Decades after Reform’s rise, voters open to a new ‘Western Canada Party’

As Canada’s federal party leaders woo voters from coast to coast in this election year, the latest public opinion survey from the Angus Reid Institute finds that in the country’s four westernmost provinces, many of those voters may be looking for a new alternative altogether.

The fourth and final chapter of the Institute’s comprehensive study on identity, politics and policy in Western Canada looks at two potential consequences of the west’s dissatisfaction with the federal government: Separatism, which most westerners think is unlikely; and the rise of a hypothetical western regional political party, which appears to have considerable support. While this part of the country is not a monolith – the four provinces have disparate identities and interests – they are united primarily by two key commonalities: their agreement that the west is a unique region within Canada and their belief the region is treated unfairly by the federal government in Ottawa. These sentiments manifest themselves in an openness to a different option at the ballot box. When asked how they would vote in a federal election involving all of the current federal parties, plus a new, hypothetical “Western Canada Party,” a plurality of respondents across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (35%) say they would vote for the Western Canada Party.

If a Western Canada Party were an option in the coming federal election... Vote Intention (BC, AB, SK, MB)

More Key Findings:

• More than six-in-ten Canadians (63%) say they think the number of Western Canadians angry about the treatment their region receives from the federal government is on the rise. This includes more than seven-in-ten (73%) across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.
• That said, two-thirds of Canadians (68%) think Alberta separating from the rest of Canada is unlikely or “would never happen.” In Alberta, half of respondents (50%) see separation as a real possibility
• Alberta is also the place where the idea of a Western Canada Party enjoys its greatest support (40% in the province say they would vote for such a party)

Link to the poll here Download .PDF (335 KB) with detailed tables, graphs and methodology. Media Contact: Shachi Kurl: shachi.kurl@angusreid.org @shachikurl

Angus Reid Institute——Bio and Archives

The Angus Reid Institute is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation established to enhance and encourage better understanding of issues and trends affecting economic, social, governance, philanthropy, public administration, domestic and foreign policy in Canada and its world.