The party argued that Western Canada could not receive fair treatment while the interests of Quebec and Ontario dominated Canadian politics.
The party gained popularity in Alberta when western alienation was at its height following the federal Liberal government announcement of the National Energy Program in October 1980.
The most prominent leader of the party was Doug Christie, a British Columbia lawyer best known for having represented neo-Nazis James Keegstra, Ernst Zündel and Wolfgang Droege.
One member of the party, Gordon Kesler, was elected in a 1982 provincial by-election in Olds-Didsbury riding that drew national attention.
The best showing for the party came later in the same year in the 1982 Alberta general election, where they ran almost a full slate of candidates and took 11.8 per cent of the vote.