A quick guide to Canada's major political parties within the federal level.
The Liberal Party of Canada
Leader: Justin Trudeau
2019 Federal Election Result: 33.1% (157 Seats)
Founded in 1867, the Liberal Party is Canada's oldest surviving political party descended from political groups in pre-Confederation Canada. The Liberal Party has also been described as the "natural governing party" within Canada's political landscape due to the length of time that they were in government during the 20th century.
Over its history, the party has authored bills (often in conjunction with the NDP) ranging from official multiculturalism, universal healthcare, the Canada Pension Plan, the legalization of same-sex marriage and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Liberal Party had also authored the "Official Languages Act" which officially made Canada a bilingual country adopting English and French as co-official languages. In terms of foreign policy, the Liberal Party has mostly kept to a multilateral policy maintaining diplomatic relations with nations such as Cuba.
Ideologically, the party officially espouses socially liberal political positions with the party straddling the centre to centre-left of the Canadian political spectrum, being labelled as a "big tent" party. However, over its long history, the Liberals have been mobile in terms of their ideological conviction in government, with several administrations taking a more state interventionist approach with the economy and others focusing towards austerity. A notable criticism that has been levelled towards the Liberals have been their tendency to stick by the phrase of "campaigning on the left and governing on the right".
Demographically, the party derives a large amount of their support from a wide strata of society, being especially strong among electorates within Canada's largest cities. The Liberals also have the strongest support within university graduated populations and recent immigrants. They are also especially strong in Ontario, Quebec (at certain times and mostly in Montreal), and the Maritime provinces of Eastern Canada.
Notable Prime Ministers from the Liberal Party over its history include Justin and Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chretien, William Mackenzie King, Wilfrid Laurier and Lester Pearson.
During the 2019 Federal Election, a few of the Liberals proposed policies included
$50 Carbon price by 2022
Net Zero Emissions by 2050.
Steps toward a national pharmacare program.
Immigration of 350,000 by 2021.
Raise Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Support for Line 3 and Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
The party currently has a minority government in parliament, opting for a case to case basis when it comes to cooperating with other parties amenable to cooperation in parliament (such as the NDP or the Bloc Quebecois) rather than officially entering a proper coalition with any party.
The Conservative Party of Canada
Leader: Andrew Scheer
2019 Federal Election Result: 34.3% (121 Seats)
The party was founded after a merger in 2003 between the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party (The other dominant party in Canadian Federal Politics, serving as the conservative alternative to the Liberal Party until their collapse in the 1993 election). Currently the party is the Official Opposition in Canada's parliament.
Ideologically, the party sits within the centre-right to right wing of the Canadian political spectrum. The party also describes itself to be Canada's premier conservative voice in Canadian federal politics. During its history governing the country, it has implemented policies such as lowering the GST (Goods and Services Tax) from 7% to 5%, the privatization of the Canadian Wheat Board and a change to a voluntary census form. The party has also stated strong support for Israel in terms of foreign policy, along with cutting diplomatic ties with Iran.
The party's strongest base is in the Canadian prairie provinces, notably in Alberta and Saskatchewan where they command large percentages of the vote. The party also polls strongly among rural Canadians and among those with high school and college education. The Conservatives also command a large amount of popularity with poor and working class Canadians.
Notable Conservative politicians within Canada include Peter MacKay, Jason Kenney, John Baird, Rona Ambrose and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
During the 2019 Federal Election, the Conservative Party has proposed policies such as
Abolishing the Carbon Tax.
Increase Health Transfer Payment by 3% annually.
Support for Pipeline construction along with ending foreign oil imports.
Change the mortgage "Stress Test" for first time buyers.
Repeal Bill C-71.
Erase the federal deficit while cutting taxes.
They were most recently in government from the years 2006-2015 under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, governing two consecutive minority governments and one majority government from 2011-2015.
Bloc Québécois
Leader: Yves-François Blanchet
2019 Federal Election Result: 4.6% (32 Seats)
The party was originally founded in 1991 as a temporary and informal coalition between Liberal and Progressive Conservative MP's from Quebec in the aftermath of the failure of the Meech Lake Accords. The party's original goal was to promote Quebec's interests within federal politics, a goal that has continued into the present day. As of today, the Bloc Quebecois hold the balance of power in parliament, in conjunction with the NDP, due to the Liberal's minority government.
Provincially, the Bloc is informally connected with the provincial "Parti Québécois" (a party in Quebec which advocates for the independence of Quebec. Bloc Québécois MP's within parliament also exclusively speak French within the House of Commons. During the 1995 Quebec Independence Referendum for Quebec, the party campaigned for the "Oui" side.
