#Wexit. Western Canada, exiting. Like #Brexit.
That’s the movement that continues to gain steam following the 2019 Federal Election that saw Justin Trudeau retain his Prime Minister position earlier this week.
The Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer will not be forming government, despite winning the popular vote across Canada (34.4% to the Liberals’ 33.1%).
The political divide in the U.S. is well-documented, but the political divide up here in Canada is growing, too.
That divide in Canada is also literal. It doesn’t get any clearer than when you look at how Canada voted.
Notice that chunk of blue that consists of half of British Columbia, all of Alberta, all of Saskatchewan, and part of Manitoba? They all voted Conservative. (Only a single riding went in favour of a non-Conservative in all of Alberta and Saskatchewan.)
That chunk played a tremendous role in the Conservatives winning the popular vote. Yet, they will not be in power, and they’re angry about it.
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#Wexit
“The side that lost, particularly in light of the fact they actually won the popular vote, are going to be even angrier and more unhappy with the fact that they don’t see their voice being expressed in government”, said Frank Graves, the president of Ottawa-based polling firm Ekos Research, to the New York Times.
Following the election, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe voiced the sentiment of a large chunk of Western Canada:
As Moe alludes to in his letter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is readily aware of this “alienation.” Many believe that his purchasing of the Trans Mountain pipeline was done so to try to gain support in these provinces.
This isn’t just one person with a megaphone, however. As of Thursday, the VoteWexit Facebook group has over 240,000 members. Similar groups specific to Alberta and British Columbia have also sprung up. On Change.org, a petition for “Alberta separation” has over 98,000 signatures, with more signing literally every second.
Graves, of Ekos Research, summarized the current state of our nation.
“The two Canadas are now eyeing each other from cliffs on opposite sides.”
For more all things British Columbia, stay tuned to 604 Now.
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