Democrats, said its representatives continue to meet with the government this week over Bill 7.
Interim Green Leader Jeremy Valeriote said in a statement last week that Bill 7 in its current form has "vague wording" and "could allow for sweeping economic decisions without clear limits or transparency."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2025.
Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press
