| When you examine the politics of Canada you | | | | Governed Canada for most of the 20th century. |
| must examine all the Canadian political parties both | | | | Widely considered to be centre-left to centre on |
| federal and provincial. However, the incongruity of | | | | the political spectrum. Current seats in the House |
| parties among these levels of government can be | | | | of Commons: 77 |
| understandably confusing to some, especially | | | | Bloc Quebecois |
| young people and newcomers to this great | | | | Ideology: |
| country. If you ever wanted to get a quick an | | | | -social democracy |
| easy summary of the political parties in Canada, | | | | -Quebec sovereignty |
| you came to the right place. | | | | -socialist nationalism |
| This article lays out in admittedly and purposely | | | | -nominates candidates in Quebec only |
| simple terms the ideologies of the federal political | | | | Leader: Gilles Duceppe |
| parties in Canada and provides a quick summary | | | | Summary: Third largest amount of seats in the |
| of each. It is meant to be simple and | | | | House of commons. The vast majority of the |
| non-exhaustive. It is intended to act as a quick | | | | Bloc's members and supporters advocate for |
| reference. | | | | Quebec to separate from Canada and become an |
| I believe that the best way for people who don't | | | | independent nation. The party falls on the left |
| know a thing about Canadian politics but who | | | | wing of the political spectrum. Current seats in the |
| want to learn is to first look at the federal | | | | House of Commons: 47 |
| Canadian political parties. These parties form the | | | | New Democratic Party |
| basis of party politics as most of the federal | | | | Ideology: |
| parties have provincial arms as well. However, | | | | -social democracy |
| some provinces' main parties are not associated | | | | -populism |
| with any federal party although they may have | | | | -democratic socialism |
| close ties to a specific federal party. | | | | -'New Left' politics |
| To keep things simple I will focus strictly on the | | | | Leader: Jack Layton |
| federal parties. There are five main political parties | | | | Summary: Considered a "progressive party" When |
| in Canada and in this piece I will provide a short | | | | it comes to the political spectrum, the party would |
| summary of each. | | | | fall somewhere between the left and centre-left |
| Conservative Party (current government) | | | | although it a little closer to the centre-left. The |
| Ideology: | | | | NDP is further to the left than the Liberals |
| -conservatism | | | | however. Current seats in the House of |
| -social and fiscal conservatism | | | | Commons: 36 |
| -right-libertarianism, market economy | | | | Green Party |
| Leader: Stephen Harper - Prime Minister of | | | | Ideology: |
| Canada | | | | -green politics |
| Summary: On the classic political spectrum the | | | | -see "green politics" |
| Conservative party of Canada falls on the right to | | | | Leader: Elizabeth May |
| the centre-right. Current seats in the House of | | | | Summary: As of 2009 the Greens are polling an |
| Commons: 143 | | | | average of 8-12%. While technically Greens have |
| Liberal Party | | | | factions that fall on all sides of the political |
| Ideology: | | | | spectrum, the Green Party of Canada's ideology is |
| -The 'Third Way' | | | | widely considered to be left wing. Current seats in |
| -liberalism | | | | the House of Commons: none. |
| -social liberalism | | | | I hope this has been helpful to anyone interested |
| -moderate politics, mixed economy | | | | in understanding the basics of the Canadian political |
| Leader: Michael Ignatieff | | | | parties. Thanks for reading! |
| Summary: Official opposition in parliament. | | | | |