Like many Canadians coast to coast, I sat down and watched the federal election results come in on the airwaves on Monday night, October 21.
It was both a professional and personal investment on my part. Professional because, well, we all know what I do for a living and I had to inform readers of the results, specifically the results of local ridings such as Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan and Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek.
Nothing surprising in either of those ridings as it was a landslide win for ‘Team Blue’ and both Conservatives were re-elected. I did learn one new tidbit a few days after Election Night, though. Apparently, my own riding of Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek was ranked fourth in the top five ridings with the highest voter turnout across the country. I thought that was cool. Way to go, voters on the West side of the South Saskatchewan!
As soon as the numbers started spilling in across the country, I began to see the writing on the wall; a minority government led by the Liberal Party. That soon became a reality, with the election win being called by around quarter after eight that night.
A second term for Justin Trudeau and his party, but a message sent by Conservative voters across the country. After all, ‘blue wave’ supporters effectively booted Ralph Goodale out of his long-held grip down in Regina-Wascana by voting in a new guy for the Conservatives. By the time the election was over, Saskatchewan had gone all blue, as did all but one seat next door in Alberta.
A disappointing election night result for Andrew Scheer’s supporters, and undoubtedly an even bigger one for Trudeau’s haters.
I have no problem telling you that I too voted Conservative. The MP in my riding, Kelly Block, has done a fine job representing the needs of people here at home in Ottawa, and I voted to keep her in that role so that she can continue to represent our interests on a national stage.
But as disappointed as I was with the results of Election Night – at least on the national level – I even more disappointed with the rhetoric that soon flooded social media.
It’s called the Wexit movement, or ‘Western Exit’. It’s an initiative comprised of people who believe that Western Canada should separate from the East to form our own republic that will do a better job of addressing the needs and concerns of the West.
There are even images floating out there of an “official emblem” for the Western Republic of Canada.
Look, I understand the frustration and the outright anger with Ottawa on the things that matter to us out here in the West. When people say that they don’t feel represented by a Prime Minister, that should tell you all you need to know about the state of things in parts of Canada. We need our energy sector to get working again, we need more jobs, our economy needs a booster shot, and we need life as a whole to become a lot more affordable.
But I wholeheartedly disagree with any sort of notion regarding separation between the West and the East, and I’ll tell you why.
First off, I don't want to live in a country that when people don't get the election result that they’d hoped for, they want to do something that looks like taking their proverbial ball and going home. At its most stripped-down, I see this whole ‘Wexit’ thing as being somewhat childish.
Second, I don’t want to live in some bastardized version of Canada. Outside of the added travel complications if one wanted to, say, visit the Maritimes – do I need my international passport to go to Newfoundland? – who gets dibs on the name ‘Canada’ to begin with? The West or the East? Is there a vote held? Does the West become ‘Canada 2.0’, or perhaps ‘Canada 2: Electric Boogaloo’?
Lastly, I think people need a reminder of what they were doing on Monday, October 21 at the polls. Whose names did you mark with an ‘X’? Because outside of their own ridings in Saskatchewan and Quebec, those names were definitely not Andrew Scheer and Justin Trudeau. No, you voted for MP’s who wanted to represent you and your interests in Ottawa. With the message sent on Election Night by way of a minority government and a strengthened grip consisting of increased seats for the Conservatives, it’s never been more important for ‘blue wave’ supporters to talk with their elected MP’s and implore them to start a dialogue with the federal government on getting ALL of Canada working again and helping this great country prosper.
I’m done listening to people whine on Facebook who carry the attitude of “It’s our way or we’re outta here!”, like as if pride in their country has to come with ridiculous conditions.
We’re ALL Canadians, coast to coast and West to East.
For this week, that’s been the Ruttle Report.
