Western Alienation, Quebec Sovereignty and the Future of Canadian Unity (Webinar)

With the federal election now decided, the spotlight turns once again to Canada’s recurring flashpoints. 

Where do Alberta’s and Saskatchewan’s autonomist currents and the resentment underpinning them stand after the vote, and how does Quebec’s long-running sovereignty project compare? What do these movements mean for national unity, intergovernmental relations and Ottawa’s new policy agenda?  And how does the long shadow cast by the U. S. affect relations within the Canadian federation?

In this webinar, Charles Breton, executive director of the IRPP’s Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation had a conversation with two leading scholars of regional politics: Loleen Berdahl, executive director of Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan; and Jared Wesley, professor of political science, at the University of Alberta and lead of the Common Ground initiative.

Together they unpacked the election’s regional verdicts, dissected the similarities and differences between the Quebec sovereignty and Prairie autonomist movements, and outlined the implications for the federation.

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PANELLISTS

Loleen Berdahl

Loleen Berdahl

Loleen Berdahl is a professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan and the executive director of the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. 

Jared Wesley

Jared Wesley

Jared Wesley is a professor of political science at the University of Alberta. He researches the links between elections and community values and leads the Common Ground initiative. 

MODERATOR

Charles Breton

Charles Breton

Charles Breton has been the Executive Director of the IRPP’s Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation since 2019. He was the research director at Vox Pop Labs, where he led the design of innovative public opinion research tools such as Vote Compass. His research interests include Canadian politics, comparative public policy and public opinion research.