The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has formally expressed their opposition to Bill 7 introduced by Premier David Eby that seeks to impose tolls on commercial trucks traveling through British Columbia to Alaska.
In a letter sent to the Premier on March 7, 2025, Mayor Rob Fraser expressed support of the Province’s stand to maintain B.C.’s independence and support Canada’s sovereignty from the United States in light of ongoing threats of tariffs among the two countries.
Additionally, the letter articulated Fraser’s concerns regarding the detrimental impact such tolls would have on the local economy, following a devastating multi-decade decline in natural resource sectors which once buoyed the community.
Mayor Fraser emphasizes that the Alaska Highway is one of the last remaining economic drivers for the communities within the Northern Rockies, contributing vital revenue and employment opportunities.
He pointed out that imposing tolls could significantly limit commercial traffic, further crippling an already struggling economy.
With ground cargo representing only 1% of the total cargo entering Alaska annually, the Mayor argues that this policy would have catastrophic effects on the northeast region of British Columbia while being negligible for the United States.
“This is yet another example of the where policies imposed by the Province have hindered economic growth in the Northern Rockies, driven by decision-makers lacking an understanding of the impacts where they are felt most” said Mayor Fraser.
In relation to the direct economic impact, Fraser further noted that “imposing tolls on commercial trucks will not only threaten one of the only remaining pillars of the economy, but also jeopardize the livelihoods of many families who depend on the Alaska Highway for their prosperity.”
Fraser asked for a meeting with Premier Eby prior to the introduction of the legislation to discuss the potential consequences for the communities and invited him to visit the area.
“Our communities are committed to working collaboratively within a legislative framework that fosters interprovincial trade but insist that the burden of new policies should not unfairly fall on our community.” states Mayor Fraser.
Though Fraser briefly spoke with Minister Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, and Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Communities Brittny Anderson at a meeting between Mayors, Chairs, and the Province, no official response to the community’s letter has been received to date.
The B.C. Trucking Association is also voicing concerns over new legislation that could allow the provincial government toll commercial vehicles from the United States travelling to Alaska.
“It takes us outside the tariff realm where you’re taxing goods, and you start to move into a place of starting to look at how these goods move,” said B.C. Trucking Association president Dave Earle.
“That’s something that no jurisdiction anywhere in the world should actually begin to touch, and work with, is the free movement of goods.”
Earle points out that the number of commercial trucks that cross into Alaska every year is very small. Stats from the province show the number is right around 10,000.
With files from Ben Nesbitt, CTV Vancouver