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Rob Shaw: NDP weighs changes amid backlash to Eby’s emergency powers bill

5 15
25.03.2025

Stung by criticism that its new tariff response legislation is undemocratic, the BC NDP government is considering changes to try and bolster flagging support.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who chairs the premier’s cabinet committee on American tariff response, said the government is reviewing “additional guardrails” that could lead to Bill 7 being amended on the floor of the house.

The government’s willingness to change the bill comes with a warning: It does not want to be criticized later for being too slow in responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats.

That message was delivered bluntly in a meeting Tuesday with the members of the government’s Trade and Economy Security Taskforce, which includes mining, airport, tech, forestry, oil and gas, union and First Nations leaders.

“The message from us was pretty clear: Don't say later the government was slow to respond,” said Kahlon.

“Because that's often a critique that's made, government is slow and the decision is slow. During crisis, you need to be able to move and you need to react and make decisions quickly. So don't critique that later if you........

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