If the messiness of “Brexit” is any indication of how difficult separatist movements can be, Canada should be doing everything in its power to prevent a “Wexit.”

The term “Wexit” gained traction following the 2019 Canadian federal election which resulted in a Liberal minority government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Western provinces, most notably Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as some pockets of support from areas in Manitoba and British Colombia, began expressing greater separatist sentiments for a “Western exit” from Canada after feeling unrepresented in the newly elected administration.

Westerners have long felt alienated and ignored by the federal government, but these sentiments are routinely intensified during election campaigns. Growing frustration has stemmed from a lack of representation and voice in Ottawa, especially under the Trudeau administration. While the Liberals were re-elected, no seats were won by any Liberal MPs in either Alberta or Saskatchewan. Consequently, there are no Ministers in Cabinet to represent Western interests. Lee Smith, Interim Party Leader for Wexit B.C., demonstrated frustration claiming that “we [the West] are basically the economic engine for this country but we have no say in how it’s spent. It’s hardly fair.”

What does the West want? 

Currently, Westerners, specifically those from Alberta, are demanding the repeal of two bills; Bill C-69 and Bill C-48. The former grants the federal government the ability to review all major infrastructure projects, such as pipelines and large-scale mining. The latter is known as the “tanker ban bill,” which permanently bans oil tankers along B.C.’s northern coast with the aim of decreasing potential oil spills. Both bills were implemented with the objective of addressing environmental concerns by seeking to reduce Canada’s overall emissions. However, Albertans view the bills as a direct attack against their provincial independence and as a restriction on their economic growth. Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, has described Bill C-48 as a “discriminatory attack on the Province of Alberta.”

Where do we go from here?

Canada finds itself torn in two directions: (1) to address the concerns of the West or, (2) to abide by the emission targets set in the Paris Accord and uphold their role as a global leader against climate change. 

Canada is currently not on track to meet its 2020 emission reduction targets as a direct result of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s increased output. Statistics demonstrate that all other provinces and territories, that make up 85 per cent of Canada’s population, are on their way to meeting their targets. Notably, these provinces have been able to reduce emissions while also increasing their GDP, demonstrating that economic growth and action against climate change can happen simultaneously. However, the remaining 15 per cent of Canada’s population from Alberta and Saskatchewan are severely hindering this progress by contributing to a 17 per cent increase of pollution. Thus, any progress being made in the rest of the country is being outweighed by the lack of progress in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Furthermore, not only are Alberta and Saskatchewan the largest carbon emitters in Canada, but according to the National Inventory Report from 2017, their climate pollution per capita is also greater than the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia.

Given these shocking statistics, the international community is calling on Canada to take immediate action and set an example for the rest of the world. However, scientific evidence and emotions do not always overlap. Regardless of what the data shows, Albertans and Saskatchewanians still feel alienated, ignored, frustrated, and controlled by the federal government. 

In order to prevent a “Brexit” disaster in our own country, Canadians need to find a cohesive way forward that discourages greater polarization. There must be a willingness to adapt to new policies and introduce energy efficient technologies that enable Canada to still economically benefit from its abundance of natural resources. Suggestions have already been discussed, such as using GreenPath technologies that reduce methane emissions while still allowing for products to reach the market. 

Canada faces a tough challenge but must immediately act towards implementing sensible solutions that maintain national unity while also demonstrating their commitment to being a global leader in the fight against climate change.