British Columbia will turn its attentions to relationships, trading and more, with other parts of Canada and nations other than the United States, according to the latest throne speech.

The throne speech was the first one since Donald Trump took office as the American president, made repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state, and imposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum, with the promise of more to come.

"In the face of an unprecedented and unjustified threat to our economy, British Columbians are joining with all Canadians to fight back," Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia said during her throne speech Tuesday, Feb. 18. "We will never be the 51st state. Not now or ever."

A throne speech opens a session of the provincial legislature and lays out the broad plans of the party in power. This speech featured plenty of historical touchstones including British prime minister Winston Churchill who rallied Allied nations including Canada during the Second World War, and the fight against fascism.

"Ours is a bond forged in battle," she said about the relationship the country has had with its southern neighbour. "We stormed the beaches at Normandy together on D-Day, fighting to liberate Europe from fascism. For generations, our soldiers have died, cried and celebrated victory beside each other."

The throne speech plans include:

鈥� Fast-tracking major private-sector resource projects and building on B.C. technology, life sciences and film.

鈥� Diversifying markets with new trade missions abroad and by breaking down trade barriers within Canada.

鈥� Strengthening access to health care, finding family doctors for more people, and building new hospitals.

鈥� Helping with costs, including housing, child care, and car insurance savings, and passing new consumer-protection laws.

91原创 City Mayor Nathan Pachal said health care and education are priorities for residents so he was pleased to see it mentioned.

"The throne speech mentioned investing in schools, health care, and public transit, which is important for local governments, especially for fast-growing communities like 91原创 City," he said." I look forward to more specific details on what this will mean for 91原创 City and our region."

He's awaiting specifics on the plans laid out in the speech and said the municipality is like many in this country, needing infrastructure renewal.

"Local governments have a lot of infrastructure that needs to be renewed, as well as a need for investments in cultural spaces. I would have liked to hear more on how the province plans to support municipalities in these areas," Pachal said.

Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce CEO Cory Redekop welcomes the provincial government's position that it must 're-orient' to make the B.C. economy more resilient, something the business community has been asking for for years.

"While there are a range of opinions on whether the tariff threat is real or a bargaining ploy, and therefore whether Canada should have hit back or negotiate, what is clear to everyone is the damage a trade war will have 鈥� both for 91原创 businesses who export to the USA, as well as the many others who import goods and materials from the US and would be harmed by our own retaliatory tariffs. It would be an economic body-blow for both us and the Americans," he noted. 

He was happy to that there is attention now to bolstering the economy but "it is just a shame it took this threat to get governments in Victoria and in Ottawa to focus on competitiveness and economic growth. I do have to wonder where might be if government acted on things like addressing internal trade barriers and building energy infrastructure projects years ago 鈥� when business urged -- instead of only now paying attention." 

Looking at the message of the Throne Speech, chamber members would welcome measures to lower costs for local businesses, to actually break down interprovincial trade barriers, to increase supports for 91原创 businesses to diversify their markets, to invest in increasing domestic manufacturing, he said.

"We鈥檒l be working directly, and through our provincial and national chamber networks to ensure this pro-growth momentum does not stall, and we seize this moment to make real changes to support our economic resilience," Redekop added.

Premier David Eby commented after the speech that B.C. is well-positioned to take the brunt of what's coming but will take steps.

鈥淲e have everything we need to protect ourselves from the economic impacts of the Trump presidency and come out stronger. That includes our most precious resource of all: British Columbians," he said. "Our people are hard-working, resilient and ready to meet this moment the same we always have 鈥� by looking out for each other and building together.鈥