Election result sparks separatist talk in Western Canada

The Liberals winning a minority government in Monday night’s federal election has a lot of Western Canadians talking separation today.

The separatist movement, Wexit, short for western exit, picked up a lot of traction online since Monday night.

Before the election results were announced, the Facebook group VoteWexit had only 2,000 members. By mid-day Tuesday it had over 150,000.

Former Saskatchewan MP and MLA Allan Kerpan says the divide in Canada is clear just by looking at an electoral map.

“It’s obvious that Ontario chose to stick with the Liberal government, led by Justin Trudeau, without really worrying too much about the fate of Western Canada,” he said, who has been with the Wexit movement since last spring.

“That just shows you that there is a split in this country. I really think if we have to live four more years with a Trudeau-led government propped up by the NDP, it will take maybe generations or a lifetime to recover from this. The damage will be so deep that I don’t think the west will ever recover.”

The movement’s Facebook page shows the range of emotions people are feeling about the new Liberal government. There are posts that include: People using expletives towards Trudeau, people claiming not to be Canadian anymore but instead Albertan and even people sharing information on how to make the movement a reality.

Kerpan believes the best way to move forward is to use the movement as leverage with the federal government.

“I think the proper and the right approach to this would be if our provincial government led by Scott Moe would take the ball and run with this,” he said.

“I think he is in the proper position, maybe alongside Jason Kenney, to go to Ottawa and say ‘you know what, here are our demands. This is what has to happen to keep this country together.’ If Scott Moe can’t do that or won’t do that for some reason, then I don’t think there is any other option but to start a movement that would look for an independent Saskatchewan.”

There are currently three Wexit rallies planned for November in Alberta. One in Edmonton on the 2nd, Calgary on the 16th and Red Deer on the 30th.