Western Block Party

Western Block Party
Active federal party
Leader	Doug Christie
Headquarters	810 Courtney St. Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W 1C4
Ideology	Western Canadian Separatism, Conservatism
Official colours	Pale mint green, baby blue, periwinkle, cream, white, pale denim
Seats in the House of Commons	0 / 308
Seats in the Senate	0 / 105
Website
www.westernblockparty.com
Politics of Canada Political parties Elections

The Western Block Party (WBP) is a political party in Canada founded in 2005 by Doug Christie. The party became officially registered on December 29, 2005.

The aim of the party is to promote the independence of Western Canada (i.e., the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) from the rest of Canada.

The party's founding convention was held on November 20, 2005, in Sidney, British Columbia. Christie was unanimously confirmed as leader. A constitution was adopted and a full slate of officers was elected.

Western independence movements typically attract support from westerners who believe that western Canada does not get a fair deal within the Canadian confederation. The Western Block Party claim attracts members of differing economic views who are opposed to what they view as a corrupt federal government.

The party had four candidates in the 2006 federal election, including its leader, Doug Christie, who ran in the riding of Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca in British Columbia; none were elected. In the 2008 election, the party unsuccessfully ran one candidate, Patricia O'Brien, in Saanich-Gulf Islands. In both these elections the party's total vote count was second fewest of all parties. The party ran four candidates in the 2011 federal election, improving its standing only to third fewest due to a new party taking the second fewest standing.

Christie is also the leader of the Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia, a political party that promotes separation at the provincial political level in British Columbia.

Christie is a lawyer in Canada who is well-known for representing Ernst Zündel, among others. The Western Canada Concept (WCC) and WBP are not affiliated with the Separation Party of Alberta (SPA) or the Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan (WIPS). Officials in these parties have distanced themselves from Christie - for example, they do not include links to the WCC or WBP on their websites even though the SPA and WIPS do link to one another. The WIPS is currently attempting to establish a separate federal party, to be called the Western Canada Party.

Election results

Election	# of candidates	# of votes	% of popular vote	% in ridings contested
2006	4	1,094	0.007%	0.46%
2008	1	195	0.00%	0.30%
2011	4	751	0.005%	0.63%

In the 2006 election, the party ran four candidates, received 1,094 votes, which is 0.0074% of the total votes cast, or 0.46% of the votes in those four electoral districts. The four candidates, their total votes, and percentages were:

• Robert Peter Kratchmer (Vegreville-Wainwright) 433 (0.8%)
• Douglas Christie (Esquimalt/Juan de Fuca) 270 (0.5%)
• Patricia O'Brien (Saanich Gulf Islands) 183 (0.3%)
• Bruce Burnett (Victoria) 208 (0.3%)

The party ran a sole candidate, Patricia O'Brien, in 2008 and four candidates in 2011 including far right anti-immigration activist Paul Fromm, an Ontario resident, who ran in Calgary Southeast.

2011 Election candidate	Electoral District	# of votes	% of popular vote	Place
Paul Fromm	Calgary Southeast	193	0.31	6/6
Paul St. Laurent	Edmonton--Sherwood Park	222	0.40	6/6
Clive Edwards	Chilliwack--Fraser Canyon	180	0.37	5/6
Allan Holt	West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast--Sea to Sky Country	156	0.25	7/9

See also

• List of political parties in Canada
• Secessionist movements of Canada

External links

• The Western Block party website