Liberal Party of Canada: Difference between revisions
edit -- |
read the facts, mike's not the leader yet |
||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
| dissolution = |
| dissolution = |
||
| party_logo = [[Image:Liberal Party of Canada.svg|200px]] |
| party_logo = [[Image:Liberal Party of Canada.svg|200px]] |
||
| leader = [[Stéphane Dion]] (resigning, presumed to be [[Michael Ignatieff]] after December 17, 2008)<ref>http://beta.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?CatID=National&ArticleID=news/capfeed/national/n120981A.xml</ref> |
|||
| leader = [[Michael Ignatieff]] |
|||
| president =[[Doug Ferguson (Canadian politician)|Doug Ferguson]] |
| president =[[Doug Ferguson (Canadian politician)|Doug Ferguson]] |
||
| ideology = [[Liberalism in Canada|Liberalism]]<br />[[Social liberalism]] |
| ideology = [[Liberalism in Canada|Liberalism]]<br />[[Social liberalism]] |
||
Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
The '''Liberal Party of Canada''' ({{lang-fr|'''Parti libéral du Canada'''}}), colloquially known as the '''Grits''' (originally "[[Clear Grits]]"), is a major Canadian political party. The organization is located in the centre of the Canadian political spectrum, combining a liberal social policy with moderate economic policies. Every leader of the party except Edward Blake, Stephane Dion and interim leaders have served as [[Prime Minister of Canada]]. The party has formed the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]] in the [[Parliament of Canada]] since February 2006. The Liberal Party is Canada's oldest functioning [[List of federal political parties in Canada|party at the federal level]]; the only party remaining from [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Political Parties| publisher = Parliament of Canada| accessdate = 2008-11-25| url = http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Lists/Party.aspx}}</ref> The Liberal Party held power for nearly 69 years of the 20th Century, more than any other party in any developed Western country.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} |
The '''Liberal Party of Canada''' ({{lang-fr|'''Parti libéral du Canada'''}}), colloquially known as the '''Grits''' (originally "[[Clear Grits]]"), is a major Canadian political party. The organization is located in the centre of the Canadian political spectrum, combining a liberal social policy with moderate economic policies. Every leader of the party except Edward Blake, Stephane Dion and interim leaders have served as [[Prime Minister of Canada]]. The party has formed the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]] in the [[Parliament of Canada]] since February 2006. The Liberal Party is Canada's oldest functioning [[List of federal political parties in Canada|party at the federal level]]; the only party remaining from [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Political Parties| publisher = Parliament of Canada| accessdate = 2008-11-25| url = http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Lists/Party.aspx}}</ref> The Liberal Party held power for nearly 69 years of the 20th Century, more than any other party in any developed Western country.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} |
||
The party is currently led by [[ |
The party is currently led by [[Stéphane Dion]], who announced on [[December 8]], 2008 he would step down as soon as a new interim leader was chosen. [[Michael Ignatieff]] is presumed to be the next leader (effective [[December 17]], 2008)<ref>http://beta.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?CatID=National&ArticleID=news/capfeed/national/n120981A.xml</ref> after [[Bob Rae]], the last remaining leader candidate, other than Ignatieff, withdrew from [[Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, 2009|the leadership race]] on [[December 9]], 2008.<ref name="Rae">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/09/rae-liberals.html |title=Rae dropping out of Liberal leadership race |accessdate=9 December 2008 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-12-09}}</ref> Currently, a Liberal-led coalition is seeking to defeat the Conservative government as part of the [[2008 Canadian political dispute]]. A federal election may be called early in 2009 as a result. In the federal elections of 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2008 the Liberal party has consistently received less share of the popular vote and less seats in parliament. |
||
==History of leaders== |
==History of leaders== |
||
Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
|[[Image:Stephane_dion_rally_head.jpg|100px]] || [[Stéphane Dion]] || 2006 || 2008 || Stepped down after [[Bob Rae]] withdrew from the leadership race, leaving Michael Ignatieff as default winner<ref name="Rae" /> |
