Feb 3 - Trade battle heats up...

Good morning !

It's been a tumultuous weekend to say the least, with flip-flopping weather and the growing shadow of at least some level of economic chaos as a showdown with the US approaches. More on both below.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌨 2 / -2 ( - 9 wind chill)

Tomorrow: 🌨 2 / -3 ( -9)

Day after: 🌨 1 / -2

7-day forecast

NEWS

BC & Canada announce own tariffs, as ‘trade war’ takes effect tomorrow

American liquor is already disappearing from local BC Liquor stores on the Island as the province and country strike back against US tariffs. Governments have asked the public to buy Canadian and local, and various sports games have already featured booing of the US anthem.

Beginning tomorrow, Canada will match new US trade policy by applying 25% tariffs of its own to certain goods totalling some $30B. These new duties, many of which are on US-farmed food, are a reaction to policy confirmed Sunday by US President Donald Trump.

Three weeks from now, a further $125M in goods imported from the US would fall under Canadian tariffs.

BC launches own tariffs 

On Sat., Eby called the US's tariffs a “complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries and a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally.” BC sends more than half of its exports to the US, per provincial numbers, with the slight majority of that going to Washington state directly south.

BC's initial move has been BC Liquor moving away from buying or selling any liquor imports from “red states,” i.e. those controlled by Trump's Republican Party. He defended the approach on Fox News this weekend, arguing that Canadians want to be neighbours but have to use tactics to try to bring the US back to the table.

Eby also delivered a half-hour video address on Sat. outlining the planned response:

Province looks at mounting further response 

The government and Crown corps are also prioritizing buying Canadian goods and services. Other measures being looked at are accelerating large projects in BC industries, and diversifying trade so as to become less reliant on the US.

Experts gave the province estimates that by 2028 BC could lose a total of $69B and 120k jobs if these US tariffs continue throughout the Trump term. The province is also advised by a “trade and economic security task force” drawn from business, labour, and Indigenous leadership and by a new cabinet committee acting as a “war room" on the US confrontation.

Stark change in neighbours' trade relationship

Canada and Mexico are both being subjected to the 25% tariff on US imports of their goods (reduced to 10% for Canadian energy). China is faced with a 10% tariff. On the Island, there are particular concerns about the forestry industry.

Mexico also quickly announced retributive policy. Canada, Mexico, and the US are frequent trading partners and signed a new trade agreement (USMCA) during Trump's first term. The returning president now argues that the US is subsidising the “very abusive” Canada and is being “ripped off by virtually every country in the world.”

Trudeau is slated to have a last-chance meeting with Trump—who Trudeau says has not been contacting him back recently—today.

See ongoing, rolling updates today at CTV.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Advance voting in Crystal Pool referendum today. 

Cold & dry air, 5-8C below seasonal, is expected this week. Snow may accumulate.

Sun to return later in week after snow.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

More snow & colder days arrive this week

Snow and negative temperatures are expected to characterize the next several days in the South and East Island. A “snowsquall" is projected to drop up to 20cm of snow on parts of the Island region from now through to tomorrow night.

This will arrive in two parts: Today, mainly on the East Island, and tomorrow mainly between Victoria and Nanaimo. Snow accumulation and wind strength will depend on exact area, but 2-4cm of snow is expected today in Victoria.

Visibility will be reduced, particularly on the Malahat, and travel is not recommended.

See more of the forecast here.

Check your local municipality for the latest snow updates. Victoria has said that it has snow-clearing and de-icing equipment ready but has outlined the sequence in which those will be deployed—and the types of removal that residents are responsible for.

UVic announced that the campus would be slippery and wintery—but that it did not plan to close unless crews assessed that conditions had worsened prior to a 6:30am update.

FOOD

Best restaurants in Victoria for date night

Though it may not seem like it, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It’s time to hunker down, do some research and book a romantic dinner for you and your loved one (or best friend, or mother, whatever!) as soon as possible. Get ahead of the game and make a reservation well in advance to avoid scrambling at the very last minute!

Pick your favourite, and get ready for a gorgeous, candlelit and stress-free night. Here are some of Victoria’s best restaurants for date nights—Valentine's Day or otherwise—as voted by readers like you.

SPONSORED BY THE CANADIAN CLUB OF VICTORIA

Dr. Kate Moran from the University of Victoria and Ocean Networks Canada.

February 11, 11:45am - 1:30pm at Hotel Grand Pacific.

Dr. Moran is an Order of Canada recipient and is the President & CEO of Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a position she has held since 2012. She first joined the University of Victoria in September 2011 as a professor.  From 2009 to 2011, Moran was seconded to the US White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where she served as an Assistant Director and focused on Arctic, polar, ocean, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and climate policy issues. She is active in public outreach on topics related to the Arctic, ocean observing, and climate change.

Click here for more details. Deadline for registration is February 7 at 12pm

Non-members are welcome.

⭐️ Capital Picks

💮 Enough of the snow dropping—how about some snowdrops to remind us of springtime? [Work the Angle] 

🌕 Behind the Moon by Anosh Irani opens tomorrow at the Belfry Theatre. All performances feature pay-what-you-want tickets. Learn more.*

🐷🐷🐷 Cozy up with the pigs of Beacon Hill as they snuffle through a snack before bed. [Instagram video]

💖 Valentine's Day plans? Pure Day Spa has side-by-side treatments with your bestie: 45% off for your BFF! Manis, pedis, massages, glass facials ready-to-date. Private rooms with courtyard views! Gift cards available. Check it out!*

🦅 Close-ups of bald eagles in Nanaimo. [VanIsleWildlife]

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Sooke firefighter will climb 48 storeys to fundraise for lung health
A month from now, Derek Lambert will once again head to Vancouver to challenge the BC Lung Foundation’s annual Climb the Wall event. [Sooke News Mirror]

Salt Spring's century-old Ruby Alton Nature Reserve House may be demolished 
The Islands Trust Conservancy Board plans to engage a demolition contractor to take down all structures on the property, which it has struggled to remediate. [Driftwood]

The history of Sidney's Chinatown
Before a destructive fire in 1930, this section at Fouth and Fifth featured as much as a quarter of the town's population. [Peninsula News Review]

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

An opera for all ages

The Little Prince takes flight in a magical opera! Perfect for families, with $15 youth tickets. Be a part of the adventure, February 19–25.

And don't miss Family Day at the Royal, Feb 17, 12-3pm. An open house (free admission) to explore and play with Pacific Opera Victoria and Victoria Symphony.

🗓️ Things to do

🧧 Lunar New Year: Welcome the Year of the Snake—more on Lunar NY events here.

☕ Hot Chocolate Festival: Taste the warmth of Victoria’s community with this month-long festival where participating businesses showcase their creative hot chocolate experiences to support the BC SPCA Victoria Community Animal Centre. Various cafes. Until Feb. 28. [Info]

⚖ Supreme Court Justices visit Victoria Conference Centre today & tomorrow. [Times Colonist]

Sign up for This Week in Vic to get a full list of this week's local events tomorrow afternoon. [Subscribe]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Province intervening in Sooke & Oak Bay re: housing requirements. [Sunday newsletter]

325 years ago, the Island was struck by the “Big One.”

6-storey on Broughton gets council approval, replacing a current parking lot. [Black Press] 

Car-kicker won't get costs back from ICBC, court decides. [CTV]

Impressive sandstone carvings at Witty's Lagoon. [Doug Clement photos]

A beach full of King Penguins seen in the sub-Antarctic by an Island photographer. [Video]