Below, are some letters to the editor responses to the recent Times Colonist newspaper editorial, warning of the serious impact of Bill 7. The Victoria newspaper is available throughout Vancouver Island, and is to be commended for bringing Bill 7 to our attention. See below:
“Opinion: Times Colonist March 25, 2025”
With his financial record, don’t give more power
The recent letters and the editorial criticizing Premier David Eby’s attempt to grant himself dictatorial powers through Bill 7 are well justified.
Justin Trudeau tried the same thing early in the pandemic, but was forced to retreat by public outrage and solidarity of the opposition parties.
B.C. citizens need to apply similar pressure with their local MLAs.
The type of judgement that has seriously weakened B.C. by turning a $5-billion surplus into an $11-billion deficit in the past two years is not the kind of judgment that should ever be given unfettered power.
Dan Graham – North Cowichan
Rational oversight needed for Eby
With respect to the NDP government’s proposed Bill 7, it seems Premier David Eby is taking a leaf out of Donald Trump’s playbook by trying to use a declaration of emergency to give him and his cabinet dictatorial powers to bypass the legislature and enact any kind of policies and actions be they related to tariffs or other matters.
This is both unnecessary and undemocratic and is typical of the high-handed governing style of this government.
Further, on counter-tariff issues, I think it is dangerous to the country’s overall interest if provincial premiers start taking individual actions outside of a co-ordinated strategy led by the federal government.
This is why some kind of rational oversight is required.
Graham Williams – North Saanich
Alice in Wonderland has lessons for Eby
Re: “Provincial government’s Bill 7 is a disgraceful overreach,” editorial, March 21.
Premier David Eby has run amok with Bill 7.
As the Queen of Hearts was wont to say in Alice in Wonderland, “off with his (legislative) head.”
Sayonara, Mr. Eby.
Rick Lee – Victoria
Pass this legislation at your peril
Re: “Provincial government’s Bill 7 is a disgraceful overreach,” editorial, March 21.
I couldn’t agree more with the editorial. I have been an NDP voter but if this bill passes, not anymore.
I am tired of a political class that believes they know best and the citizens should just thank them for their superior brain power.
The opposition parties that garnered one less seat than the NDP will not be permitted to debate anything, but the government will consult with Indigenous peoples who represent about 5% of the population. This is not democracy, it is a power grab similar to the “executive authority” used by Donald Trump.
Wayne Cox – Saanichton
Stand up to our leaders, make them work for us
Re: “Provincial government’s Bill 7 is a disgraceful overreach,” editorial, March 21.
There is old adage that hard cases make for bad laws. The threat to Canada makes for a hard case but Bill 7, the Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act, is the epitome of a bad law. Not only is it unnecessary, its very existence does more harm than good.
Canadians have come together in unprecedented fashion to stand up to American threats and President Donald Trump’s insulting attacks. Canadian premiers have been tripping over themselves to get in front of the crowd.
Ontario’s Doug Ford bills himself as Captain Canada, threatening drastic retaliatory acts, then withdrawing them for lack of practicality, then threatening them again.
Alberta’s Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe are effectively threatening to sell out Canada by seceding from the federation if we don’t surrender our energy, potash and agriculture. And B.C.’s David Eby wants to go all Viktor Orbán and pull an end run around our democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, our newly minted prime minister is struggling to show the world a coordinated approach, bolstering the military, affirming alterative foreign alliances, and promoting trans-Canada trade but it’s a tough gig without a mandate and herding a room full of cats.
It’s time the 90 per cent of Canadians who want to save this country stand up to their leaders.
Force Eby to re-holster his Bill 7, Smith and Moe to start pulling in the right direction, and engage in a federal election to choose a national leader with the experience, skill and mandate to realign Canada’s economic, social, and international infrastructure so we can survive this bad case, united and strong.
Gerry Klein – Maple Bay
This bill would destroy our democratic system
Re: “Provincial government’s Bill 7 is a disgraceful overreach,” editorial, March 21.
Section 19 of Bill 7, the “Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act” allows cabinet (read Premier David Eby, who has total control of cabinet) to “make a regulation under this Part for one or more of the following purposes: (c) supporting the economy of British Columbia and Canada.”
Of course, almost any regulation could be justified under such an undefined non-specific broad purpose. This government recently determined that it was “good for the economy” to take away vested land-use rights from people operating perfectly legal short-term rental businesses.
What might be next under this new law? Eliminating other established and lawful activities to react to U.S. demands, or appease the American president would be possible under Section 19.
We shake our heads in disbelief at how executive orders can be made in Washington with no input or involvement of their elected congress and senate.
How are Section 19 regulations any different? This ability to “un-make laws” previously duly enacted by our elected representatives in the legislature is nothing short of the destruction of our democratic system.
We do not react to a loss of control south of the border by allowing ourselves to lose control.
Bill 7 must be stopped.
Elgin Bulova – Victoria
Wonderful Spring is fully in play. Whether sunny or raining, the April encouragement for gardens, orchards, wild bracken at road sides to flower forward is spilling out everywhere.