|[[Image:Stephane_dion_rally_head.jpg|100px]] || [[Stéphane Dion]] || 2006 || 2008 || Stepped down after [[Bob Rae]] withdrew from the leadership race, leaving Michael Ignatieff as default winner<ref name="Rae" /> |
||
|--bgcolor=#BBFFBB |
|--bgcolor=#BBFFBB |
||
|[[Image:Ignatieff-1.jpg|100px]] || [[Michael Ignatieff]] || 2008 || |
|[[Image:Ignatieff-1.jpg|100px]] || [[Michael Ignatieff]] || 2008 (presumed ) || present || (Interim) |
||
|-- |
|-- |
||
|} |
|} |
Revision as of 18:51, 9 December 2008
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2008) |
Template:Infobox Canada Political Party The Liberal Party of Canada (French: Parti libéral du Canada), colloquially known as the Grits (originally "Clear Grits"), is a major Canadian political party. The organization is located in the centre of the Canadian political spectrum, combining a liberal social policy with moderate economic policies. Every leader of the party except Edward Blake, Stephane Dion and interim leaders have served as Prime Minister of Canada. The party has formed the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since February 2006. The Liberal Party is Canada's oldest functioning party at the federal level; the only party remaining from Confederation.[1] The Liberal Party held power for nearly 69 years of the 20th Century, more than any other party in any developed Western country.[citation needed]
The party is currently led by Stéphane Dion, who announced on December 8, 2008 he would step down as soon as a new interim leader was chosen. Michael Ignatieff is presumed to be the next leader (effective December 17, 2008)[2] after Bob Rae, the last remaining leader candidate, other than Ignatieff, withdrew from the leadership race on December 9, 2008.[3] Currently, a Liberal-led coalition is seeking to defeat the Conservative government as part of the 2008 Canadian political dispute. A federal election may be called early in 2009 as a result. In the federal elections of 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2008 the Liberal party has consistently received less share of the popular vote and less seats in parliament.
History of leaders
Picture | Name | Term start | Term end | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
George Brown | 1861 | 1867 | First Leader (Interim) |
![]() |
Edward Blake | 1869 | 1870 | (Interim) |
![]() |
Alexander Mackenzie | 1873 | 1880 | 2nd Prime Minister |
![]() |
Edward Blake | 1880 | 1887 | |
![]() |
Wilfrid Laurier | 1887 | 1919 | 7th Prime Minister |
![]() |
William Lyon Mackenzie King | 1919 | 1948 | 10th Prime Minister |
![]() |
Louis St. Laurent | 1948 | 1958 | 12th Prime Minister |
![]() |
Lester B. Pearson | 1958 | 1968 | 14th Prime Minister |
![]() |
Pierre Trudeau | 1968 | 1984 | 15th Prime MInister |
![]() |
John Turner | 1984 | 1990 | 17th Prime Minister |
Herb Gray | 1990 | 1990 | (Interim) | |
File:JeanChrétien.jpg | Jean Chrétien | 1990 | 2003 | 20th Prime Minister |
![]() |
Paul Martin | 2003 | 2006 | 21st Prime Minister |
File:Bill Graham Chile 2003.jpg | Bill Graham | 2006 | 2006 | (Interim) |
File:Stephane dion rally head.jpg | Stéphane Dion | 2006 | 2008 | Stepped down after Bob Rae withdrew from the leadership race, leaving Michael Ignatieff as default winner[3] |
File:Ignatieff-1.jpg | Michael Ignatieff | 2008 (presumed ) | present | (Interim) |
Principles and policies
In the present times, the Liberal party has favoured a variety of policies from both right and left of the political spectrum. Since the 1990s it has been a strong champion of balanced budgets, and it eliminated the deficit completely from the federal budget in 1995 by reducing spending on social programs or delegating them to the provinces. It had legalized same-sex marriage and use of cannabis for medical purposes, and has been proposing complete decriminalization of possession of small amounts of it. The party also holds progressive views on various other social issues like abortion. In spite of this, a socially conservative wing does exists within the party. For example, when the Civil Marriage Act was passed in 2004 (which legalized same-sex marriage), 32 Liberal MPs voted against the act.[4]
During the 2006 election the Liberal party's platform included an
- Introduction of a national childcare program
- Immediately cut tax for low income earners by 1 point from 16% to 15%
- Tougher firearm laws, including a ban on handguns and semi-automatic rifles
- Reducing wait times for medical treatments
- Increased support and opportunities for seniors, immigrants and the aboriginal populations
- Increased spending on military
- Additional investment in research and higher education.
