What are the major political parties in Alberta?
Categories: Citizenship, Politics
There are 3 major national parties in Canada, and one regional party based in Quebec. They are the Conservative Party; the Liberal Party; the New Democratic Party; and the Bloc Quebecois in Quebec. The Bloc Quebecois does not run candidates in Alberta.
Conservative Party: Centre-Right
Current Leader: Steven Harper
The Conservative Party of Canada is a centre-right party that was formed out of the merger of the old Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance Party in 2003.
The Conservative Party advocates traditionally conservative political goals, including less state-interference in the economy, generally lower taxes, social conservatism, and a generally pro-military stance.
Their grassroots support traditionally comes from Alberta, as well as suburban and rural areas of Ontario.
The Conservative Party currently forms the Government with a minority of seats in parliament.
Liberal Party: Centre or Centre-Left
Current Leader: Stéphane Dion
The Liberal Party is the main centre or centre-left party in Canada. They have been the party most often in power throughout Canadian history thanks to their moderate views.
The Liberal Party generally supports liberal political goals, including socially liberal policies like support of social programs, same-sex marriage, universal health care and multiculturalism.
The grassroots support of the Liberal Party tends to be centred in Ontario and Quebec, as well as urban and suburban areas.
New Democratic Party: Centre Left
Current Leader: Jack Layton
The New Democratic Party (NDP) is a centre-left part which can be characterized as social-democratic. The party is strongly secular, and holds traditionally left-wing policies such as strong environmental protections, labour union rights, health care, poverty reduction and proportional-representation in elections.
The NDP finds grassroots support in variety of places, but primarily from prairie provinces and major cities in Canada.
Other Parties:
There are a variety of other political parties in Canada, notably the Green Party (with an emphasis on the environment) and the Bloc Quebecois (a powerful regional party that only runs candidates in Quebec.) Smaller parties may not run candidates in every riding.
More Information
Elections Canada - Political Parties
Conservative Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
New Democratic Party
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