Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan
LeaderPhillip Zajac
PresidentKris Carley
Founded2020
RegisteredMarch 10, 2020
HeadquartersPO Box 10 Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0[1]
Membership<1,000 (2022)[2]
IdeologyWestern alienation
Populism
Political positionRight-wing
ColoursYellow, blue
Seats in Legislature
0 / 61
Website
www.buffalopartybpsk.ca

The Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan is a conservative, populist, and separatist provincial political party in Saskatchewan. The party was established in 2020 and contested its first election that same year.

History

Wexit Saskatchewan

The 2019 federal election provided the impetus for the organization of the Buffalo Party. The Conservative Party of Canada won every seat in Saskatchewan, and 54 out of 62 across the Prairie provinces, while the Liberal Party of Canada secured a minority government. The results stoked feelings of western alienation, or the sense that western Canadian perspectives were being ignored at the federal level.[3] Immediately after the election, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe proposed a "New Deal" with the federal government. He called for an end to the federal carbon tax, renegotiation of the equalization formula, and the approval of new pipeline projects.[4] In the weeks after the election, discussions began about the creation of a new western separatist party, a political strategy that had previously gained traction on the Prairies in the early 1980s, resulting in parties like the Western Canada Concept and the Unionest Party.[5] The new movement was dubbed the "Wexit" movement, a portmanteau of "western" and "exit" and a play on Brexit.[6][7] The movement adopted the slogan "The West Wants Out", the inverse of Preston Manning's Reform Party slogan from the 1980s, "The West Wants In".[7]

In the fall of 2019, volunteers began collecting signatures to form a Wexit Party in Saskatchewan.[8] The group emphasized that their priority was to pressure Moe to hold a referendum on separation for the province, and that if he did not agree to do so they would form a party with that goal in mind.[6][8] While the Saskatchewan Party government issued a statement that it was opposed to secession, former Sask Party MLA—and Reform Party MP—Allan Kerpan acted as a spokesperson for the Wexit Saskatchewan group.[9]

On March 10, 2020, Wexit Saskatchewan was officially registered as a provincial party by Elections Saskatchewan, with Jake Wall serving as interim leader.[10] Once registered, Wexit Saskatchewan proposed a referendum on independence in its platform.

Buffalo Party

In July 2020, the party announced that membership had voted to change its name to the Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan, and that Wall had stepped down as interim leader and had been replaced by Wade Sira, who was appointed by the party's board.[11] The Buffalo name was derived from the early twentieth century proposal to create one large western province called Buffalo, before the federal government instead created two new provinces in Alberta and Saskatchewan.[11] Sira stated that the party's priority remained independence, and that if a proposed referendum on separation failed to pass, the party would continue to advocate for greater sovereignty, including in the areas of immigration and natural resources. Sira pointed to Quebec's position within Confederation as something the province could aim to emulate.[11]

Other Wexit parties similarly rebranded. Wexit Canada became the Maverick Party, while the Alberta party merged another, the Freedom Conservative Party, to form the Wildrose Independence Party.[12][13]

Elections

The Buffalo Party ran seventeen candidates, including Sira, in the 2020 provincial election. The party ran on a platform opposing public health mandates—the 2020 election took place during the COVID-19 pandemic—and proposing tax cuts; during the campaign, Sira also claimed that the province was not being negatively impacted by climate change.[14]

The party surprised many by finishing second in four rural ridings and third in the provincial popular vote—with 2.6%—despite not running candidates in 44 of 61 districts.[15] The party had second place finishes to the Saskatchewan Party in Cypress Hills, Kindersley, Estevan, and Cannington—the only third party to secure a second place finish in any district.[15] Immediately after the election, in which Moe's Saskatchewan Party was re-elected, Moe made statements supporting greater independence and autonomy for Saskatchewan, stating that his government shared the "frustrations" and many of the "objectives" of Buffalo Party supporters.[16] Moe would later adopt similar language to the Buffalo Party, calling for Saskatchewan to be recognized as a "nation within a nation" and for more autonomy in the areas of policing, immigration, and taxation.[17]

On August 31, 2021, Sira was removed as interim leader of the party after a unanimous vote by the party's board.[18] Sira, who missed the meeting, said he found out about his removal through media reports.[18] After the decision was announced, nine party caucus members signed a letter criticizing the board decision and alleging that the board ignored conflicts of interest in making the decision; the members asserted that the caucus still had confidence in Sira's leadership.[19] The party board accused Sira of making unapproved financial commitments, which Sira denied.[19] The party planned to launch a formal leadership selection process at its annual general meeting in the fall of 2021.[18] Shirley Huber was chosen to replace Sira as interim leader.[20]

On March 25, 2022, Phillip Zajac, who finished second as a Buffalo candidate in the Estevan riding in the 2020 provincial election, became the first elected leader of the Buffalo Party, defeating Clint Arnason, the party's candidate in the 2022 by-election in the Athabasca riding.[20] Zajac appeared to soften the party's stance on independence, stating that the party desired more autonomy, and that it sought smaller government and lower taxes.[21]

The party contested a provincial by-election in September 2022 in Saskatoon Meewasin, with former People's Party of Canada candidate Mark Friesen as its candidate;[22] Friesen, a prominent protester of public health measures who was sent to Ontario for intensive care treatment for COVID-19, finished fourth.[23] The party contested another by-election in August 2023 in Lumsden-Morse, again finishing fourth.[24]

