David Eby has doubled down on his suggestion that the only way to fight Donald Trump's tariff threat is via retaliation.
The premier argued that perhaps Canada should target red states, populated by those who voted for the president.
"We will make sure that if the tariffs come in, that the lesson that is learned by the United States is that we are tough; there is no free lunch here in Canada, or in BC," Eby said during a press conference in Vancouver on Tuesday.
"We will support the federal government in matching tariffs. We will do our part in British Columbia to identify other ways of making sure that every harm that is inflicted on British Columbia families is met and matched with a response to the United States."
He added that the money generated by retaliatory tariffs on the United States "should be immediately deployed across the country to affected individuals and businesses to help them survive, to diversify their markets, and to move to other markets other than the United States."
"I think there's still time for President Trump to work with us, because there is a strong desire on the part of the premiers and the federal government to address the concerns the president has raised," Eby continued, "but we are willing to respond to these tariffs proportionately and as is required."
When asked whether he believed the threats of retaliation levelled against Trump by Victoria and Ottawa would actually change the president's mind, Eby suggested that because the United States is so powerful, it will essentially do what it wants to do.
He noted, however, that Canada would never back down, arguing that, "it may be that the only way for that message to be delivered is for Americans to actually feel the pain and the consequences of this visited upon them by Canadian retaliation against these tariffs."
"I believe that we can step up that pain," Eby continued, "that we can target it to specific Republican districts where there is support for this agenda, and get the attention of folks about how integrated we are."
The premier also made it clear he would not use provincial resources to patrol the border, making it clear he wants the federal government to handle their "core responsibilities."
Manitoba, meanwhile, has deployed conservation officers.