B.C. unveils new border signs: ‘We will never be the 51st state’
B.C. Premier David Eby held his press conference hours after counter-tariffs on nearly 28 billion dollars of U.S. goods went into effect.
On Tuesday, British Columbia Premier David Eby unveiled new border signs near the border shared with Washington State. The signs aim to convey a message of unity and commitment to never becoming the 51st U.S. state. One sign welcomes visitors to British Columbia and states: "Strong, proud and will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!"
A second sign advises visitors to refrain from littering, convert mph to km/h, respect fire bans, demonstrate kindness, be cautious of moose, and emphasizes that Canada will never be the 51st state.
The new signs come in the wake of heated rhetoric from former U.S. President Donald Trump in August, who appeared to suggest that Canada aspires to become the 51st state. Trump made these comments following the collapse of trade negotiations between Canada and the United States, accusing Canada of imposing high tariffs on American farmers. In response, several Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, took action in early 2025 by removing U.S. alcohol products from their shelves in protest.
In his press conference, Premier Eby highlighted the province's intention to bolster local buying and expand the existing Buy BC program to encompass a broader range of products. He also expressed optimism that the ongoing trade war between the two nations could persist, affecting numerous businesses and industries. Eby emphasized that Canada and the U.S. are not currently negotiating together and urged the American public to support candidates favoring a robust and unified relationship between the two countries. He stressed that, at present, this administration does not align with those values.
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