Episode 5: Let the Eastern Bastards Freeze in the Dark (Western Alienation, and the Western Canada Separatist Movement)

In the midst of Lougheed's and Trudeau's dispute over the National Energy Program, resentment of the Easten dominated Federal government seeped deep into residents of Western Canada, some of which would evolve into hate. Call-in radio programs were flooded with support for Lougheed, as well as anger towards the Trudeau government. As one man said, "…I would be happy to fight for our freedom and I literally mean fight with a rifle." He wasn't alone in his desire for freedom, and the Western provinces saw several independence parties spring up during the 1980s. They sought to form an independent republic of Western Canada, in order to break away from what they percieved to be the oppression politicians in the east against the west, and Ottawa sucking away financial gains. However, these parties failed to recognize the overwhelming indesire for Western Canada to actually separate, and these advocates lacked the charisma, leadership, and popularity federalist figures such as Lougheed held. Join us this week as we discuss one of the least successful independence movement Canada experienced, crushed under its overconfidence.