In the '70s and '80s, some wanted Alberta to separate from Canada

No Liberal candidatewas elected in Alberta or Saskatchewan in the 2019federal election, leaving eachprovince without a singleMP in the minority Liberal government.

The next day, then-Alberta Premier Jason Kenneyannounced his intentionto call an expert panel "aimed at suggesting ways to improve Alberta's role within Confederation."

• CBC NEWS|Panel will give Albertans chance to share views about Confederation, Kenney says
• CBC NEWS|After minority win, Sask. premier demands 'new deal' to stave off Western separatism

At thenews conference, Kenney said he'dalready heard political moderates muse openly about Alberta separation.

It wasn't the first time that Albertans, politically moderate or otherwise,had spoken about separation. That goesback decades, to the early 1970s, and ramped up in 1980.

Built-up resentment

In January 1981, aCBC News special called Alienation: Our Uneasy West catalogued some of the grievances Western Canada hadagainst federal governments in Central Canada.

• CBC NEWS| B.C. calls for unity as Western alienation sentiments surge

"In 1967, Montreal asked for $150 million to help pay for Expo. Prairie farmers asked for$200 million to subsidize them,"said reporter David Burt.

"The East got their money; the West got turned down."

Burt gave more examples:a requestto help sell western wheat in 1969 that was denied, andan$8-million Royal Commissionon bilingualism that went ahead, but no supportfor a study on western alienation.

To cap the list wasthe country's new flag of 1965.

"Even choosing a red maple leaf rarely seen in the West as Canada's national emblem[is a grievance]," Burt reported.

A 'bargaining tool'

'Maybe the westerners... should get into governments in Ottawa'

44 years ago

Duration 1:26

Prime Minister Trudeau says that rather then thinking of separating, Alberta should find a way to demand more from the federal government.

Then-prime minister Pierre Trudeaudismissed the emerging separation threat as nothing more than "a bargaining tool" of Western premiers, according to CBC's The National.

In October 1980, he had begunnegotiations with the provinces over proposed changes tothe Canadian Constitution.

At a news conference, Trudeau had been asked about separatist sentiment fuelled byhis proposals andan upcomingbudget that was expected to levy new energy taxes.

"The chances of western separatism are absolutely nil," he said. "Canadians are Canadians, and I don't think they'll fall for that kindof thing except as bargaining tools by the premiers."

And he suggested the West should "take a page from the Quebec book"by electing representation at the federal level.

"Get into governments in Ottawa and scream for more at that level, too, rather than always sit on the opposition benches," he advised.

Lougheed agreed

Alberta premier doubts separation is the answer

44 years ago

Duration 2:42

"People in western Canada ... want to be part of the mainstream of Canadian life," says Peter Lougheed.

The same day, the then-Alberta premier, Peter Lougheed, seemed to agree with the prime minister.

"I don't think that people in Western Canada want to separate," Lougheedtold reporter Don Newman. "They want to be a part of the mainstream of Canadian life."

But Lougheedsaid Albertans had "a great deal to complain about, and they're justified complaints."

Lest anyone think separation was a fringe movement, Stanley Robertsof the Canada West Foundation think-tank told Newmanit was "very real and a growingthreat."

"It's being supported by the businessmen, by the business community.It isn't at the working-class level," Roberts said. "It was, and those people are still there [but] it's moving through government circlesand into the boardrooms. It's a frightening thing."

Rallying for separation

Separatist rally draws a crowd in Alberta

44 years ago

Duration 1:27

Hundreds turn out in Eckville, Alta. to hear from the leader of an organization called WestFed.

The movement was still growingless than two months later in December 1980, as evidenced at a rally in Eckville, Alta., about 180 kilometres north of Calgary.

Elmer Knutson, founder of theWestern Canada Federation (also known as WestFed), had drawn more than 650 people to hear his arguments for western separation despite frigid temperatures.

"How many people in this audience really believe in separatism is an open question," said reporter Newman. "But separatists like Knutson are tapping a stream of prairie populism that runs deep in the political history of Alberta."