Canada unveils more sign-based retaliation against the U.S.

Skip to Content Subscribe My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Modern Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Modern Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentCanada unveils more sign-based retaliation against the U.S.Tristin Hopper: The new signs, with their ‘Never 51st State’ message, are one of several measures that David Eby’s government has taken to signal its displeasure with U.S. policyLast updated 3 hours ago A sign on display during a B.C. Premier David Eby news conference at Victoria's Inner Harbour on September 8, 2026. Photo by Province of British Columbia/ FlickrIn Canada’s second official instance of sign-based retaliation against the United States, the Province of B.C. is installing notices at its border crossings informing travellers that they are entering territory that is “NEVER the 51st state.”Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe signs were unveiled at a Wednesday press conference to coincide with the coming-into-force of 639 Canadian counter-tariffs targeting the U.S.“Strong, proud and will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!” read one of the new border sign;s.The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture.By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Right? will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againA second one contained six graphic icons, one of which bore the message “Never 51st State.” The others were “Watch for Moose,” “Don’t Litter,” “60MPH=100KPH,” “Respect Fire Bans,” and “Kindness ≠ Weakness.”The last message was accompanied by an image of a raised black fist against an icon of a heart.“They carry a message that reflects the spirit of this moment,” said B.C. Premier David Eby, wearing a red flannel shirt. He called it the “single most Canadian piece of clothing I own.”The signs, he said, were a “uniquely Canadian message. It’s confident, good-humoured and it’s unmistakably clear.”The exact placement of the signs wasn’t specified, but B.C. has 19 land border crossings with the U.S., including three with Alaska. The province also has six airports with scheduled service to U.S. destinations, as well as multiple marine ports of entry.The current welcome at both international and provincial crossings is a sign bearing the official B.C. logo and the slogan “Best Place on Earth” – many of which were installed in anticipation of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.The new signs were unveiled at a ceremony held just in front of the B.C. Parliament Buildings, in an area of the Victoria Inner Harbour frequented by U.S. tourists; the B.C. capital being a common port of call for Alaskan cruises.Eby’s speech was preceded by a performance by OGR-Scintilla, a rapper clad in a hockey jersey and trapper hat.He performed the song Party in Canada, which includes the lines “can’t wait for another snow day” and “eh eh eh, it’s a party in Canada, eh.”Despite the lighthearted tone of the press conference, Eby did say he anticipated damage from the trade war, and that he didn’t see any immediate end to it.“There is no getting around the fact that people will lose their jobs and businesses will close on both sides of the border,” he said.Eby also referenced the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Friday, saying despite all the “bad behaviour” of U.S. President Donald Trump, that if a similar tragedy were to occur, he still believed Canadians would “step up” to help in the same way as in 2001.The new signs are one of several measures that Eby’s government has taken to signal its displeasure with U.S. policy, after Trump began levying punitive tariffs against Canada in early 2025.In March of that year, Eby ordered the removal of all U.S. liquor from provincially run BC Liquor stores. As recently as June, he said there was “no chance in hell” he would reverse the decision. B.C. Premier David Eby holds a news conference at Victoria’s Inner Harbour on September 8, 2026. Photo by Province of British Columbia/ FlickrThe B.C. Parliament Buildings in Victoria were also draped with a large Canadian flag over the front entrance, in addition to a Canadian flag flying from a nearby flagpole.The new border signs follow on a similar sign-based initiative in Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford unveiled a billboard in Winona, Ont., carrying the message “Lake Ontario now and always” in both English and French.The sign was a direct response to an executive order by Trump mandating that official U.S. government maps now demarcate Lake Ontario as Lake America.“I can’t remember what it cost, I think it was $25,000,” Ford told reporters soon after the unveiling.As with Eby, Ford also ordered the removal of U.S. liquor from the province’s LCBO stores. Although, according to a July investigation by CBC News, the liquor remains in Ontario inventories, where it has incurred $8 million in storage fees. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.