February 20, 2025

Tariffs and the Trades

Canadian businesses are facing uncertain and unprecedented risks created by tariffs on Canadian goods from the United States. The combination of the economic impact to BC’s economy from these tariffs, and the potential increase in the cost of construction materials and equipment if Canada is forced to respond with retaliatory tariffs, could significantly impact BC trade contractors.

ECABC, MCABC and RCABC have collaborated to bring our members together for an informative session led by Jamieson Virgin, Partner with McMillan LLP. Jamieson will share information about what contractors should be aware of in their existing contracts, and provide insights on contracts you are signing for future projects.

Also joining this important discussion will be Laura Jones, President & CEO of the Business Council of BC. Laura will share BCBC’s perspective on the economic impacts of tariffs to the BC economy, and what businesses/associations/BCBC can do, collectively, to influence the government to support specific projects, and more broadly, economic growth.

NOTE: If your association's ticket sales are sold out, please email education@eca.bc.ca to join the waitlist. Thank you!

Date & Time

Thursday, February 20, 2025 (7:00 am – 9:30 am pt)

Location

Grand Villa Ballroom 3, Delta Hotels by Marriott Burnaby Conference Center (4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby, BC V5G 1C7)

Instructor(s)

Jamieson Virgin

Partner

Jamieson leads McMillan’s Construction Group in Western Canada, specializing in complex construction and real estate matters. He advises various stakeholders in the construction industry at all stages of construction from procurement and project delivery to wrap-up. He regularly works with lenders, developers, owners, contractors, trades, and material suppliers, providing practical legal advice on numerous aspects of construction, including delay, cost overruns, change of scope claims, builders’ liens, and all manner of impact claims. He has represented clients in courts across B.C. and Alberta, as well as in arbitration and regulatory tribunals in several Canadian jurisdictions.

Learn More

Laura Jones

Business Council of British Columbia

Laura leads BCBC, a non-partisan organization committed to fostering cross-sectoral relationships and advocating for bold and practical solutions to policy challenges. Laura is a nationally recognized leader in public policy who is passionate about the importance of a strong economy as the foundation for supporting prosperous communities. She has authored and co-authored numerous research reports and policy briefings and is recognized globally for her thought leadership on regulatory modernization. Laura’s work and recommendations have led to policy improvements, including the adoption of taxpayer fairness codes by governments in BC and Canada, the reduction of interprovincial trade barriers, and the implementation of regulatory measurement and budgets across Canada. She currently chairs the federal External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness and has served on advisory committees including a B.C. Expert Panel on Tax and the B.C. Small Business Roundtable. Prior to joining BCBC, Laura was Chief Strategic Officer and Executive Vice President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

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