Alienated West

A Canadian reference to disgruntled western provinces. Much of western alienation can be traced to a belief that the Canadian federal government is beholden to central Canada. Pierre Trudeau implemented an energy policy that exploited the west and was responsible for much growth in this feeling. Subsequent federal Liberal governments have implemented policies, such as gun control, that proved extremely unpopular in The West.

Western Alienation gave birth to the Reform Party and the Western Separatist movement.

There is an ideological foundation for the difference in political attitudes between the Alienated West and the East.

Traditionally, it is accepted that settlers in the west were closest to the United States, whereas those in the East were closer to England, and Europe--and the East did not sever the connection with the notion, and actuality of collectivities, as the West did.

Notions of rugged individualism, referendum, recall, and many other things more commonly associated with American Politics, are common in the west.

But in terms of actual political power, there are fewer people in the West, than in Ontario and Quebec. Hence the support, in the West, for structures of government that represent by region.

This alienation has produced the Progressive Party of Canada, the Reform Party of Canada, and now the Canadian Alliance. And shows no sign of abating any time soon.