In June 2008, the Liberal Party unveiled a new policy based on an ecotax called Green Shift.
Regional Liberal parties
Each province and one territory in Canada has its own Liberal Party.
Current governments and premiers:
- Ontario Liberal Party, Dalton McGuinty, MPP
- New Brunswick Liberal Association, Shawn Graham, MLA
- Prince Edward Island Liberal Party, Robert Ghiz, MLA
Current official oppositions and leaders:
- Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, Yvonne Jones, MHA
- Yukon Liberal Party, Arthur Mitchell, MLA
Third party status and leaders:
Not represented provincially and leader:
- Saskatchewan Liberal Party, Frank Proto (Interim Leader) / Ryan Bater (Leader-Elect)
The relationship between the federal and provincial Liberal parties in Canada varies across Canada. In the four largest provinces (BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec) the parties are informally linked to varying degrees. In the case of BC and Quebec, the provincial party tends to maintain neutrality in federal politics. In the 6 other provinces and one territory, the provincial parties are direct organizational affiliates with their federal counterpart.
The Quebec Liberal Party was long affiliated with the federal Liberals since Confederation. In the 1940s, the party's fortunes were aided and hindered by close association with the federal Grits over the issue of conscription, winning the 1939 election but losing in 1944. The provincial party, serving a long spell in opposition, partially due to the conscription fallout, formally severed ties in 1955. Since then, relations have been tense between the federal and provincial parties, as examplified by Pierre Trudeau and Robert Bourassa's bickering over nationalism.
Some in the Alberta Liberal Party feel it has suffered as a result of federal Liberal policies unpopular in Western Canada, such as the National Energy Program and official bilingualism. The British Columbia Liberal Party ended its own ties with the federal party in 1987.
The Northwest Territories and Nunavut have non-partisan legislatures. Historically the Northwest Territories had political parties between 1898 and 1905. In 1905 the bulk of the populated parts were formed into the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. the Northwest Territories Liberal Party formed the opposition for two elections before 1905.
See also
- Liberalism
- Liberalism worldwide
- Liberal democracy
- Liberalism in Canada
- List of political parties in Canada
- Official Opposition (Canada)
- Liberal leadership conventions
- Liberal Party candidates, 2006 Canadian federal election
- Liberal Party candidates, 2004 Canadian federal election
- Liberal Party candidates, 2000 Canadian federal election
- Liberal Party candidates, 1997 Canadian federal election
- Liberal Party candidates, 1993 Canadian federal election
Further reading
- Wallace, W.S. (1948). "History of the Liberal Party of Canada". The Encyclopedia of Canada. Vol. IV. Toronto: University Associates of Canada. pp. 75–76.
- McCall, Christina. "Liberal Party". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help)
References
- ^ "Political Parties". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- ^ http://beta.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?CatID=National&ArticleID=news/capfeed/national/n120981A.xml
- ^ a b "Rae dropping out of Liberal leadership race". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-12-09. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
- ^ http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Bills_ls.asp?Parl=38&Ses=1&ls=c38
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Liberal Party of Canada (official website)
- liberalvideo