Bill 7 could have disastrous effects on North
UPDATE:
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has formally expressed their opposition to Bill 7, the proposed legislation introduced by Premier David Eby, which seeks to impose tolls on commercial trucks travelling through British Columbia to Alaska.
In a press release issued March 17, NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser said he had expressed his concerns about the detrimental impact that tolls would have on the local economy, in a letter to the Premier.
The Alaska Highway is one of the last economic drivers for communities within the Northern Rockies, contributing vital revenue and employment opportunities, Fraser noted. Imposing tolls could significantly limit commercial traffic, further crippling and already struggling economy. While ground cargo represents just one percent of the total cargo entering Alaska each year, Fraser says this policy would have catastrophic effects on BC’s northeast but have minimal impact on the United States.
“This is yet another example of where the policies imposed by the Province have hindered economic growth in the Northern Rockies, driven by decision-makers lacking an understanding of the impacts where they are felt most,” said Fraser.
“Imposing tolls on commercial trucks will not only threaten one of the only remaining pillars of our economy but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of many families who depend on the Alaska Highway for their prosperity.”
“Our communities are committed to working collaboratively within a legislative framework that fosters interprovincial trade but insist that the burden of new policies should not unfairly fall on our community.”
“No specific highway, including the Alaska Highway, is designated in the proposed legislation.”
That was the message from the BC Ministry of the Attorney General, when asked if the Alaska Highway is destined to become a toll road for American commercial vehicles heading to Alaska, under Bill 7, the proposed Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act.
The spokesperson said that the ministry is aware of the 1977 Treaty Notes which prohibit tolls or fees on American vehicles that do not apply equally to Canadian vehicles.
A quick perusal of Bill 7 reveals that in Section 14 (1) “The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, establish a system of tolls, fees or charges to be paid to the government in respect of the use of a provincial undertaking.”
A provincial undertaking is how the Transportation Act defines “any improvement or work of public utility that relates to transportation”, i.e., provincial public highways, ferries, transit systems and even ditches.
While no specific highway is mentioned in Bill 7, given that there is only one “provincial undertaking” that leads to Alaska, the options appear to be to turn the Alaska Highway into a toll road or levy a toll on all Alaska-destined commercial traffic as it crosses the international and Alberta borders into BC.
A bureaucratic and logistical headache in the making for British Columbia. And expensive to boot.
It doesn’t end there.
Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy said in a statement March 13, following the introduction of Bill 7 into the Legislature, “The government has introduced Bill 7 as a response to US tariffs, but upon closer examination, this legislation goes far beyond trade measures, and raises serious concerns about government accountability and oversight.”
In his press conference on March 13, Premier David Eby said this part of the bill is specifically designed to target Alaska and get the attention of the state’s Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy and state representatives, and thus President Donald Trump.
Section 18 provides for establishing a system of tolls, fees or charges, on roads, parts of roads, based on such things as the times or days of use; the extent of use; and the class of vehicle.
It also allows the Lieutenant Governor in Council to “make different regulations in relation to different users, operators, owners, vehicles or provincial undertakings, or different classes of users, operators, owners, vehicles or provincial undertakings.”
The tolls could be applied to all types of traffic, including tourists.
Kealy noted that the bill could open the door to new tolls.
“The legislation allows the province to impose tolls on roads, bridges, highways and ferries. While intended as a trade measure, there is nothing in the bill preventing these costs from being passed on to British Columbians.”
Canada and the United States agreed more than 80 years ago after the Alaska Highway was completed, that the highway would become part of the Canadian highway system, to be used freely, and without penalty by civilian traffic.
Treaty Notes from April 1943 detailed this agreement regarding post-war use of the Alaska Highway.
The letter from the United States read (emphasis added):
“that part of the highway which lies in Canada shall become in all respects an integral part of the Canadian highway system, subject to the understanding that there shall at no time be imposed any discriminatory conditions in relation to the use of the road as between Canada and United States civilian traffic.”
“Elsewhere the Canadian Government agreed to waive import duties, transit or similar charges on shipments originating in the United States and to be transported over the highway to Alaska or originating in Alaska and to be transported over the highway to the United States.”
Canada’s reply read (emphasis added):
“My Government agrees that it is the natural inference from the language quoted above that United States vehicles should be allowed to use the roads leading from the boundary to the Alaska Highway under conditions and for purposes similar to those governing the use of the highway itself.”
This treaty is still in effect according to the Government of Canada’s website.
The Ministry spokesman said: “The proposed legislation allows government to make decisions on any actions after taking into account all the necessary considerations.”
John Rustad and the BC Conservatives say this is an unjustified power grab, which they intend to fight.
“Today Eby introduced Bill 7 that would give the government unprecedented powers to tax roads, bridges and any other infrastructure under the guise of fighting tariffs. Not only does the legislation enable road tolls but it gives unlimited powers to the executive to bypass the legislature,” the Conservative Party of BC said in a statement to The Broken Typewriter on Thursday.
Many of those in the provincial opposition took to X (formerly Twitter), expressing their concern over the powers that the proposed legislation would give Premier Eby and the NDP.
“Alarm bells should be going off! Bill 7 allows for the NDP to put tolls, fees, and charges on our existing roads!” wrote Richmond-Queensborough MLA Steve Kooner, Critic for Attorney General.
Transportation Critic, Langley-Abbotsford MLA Harman Bhangu called Bill 7 insane.
“Eby wants unchecked power to tax roads, control industries, and bypass democracy—all under the excuse of "emergency measures.” This is a full-blown authoritarian takeover,” Bhangu wrote.
Kealy called Bill 7 “one of the most dangerous bills so far.”
“This Bill could have disastrous affects to our region and Mayor Rob Fraser [Northern Rockies Regional Municipality] has expressed similar concerns,” he said.