Western Block Party

Infobox_Canada_Political_Party
party_name = Western Block Party
party_wikicolourid = Western Canada Concept
status = active
class = fed
party_
leader = Doug Christie
headquarters = 810 Courtney St.
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
V8W 1C4
president =
foundation =
dissolution =
ideology = Western Canadian Separatism, Conservatism
int_alignment =
colours = Pale mint green, baby blue, periwinkle, cream, white, pale denim
seats_house = 0 House, 0 Senate
website = [http://www.westernblockparty.com/ http://www.westernblockparty.com/]

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, BC. 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. Its leader, Doug Christie, ran in the riding of Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca in British Columbia; none were elected. In the 2008 election, the party ran one candidate, Patricia O'Brien in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

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 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

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%)

ee also

* List of political parties in Canada
* Secessionist movements of Canada
* Western separatism

External links

* [http://www.westernblockparty.com/ Western Block party website]