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Wexit Sentiments Down Since Liberals Re-Elected: Poll

Supporters during a rally for a Wexit rally in Calgary on Nov. 16, 2019. 
Supporters during a rally for a Wexit rally in Calgary on Nov. 16, 2019.

Many feared a wave of western separatist sentiments would only grow following the 2019 federal election, when Justin Trudeau’s governing Liberals were shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan entirely.

According to a new survey from the Environics Institute, however, that may not actually be the case.

The annual study, which gauges opinion on everything from the economy to climate change, found that significantly fewer people in the western provinces — particularly Alberta and Saskatchewan — felt alienated in the Canadian federation than a year ago.

On the question of whether or not the West gets so few benefits from confederation they should “go it alone,” only 43 per cent of Albertans agreed, compared to a historic high of 56 per cent in 2019.

Attitudes toward “going it alone” similarly declined 41 per cent in Saskatchewan, down from 53 per cent last year. Drops in separtist sentiment were seen in Manitoba and B.C. as well.

“The 2020 survey suggests that, rather than continuing to grow, support for the West going it on its own actually decreased over the year,” the survey’s authors wrote.

Separatist sentiments in 2019 buoyed the rise of the “western exit,” or “Wexit,” movement, which advocated for partial or even full separation from Canadian federation. The day after the October federal election, hashtags like #albertaseparation and #wexit were trending on social media, and in ensuing weeks Wexit rallies in support of new separatist parties at the provincial and federal level drew hundreds of supporters across the prairies.

WATCH: Kenney rebukes would-be separatists. Story continues below.

“To Canadians in Alberta and Saskatchewan, know that you are an essential part of our great country,” Trudeau said in his victory speech following October’s election. “I’ve heard your frustration and I want to be there to support you. Let us all work hard to bring our country together.”

The 2020 report’s authors point out that Canada...

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