Western Independence Party
Encyclopedia
The Western Independence Party (WIP) was a Canadian
political party that advocated the separation from Canada of the western Canadian
provinces of British Columbia
, Alberta
, Saskatchewan
and Manitoba
as well as the Yukon
and Northwest Territories
to form a new country.
The WIP ran 11 candidates in the Canadian federal election of 1988 - one candidate in British Columbia, seven in Alberta, and three in Manitoba (although one of the Manitoba candidates appears to have withdrawn before election day). All the candidates were soundly defeated with none garnering even 1% of the popular vote in any riding.
The party also has or had provincial branches in each of the four provinces. The federal wing of the Western Independence Party was dormant; they have not run any candidates in any federal elections since 1988. The party has been resurrected in April, 2005 at a founding convention in Strathmore, Alberta
under the new name "Western Canada Party".
The WIP should not be confused with the Confederation of Regions Party, which sought greater autonomy for western Canada, but not full independence.
(WCC), led by lawyer Douglas Christie of Victoria, B.C. At the party's founding convention in October 1987 in Edmonton, Fred Marshall was elected interim leader. Marshall had previously run unsuccessfully for the leadership of the provincial WCC in 1984, losing to future Reform Party
Member of Parliament
. Jack Ramsay of Camrose, Alberta. Also at the founding convention, the party adopted "The West Canada Flag" which was designed by Dexter Dombro and was chosen from of a field of eight other entries.
never achieved party status and is defunct. The Separation Party of Alberta
, which nominated candidates in the 2004 provincial election
, now promotes the cause of separation in the province. The SPA issued a statement of support when the WIP of Saskatchewan was formed in 2003.
of the party nominated candidates in the 2003 provincial election, and the 2007 provincial election
, but none were elected. It continues to be an active party under the leadership of Dana Arnason, but does not intend to nominate candidates in federal elections.
The party's basic policy statements were the following:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
political party that advocated the separation from Canada of the western Canadian
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
provinces of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
as well as the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
and Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
to form a new country.
The WIP ran 11 candidates in the Canadian federal election of 1988 - one candidate in British Columbia, seven in Alberta, and three in Manitoba (although one of the Manitoba candidates appears to have withdrawn before election day). All the candidates were soundly defeated with none garnering even 1% of the popular vote in any riding.
The party also has or had provincial branches in each of the four provinces. The federal wing of the Western Independence Party was dormant; they have not run any candidates in any federal elections since 1988. The party has been resurrected in April, 2005 at a founding convention in Strathmore, Alberta
Strathmore, Alberta
Strathmore is a town located along the Trans-Canada Highway in southern Alberta, Canada, east of the city of Calgary, within the boundaries of Wheatland County.- History :...
under the new name "Western Canada Party".
The WIP should not be confused with the Confederation of Regions Party, which sought greater autonomy for western Canada, but not full independence.
Founding
The party was founded by a group of 150 people from across the western provinces. The WIP was formed because the group had grown dissatisfied with the direction of another western separatist party, the federal Western Canada ConceptWestern Canada Concept
The Western Canada Concept was a Western Canadian political party founded in 1980 to promote the separation of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Canada in order to create a new nation.The party argued that Western...
(WCC), led by lawyer Douglas Christie of Victoria, B.C. At the party's founding convention in October 1987 in Edmonton, Fred Marshall was elected interim leader. Marshall had previously run unsuccessfully for the leadership of the provincial WCC in 1984, losing to future Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
Member of Parliament
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. Jack Ramsay of Camrose, Alberta. Also at the founding convention, the party adopted "The West Canada Flag" which was designed by Dexter Dombro and was chosen from of a field of eight other entries.
Alberta Independence Party
The Alberta Independence PartyAlberta Independence Party
The Alberta Independence Party was a provincial party founded in Alberta, Canada, in 2000/1. It was dedicated to increasing the autonomy of Alberta within the Canadian confederation, in part as a response to the 2000 election, in which the Canadian Alliance, a party with strong western roots, was...
never achieved party status and is defunct. The Separation Party of Alberta
Separation Party of Alberta
The Separation Party of Alberta is a political party that advocates the secession of Alberta from Canada. Its leader is Bruce Hutton.-History:...
, which nominated candidates in the 2004 provincial election
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, now promotes the cause of separation in the province. The SPA issued a statement of support when the WIP of Saskatchewan was formed in 2003.
WIP of Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan branchWestern Independence Party of Saskatchewan
The Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan is a provincial political party in Saskatchewan, Canada. It advocates the independence of Saskatchewan, and the formation of a new country. It is not affiliated with any federal party...
of the party nominated candidates in the 2003 provincial election, and the 2007 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 2007
The 26th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2007; the writ was dropped on October 10, 2007. The election determined the composition of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, but none were elected. It continues to be an active party under the leadership of Dana Arnason, but does not intend to nominate candidates in federal elections.
Party program
Party policy was adopted at the founding convention and was expanded at a policy convention in Saskatoon in April 1988.The party's basic policy statements were the following:
- independence as the only way Westerners could get political and economic justice;
- the constitutional right to private property;
- the citizen's right to referendum on major issues including the constitution and constitutional amendments;
- English as the official language; and
- an elected, equal and effective Senate.
WIP of Saskatchewan's vision of an independent Western Canada
- A prosperous low tax economy.
- Direct democracy.
- Separation of executive powers to end Prime Ministerial dictatorship.
- An elected accountable judiciary.
- Equality of treatment and opportunity for all people.
- An elected senate balancing popular representation with regional representation.
- English as the official language.
- A world class medical system.
- A justice system that stresses accountability.
- No gun registry.
- No Kyoto Accord.
- Property rights guaranteed in the constitution.
See also
- List of Canadian political parties
- Secessionist movements of CanadaSecessionist movements of CanadaThroughout the history of Canada, there have been movements seeking secession from Canada.-Newfoundland:There is a secessionist movement in Newfoundland based on its unique culture and its history, prior to 1949, of being a self-governing Dominion...
- Western Independence Party of ManitobaWestern Independence Party of ManitobaThe Western Independence Party of Manitoba was a political party in the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was formed in 1987 by Fred Cameron, formerly the leader of the province's Western Canada Concept. It is unclear if the Manitoba WIP was simply a renamed WCC or an entirely new organization...
- Western Independence Party of SaskatchewanWestern Independence Party of SaskatchewanThe Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan is a provincial political party in Saskatchewan, Canada. It advocates the independence of Saskatchewan, and the formation of a new country. It is not affiliated with any federal party...