The Bloc Québécois also exclusively runs candidates in the province of Quebec. Demographically, in Quebec, the party is popular within smaller towns and rural Quebec. Over its history, the Bloc has made inroads within Quebec City and other mainly Francophone speaking regions in the province.
Ideologically, the party is "autonomist" in its nature focusing on Quebec's interests and the promotion of Quebec's sovereignty. However, in terms of its social and economic policy positions, the party has been described as "social-democratic" avowing support for environmentalist politics and LGBT rights.
During the 2019 Federal Election, a few of the policies proposed by the Bloc included
$200 Carbon price by 2030.
Larger education transfer payments to provinces.
Against the construction of new pipelines, especially Energy East.
Quebec should collect its own taxes, rather than the Canada Revenue Agency.
Quebec should be exempt from the Multiculturalism Act.
Greater access for all regarding high-speed internet.
Notable Bloc Québécois members over the years have included Lucien Bouchard, Gilles Duceppe along with current leader Yves-François Blanchet.
The party's best performance was in 1993, when the Bloc managed to become the Official Opposition with a total of 54 seats in the House of Commons. (The Bloc also managed to have 54 seats in 2004 but was not the Official Opposition).
The New Democratic Party of Canada
Leader: Jagmeet Singh
2019 Federal Election Result: 16.0% (24 Seats)
The party was founded in 1961 after a merger of the left-wing Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and the Canadian Labour Congress. The NDP also has strong connections with labour groups and unions across the country, with organized labour representing a key plank of its support and holds a large degree of influence within party conventions. The party is currently the fourth largest party in the House of Commons and has never formed government in its history.
Over its history, the political party has been described as the third rail within Canadian federal politics, and has held influence with Liberal minority governments in the 20th century.
As a result, the party has had strong influence on progressive policy implementation such as the creation of Petro-Canada as a crown corporation and pension indexing.
Ideologically, the NDP sit on the centre-left to the left wing of the Canadian political spectrum and have been the social democratic choice for Canadian voters since its foundation. The party has both elements of the "old left", more concerned with economic issues and the "new left, which advocates for environmental issues and furthering LGBT and Indigenous rights.
Demographically, the party is quite popular in urban core areas and among working class and educated Canadians across the country. In terms of their support among age groups, the NDP polls really strongly among younger Canadians. The party is also popular in the provinces of British Columbia (especially in Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland) and several areas of Ontario, notably in the larger cities.
During the 2019 Federal Election, a few of the policies proposed by the NDP included
Cut greenhouse gases to 450 megatonnes by 2030.
Implement all recommendations for the MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) Inquiry.
Opposes the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion.
Impose a 1% wealth tax on those earning more than $20 million annually.
Universal Pharmacare and increased health coverage to mental, dental, hearing and eye health.
Price cap on mobile and internet bills.
Notable NDP members have included Jack Layton, Jagmeet Singh (the first visible minority to lead a federal political party), Thomas Mulcair, Ed Broadbent and Tommy Douglas.
The party achieved its best result from the years 2011-2015 when it gained 103 seats and was also the Official Opposition for the first time in the party's history.
The Green Party of Canada
Leader: Jo-Ann Roberts (Interim)
2019 Federal Election Result: 6.5% (3 Seats)
The Green Party was founded in 1983 and ran around 60 candidates across the country in the 1984 Federal Election. The party had been an extra-parliamentary (not represented in the House of Commons) party for several decades until it won its first seat in the 2011 Federal Election.
Ideologically, the party has espoused strong environmental politics branding itself as Canada's largest voice when it comes to green politics in the country. It also espouses values of social justice, ecological awareness and participatory democracy.
Demographically, the party is strongest among younger voters, especially those within the 18-34 age range. The party is also strongest within the provinces of British Columbia (especially in Vancouver Island) and commands some support in the Maritime provinces of Atlantic Canada.
During the 2019 Federal Election, a few of the Green Party's proposed policies included
Hitting net zero emissions by 2050.
Increase Corporate Tax to 21%, imposing a financial transactions tax of 0.5% and a tax on sugary drinks.
Remove university and college tuition.
In favour of a handgun and assault rifle ban.
Dismantling the Indian Act.
Opposing pipeline construction and importation of foreign oil.
The most notable member of the Green Party was former leader Elizabeth May, whose name became synonymous with the party during the years as the party's official leader.
The party's best performance was in the most recent federal election in 2019, when it gained 3 seats in the House of Commons, including its first one outside of British Columbia.
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