3387 replies to this topic

[lanforod]

Naw, my point is, that in spite of Seattle being able to take the biggest ships, there are literally less than a handful of those bigger ships sailing here and absolutely none of the really big ones (which carry 6k - 7k pax!). Its not a lot, there are far, far more mid size ones doing Alaska runs.

[Barrister]

While certainly unfair, at this point I dont care if there are any cruise ships,

[Mike K.]

Alaska is right angry that Eby has threatened to tariff trucks transiting through BC. The Vancouver Sun says during COVID, Horgan challenged the Alaskans like Eby is doing now, and they pulled out all the stops to ensure their cruise ship industry could still operate after Canada blocked its ports that ordinarily satisfied PVSA requirements.

When Sullivan and his colleagues first voiced the threat, then Premier John Horgan mocked their chances of success.

“Anyone who has spent any time watching the U.S. Congress knows that the likelihood of success on any number of endeavours is remote in good times, much less in times of crisis,” Horgan declared. “I’m confident that this blip along the way is the result of frustration in Alaska.”

The Alaskans took Horgan’s bluster as a challenge. Led by Don Young, a 50-year veteran of the House of Representatives, they pushed the legislation through both houses of Congress in short order.

“Advice to John Horgan: Don’t underestimate Don Young and the Alaska delegation. Our bill — the blip as you say — is now headed to be signed into law,” said Young on May 22, 2021, rubbing it in.

Two days later, President Joe Biden signed the exemption into law.

Eby, with that childish elbows up rhetoric that is the latest along a long line of progressive talking points echoed across progressive-land like a wildfire, just picked a fight he’ll never win, and is maybe realizing it now:

“It is not because we hate Alaskans,” the premier has said on more than one occasion since making the threat earlier this month. “It is because there’s a Republican governor and there’s a Republican Congresswoman and they have access to President Donald Trump, they have the ability to deliver the message for us. I need them to go to the president and say, what are you doing?”

Eby surely has got the attention of at least one Alaskan politician — though not in the way he imagined.

…

“We don’t want to use this tool. We like Alaskans. We think they’re great. We like Americans; we think they’re great. They’ve just got a lousy president.”

He was doing so well there — not calling Sullivan’s proposal a blip, not saying the chances of success were remote — until he got around to insulting his choice of presidents.

The premier also tried to play down the significance of Bill 7, the measure introduced into the legislature last week allowing B.C. to toll Alaska-bound trucks.

“The legislation doesn’t impose the charge,” Eby emphasized. “It gives us the ability to do it.”

- https://vancouversun...id-eby?tbref=hp

This has the potential to decimate Victoria’s economy, but it’s being presented by the premier’s office like a matter of no consequence.

[Barrister]

Eby is an idiot and in this case, if nothing else, a really bad neighbour. This mess is not Alaska's doing.

[Mike K.]

I was going to say, that BC could have played this so much better.

Something like, “guess you’re stuck with us, Alaska. Let’s work on growing trade between ourselves and your great state. Anything you need?”

So much better, right?

But that’s ancient history now. BC fired the first shot, forgetting we’ve outlawed what semblance of half decent guns Canadians could still buy. Now Alaska is staring straight down a barrel of a 1980s Blazer-mounted Howitzer at our economy.

[Barrister]

Ebby is too busy making himself king.

[Blair M.]

Is B.C. now - or has B.C. ever been "friends" with Alaska though, or are we just cordial neighbours of forced circumstance?

Since achieving Statehood in 1957, Alaska has never seemed particularly friendly with B.C. (nor B.C. with Alaska) beyond some mandatory treaty documents that two bordering countries are obliged to have.

 

I look at B.C. border States Idaho and Montana exactly the same way - certainly cordial due to circumstance, and with some obligatory treaties - but I'm not sure I'd go as far as "friends"?

[Mike K.]

For sure we're friends. Half of our western coastline is Alaska.

 

We just mind our business and stay out of each other's way, I guess. Alaska didn't pick a fight with us in this instance.