In a now deleted March 30 Facebook post, BC Conservative MLA David Williams – who represents Salmon Arm-Shuswap – promoted a graphic which depicts western Canada, including the majority of British Columbia, as the “Republic of Western Canada.”

The graphic describes the western provinces as a “Protectorate of the United States.”

In addition, Williams said “Confederation has not been fair to western provinces and that something needs to change.

Premier David Eby responded to Williams’ post on Thursday. “I was deeply disappointed in a moment of national unity when premiers, regardless of political stripe, are reaching out across the country to work together, that Canadians are joining hands. I’ve never seen the level of Canadian patriotism in British Columbia that I’ve seen right now or even from Canadians. It’s so inspiring. We’re all singing the national anthem loud. We’re buying Canadian products.”

“To have an op-ed at this moment that says that the path forward is to break up the country, which is what he said, is is completely bizarre. It reflects the perspective of an MLA in our own legislature who approvingly tweeted out a graphic showing Western Canada separation that he advocated we should become a protectorate of the United States… I just can’t fathom that mindset in this moment where we’re all coming together to try to rip the country apart and drive divisions.”

“We need to stick together to be successful as Canadians. If we’re going to stand on our own two feet, and, and we’re going to grow our economy, and we will do it. Not despite the United States, but in fact, because it’s something we should have done a long time ago.”