Wexit Canada is a Canadian federal political party. It advocates for the secession of Western Canada, which includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The name is a play on Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The party plans to run 104 candidates across the four provinces in the next federal election and to also run candidates for the provincial levels of government. The group initially gained traction in October 2019, shortly after the 2019 Canadian federal election, when the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was re-elected to form government. As of early 2020, the party started purchasing billboards in Alberta criticizing Trudeau, sparking public discussion over the lack of representation in western Canada. The party conducted a protest in Edmonton, involving approximately 100 supporters. Elections Canada considers the party "eligible for registration" as of January 10, 2020. The party is currently led by former Conservative Party of Canada House leader Jay Hill following the resignation of former leader Peter Downing. Hill has said he wants the party to serve a purpose in the West similar to what the Bloc Québécois has done for Quebec.
Western separation
Wexit Canada's operators plan for their federal-level party to be used as a "shield" for smaller provincial operations. No member of parliament in the House of Commons openly sympathizes with the idea of secession. The party wants a presence in the House to advance its goals. The party says it lacks enough momentum in Manitoba to achieve its goals there; however, it has larger pockets of support in the other three provinces.
Provincial parties
Alberta
On January 11, 2020 a Wexit rally was held at the Alberta legislature grounds with the goal of collecting the 8,400 signatures required for official party status. Wexit reserved the name "Wexit Alberta" with Elections Alberta for use by a provincial party. According to its constitution, its plans included abolishing the provincial branch of the RCMP and the establishment of an "Alberta National Police" and a "Provincial Sheriff Program". It planned to adopt an official currency to replace the Canadian dollar as well. On April 27, 2020, Wexit Alberta and the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta announced plans to merge into a new party called the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta. Both parties voted to approve the merger on June 29, 2020. In July 2020, Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta was officially registered with Elections Alberta, giving effect to the merger.
British Columbia
In November 2019, members of a Wexit group held a rally in Prince George. Wexit BC became a registered party with Elections BC in 2020. Its leader is Lee Smith.
Saskatchewan
The day after the 2019 federal election, Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, proposed a "New Deal" with the federal government. He called for an end to the federal carbon tax, renegotiation of the equalization formula, and action on oil-pipeline projects. In the weeks after the election, Wexit volunteers began collecting signatures to form a new party. They called on Moe to hold a referendum on separation, saying that if he did not agree they would form a party to do so. On March 10, 2020, Wexit Saskatchewan became registered as a provincial party with Elections Saskatchewan. Its first interim leader was Jake Wall. Once registered, Wexit Saskatchewan proposed a referendum on independence in its platform. On June 3, 2020, the party's executive board voted to change the party's name to Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan. That decision ratified by a membership vote. In July 2020, the party officially changed its name and named Wade Sira as its new interim leader.
Anti-Trudeau billboards
In early 2020, billboards that called for Trudeau's jailing appeared around Alberta, including Calgary and Edmonton. The billboards sparked an uproar and support on social media. Those billboards pointed to the Wexit Party's website and were purchased though Signpatico, an advertising agency based in Regina. Signpatico promised to vet future ads more carefully and stated, "We do fundamentally stand byfreedom of expression, as per the Charter. But we're not intending on inciting perceptions of hate speech or offensive ads."
