Canada 'will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!': B.C. premier unveils new border welcome signs

Canada 'will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!': B.C. premier unveils new border welcome signs

Never mistake kindness for weakness: Premier Eby

B.C. Premier David Eby unveiled new welcome signs for U.S. border crossings at a Tuesday press conference, which he says reflect a message from his government: "Welcome to British Columbia, Canada. Strong, proud, and will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!"

He pointed to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, saying that when 8,500 passengers were stranded at Vancouver International Airport, Canadians opened their doors to their southern neighbours.

"Now here we are 25 years later, as President Donald Trump has hurled insults, unfair tariffs and continues to threaten our independence as a country."

Eby said even in the face of the ongoing trade war between the two nations, Canadians wouldn't hesitate to step up again.

"While our kindness is one of our biggest strengths, you should never mistake it for weakness," he said.

Canada's counter-tariffs took effect Tuesday, and B.C. will uphold its ban on stocking U.S. alcohol on its shelves, said Eby, to "punch back" against Trump's "unfair" trade war.

He added that his government is working closely with the federal government and is identifying additional counter-measures to protect Canadians.

Arden McLeod, from Vancouver, is an associate producer with CBC News. He has a passion for community storytelling, local news, and reflecting the values of B.C. He graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology's broadcast and online journalism program. You can reach him at Arden.McLeod@cbc.ca.