Premier David Eby has been steadily dialling up the rage, as the Trump assault on Canada became an inescapable reality.

His initial reactions last November were mild — a call for Canadian unity and a reassurance that “we have more in common with Americans than what separates us.”

By January he was calling the tariff and annexation threats “an attack on B.C. families, an attack on Canadians.”

By last week he was calling it “a declaration of economic war on our country. … Elbows up, here we go. … We’re going to ensure Americans understand how pissed off we are.”

On Thursday, Bill 7 — the Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act — was introduced. Eby’s fear, frustration, and anger at perceived need for it were dominant. (“The beast is still coming at us full speed.”)

When he first said that legislative changes were coming to better equip him for the crisis, he said it was to provide “flexibility” and allow for nimble responses.

The bill goes far beyond that. It looks like at almost every point where there was a choice........

© Times Colonist