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Saturday, September 20, 2008
A brief history of Western Canadian separatism
This past week, Victoria B.C. lawyer Douglas Christie was busy addressing the hearing on Marc Lemire's constitutional challenge to the anti-free speech Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, but Mr. Christie is also the leader of a registered Federal political party, the Western Block Party. The Western Block Party's goals include an independent nation for the Western Canadian provinces, with low taxes, a single language, and a regionally elected Senate. Mr. Christie has been at the heart of Western separatist movement since the mid 70s, in a recent interview he said that while interest in separatism had waned with the rise of the Reform and Alliance Parties and then the Harper Conservatives, Dion's Green Shift, which is perceived as being a wealth transfer from Western to Central Canada, has revived interest in the idea of a separate Western Canadian nation.
In August, before the election was called, Mr. Christie toured across Western Canada in an effort to register more members. He stopped in Calgary and gave this speech on the history of Western Canada, including separatist and other political movements:
The Western Block Party has not yet released a list of candidates for the October election.
Posted by Kalim Kassam on September 20, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
They should be running in provincial elections, declarations of separation come from the bottom up not the top down, it hasn't worked for the BQ.
Also I think most of us seperatists are too afraid to vote anything other than Conservative at the federal level for fear of it effecting funding or worse splitting the vote (though we're nowhere near that point yet) It's not like an Alberta riding is going to just leap over to the Liberals and shock everyone
Posted by: Pete | 2008-09-20 7:51:22 PM
A good friend of mine said:
The difficulty is that Doug Christie has steadfastly stood by the anti-semetic fringe.
Because of that, he will never gain broad credibility, and anyone who stands with him won't either.
The western separatists desperately need a quality leader, but Christie will never get them out of the swamp.
How true.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2008-09-21 5:03:49 PM
And Doug Christie himself once said: "Except for Joan of Arc, it's rarely the case that the people a lawyer defends are seen as savoury by others."
Christie has stood by many people who may not deserve a defense. But your right to say that they don't deserve a defense has been protected throughout history by people like Christie. Few lawyers have acted more strongly on principle, as opposed to a desire for personal advantage.
I agree that he's not electable, and quite frankly, I don't think any western separatists are electable in our current political climate (although I think they make a lot of good points).
How do we free Western Canada? Beats me. But at least Mr. Christie is willing to stand up for a concept that he believes to be right.
Posted by: Jeremy Maddock | 2008-09-23 12:44:58 AM
Considering what Chretien Broadbent and Dueceppe are wanting to do and how they plan to bring down our elected Prime Minister, I really think its time we seperate.
The Bloc has only Quebecs interests at heart and between them and the liberals they have constantly stopped Canada from having an effective govt. , one that respresents all Canadians fairly.
However I do not agree with Mr Christie on alot of his policies like nationalizing companies that have come here in good faith. That smacks of a third world tactics, plus I think if women want to be in combat they should be allowed, if they are capable and well trained. Just to name a few
After yesterdays news I really do think its time Western Canada seperates. I am tired of the eastern Canadian politicians doing things that only benefit them or their buddies and the rest of us have to pay for it and smile as we get raped.
Posted by: Catharyne Stauffer | 2008-11-29 3:52:10 PM
I agree.As long as Christie is even associated with Western seperatism then the cause is doomed.Maybe when the NDP & Liberals team up with the Quebec seperatists Harper would be our leader.
Posted by: deegee | 2008-11-30 5:12:19 PM
I'm done. I am about to turn 50 and I have seen nothing but greed, and incompetence in Ottawa my entire life. Maybe it's time to leave. Information that would lead to others with like minded ideas would be appreciated.
Posted by: Chris | 2008-12-02 12:24:50 AM
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