Ideology

While the Buffalo Party's primary aim as been to secure a referendum on independence for Saskatchewan, much of its politics have been described as traditionally right-wing and populist.[25][26] The party favours smaller government, lower taxes, and promotes individualism.[21] In recent years, there has been a proliferation of right-wing political movements in the province, and Zajac has stated that he has invited other groups to join the Buffalo Party. These include members of Unified Grassroots, an anti-vaccine mandate group that ultimately played a role in the formation of another new party, the Saskatchewan United Party, in 2022, and the Christian conservative group True North Saskatchewan, who were also seeking party registration in 2022.[21][26]

In 2023, the Buffalo Party listed the "True North Declaration" as one of its party documents; the document, written by a British Columbia resident, is a Christian conservative populist manifesto asserting self determination for provinces and territories.[27]

Electoral performance

A lawn sign from the party's 2020 provincial election campaign.

The 2020 provincial election was the Buffalo Party's first.[28]

Election Leader Seats Change Place Votes  % Position
2020 Wade Sira
0 / 61
 Steady0 Increase3 11,298 2.56% No seats

Party leaders

† Denotes vacancy or acting/interim leader

# Party Leader Highest Position Tenure Notes
† Jake Wall Party leader March 10, 2020 – July 26, 2020 Interim
† Wade Sira Party leader July 26, 2020 – August 31, 2021 Led party in the 2020 provincial election
† Shirley Huber Party leader August 31, 2021 – March 25, 2022 Interim
1 Phillip Zajac Party leader March 25, 2022 – present First elected leader of the party

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Registered Political Parties" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Sciarpelletti, Laura (2022-04-29). "New leader says Sask.'s Buffalo Party hasn't hit 1,000 members yet, but confident for next election". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Drew (2019-10-28). "The anger is real, but is western separatism?". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  4. ↑ Hunter, Adam (2019-10-22). "Premier Moe demands 'new deal,' says he is handing Justin Trudeau a 'fire extinguisher'". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  5. ↑ Eneas, Bryan (2019-09-20). "Disenfranchisement and disappointment: Idea of western Canadian separation has deep roots in Prairies". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2019-09-22. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  6. 1 2 White-Crummey, Arthur (2019-11-08). "Wexit party registration drive coming to Saskatchewan". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2019-11-09. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  7. 1 2 Bartko, Karen (2019-11-05). "The West Wants Out: Alberta separatist group Wexit Canada seeking federal political party status". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  8. 1 2 Wiens, Colton (2019-11-17). "Wexit Saskatchewan gathers signatures to form new party". CTV News. Archived from the original on 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  9. ↑ Modjeski, Morgan (2019-10-24). "Sask. government not in favour of separation, says Trade and Economic Development Minister". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  10. ↑ "Wexit Saskatchewan becomes official political party". CBC News. 2020-03-10. Archived from the original on 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  11. 1 2 3 Zinchuk, Brian (2020-07-26). "Provincial separatist party rebrands, appoints new interim leader". Estevan Mercury. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via Humboldt Journal.
  12. ↑ Dryden, Joel (2020-09-17). "Seeking broader appeal, separatist Wexit Canada party changes its name to the Maverick Party". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  13. ↑ "Wexit Alberta and Freedom Conservative Party vote to merge as Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta". CBC News. 2020-06-30. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  14. ↑ Giles, David (2020-09-29). "A look at Saskatchewan's political leaders heading into the provincial election". Global News. Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  15. 1 2 Pearce, Nick; Radford, Evan (2020-10-27). "Saskatchewan election: Buffalo Party takes larger than expected share of vote in debut". Global News. Archived from the original on 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  16. ↑ White-Crummey, Arthur (2020-10-28). "Scott Moe walks 'fine line' by backing independence, not separation". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  17. ↑ Hunter, Adam (2021-11-09). "Premier Moe wants Saskatchewan to be a 'nation within a nation' by increasing autonomy". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  18. 1 2 3 Sciarpelletti, Laura (2021-09-02). "Wade Sira caught off guard by ousting from role as interim leader of Buffalo Party of Sask". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  19. 1 2 Sciarpelletti, Laura (2021-09-03). "'Desperate junkyard-style politics': Buffalo Party caucus opposes board's decision to oust interim leader". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  20. 1 2 "Estevan's Phillip Zajac is the new leader of the Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan". Estevan Mercury. SaskToday.ca. 2022-03-26. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  21. 1 2 3 Sciarpelletti, Laura (2022-04-29). "New leader says Sask.'s Buffalo Party hasn't hit 1,000 members yet, but confident for next election". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  22. ↑ "Saskatoon Meewasin byelection to be held on Sept. 26". CTV News Saskatoon. 2022-08-29. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  23. ↑ Skjerven, Kelly (2021-10-24). "Former PPC candidate Mark Friesen sent to Ont. hospital with COVID-19, supporters say". Global News. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  24. ↑ Prisciak, David; Lynn, Josh (2023-08-10). "NDP swipes 2 Sask. Party seats in byelection wins". CTV News Regina. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  25. ↑ Salloum, Alec (2023-01-06). "Divides between and among political parties widen in Sask. during 2022". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  26. 1 2 Simes, Jeremey (2022-06-03). "The rise on the right: Inside Saskatchewan's shifting political landscape". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  27. ↑ "Party Documents". Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  28. ↑ "2020 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
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