Liberal Party of Canada
 | |
| Current Leader: | Paul Martin |
| Founded: | July 1, 1867 (nation's founding) |
| Headquarters: | Suite 400 81 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6M8 |
| Colours: | Red |
| Political ideology: | liberal |
The Liberal Party currently forms the federal government in Canada. It is often called "Canada's natural governing party" due to the fact that it has been in power Canada for most of the past century. It is one of only two parties that have alternately governed Canada since Confederation, the other being the Conservativess.
Origins
The Liberals are descended from the mid-19th century Reformers who agitated for responsible government throughout British North America. These included George Brown, Robert Baldwin, William Lyon Mackenzie and the Clear Grits in Upper Canada; Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia and the Patriotes and Rouges in Lower Canada led by figures such as Louis-Joseph Papineau.
See also: Rebellions of 1837
Confederation
The radical Liberals were marginalized by the more pragmatic Conservative coalition assembled under Sir John A. Macdonald. In the 29 years after Canadian confederation, the Liberals were consigned to opposition with the exception of one stint in government under Alexander Mackenzie who was able to lead the party to power after Macdonald government's lost confidence, thanks to the Pacific Scandal. Mackenzie subsequently won the 1874 election.
Laurier
In its early history the Liberals were the party of free trade, continentalism, and opposition to excessive imperialism. The Liberals also became identified with the aspirations of Quebecers as a result of the growing hostility of French-Canadians to the Conservatives, particularly due the role of Conservative governments in the execution of Louis Riel, the suppression of the rights of French-Canadians outside of Quebec and its role in the Conscription crisis of 1917.
It was not until Wilfrid Laurier became leader that the Liberal Party emerged as a modern party. Laurier was able to capitalize on the Tories' alienation of French Canada by offering the Liberals as a credible alternative, despite the party's reputation for anti-clericalism which offended the still powerful Quebec Catholic Church. In English Canada the Liberal Party's support for free trade made it tremendously popular among farmers and helped cement the party's hold in the growing prairie provinces.
Canadian Sovereignty
Laurier led the Liberals to power in the 1896 Canadian election and oversaw a government that increased immigration in order to settle Western Canada, and saw the creation of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta and the development of Canadian industry. The Liberals lost power in the 1911 Canadian election due to opposition to the party's policies on reciprocity (or free trade) and the creation of a Canadian navy.
Under Laurier, and his successor William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Liberals promoted Canadian sovereignty and greater independence from the British Empire. In Imperial Conferences held throughout the 1920s Canadian Liberal governments often took the lead in arguing that Britain and the dominions should have equal status and against proposals for an imperial parliament that would have subsumed Canadian independence. After the King-Byng Affair of 1926 the Liberals argued that the position of Governor General of Canada should no longer be appointed on the recommendation of the British government. The decisions of the Imperial Conferences were formalised in the Statute of Westminster which was actually passed in 1931, the year after the Liberals lost power.
As well, the Liberals were in favour of Canada being responsible for its own foreign and defence policy. Initially, it was Britain which determined external affairs for the dominion. In 1905, Laurier created the Department of External Affairs and in 1909 he appointed the first Secretary of State for External Affairs to Cabinet. It was also Laurier who first proposed the creation of a Canadian Navy in 1910. Mackenzie King appointed Vincent Massey the first Canadian ambassador to Washington in 1926 marking the Liberal government's insistence on having direct relations with the United States rather than having Britain act on Canada's behalf.
Liberals and the Welfare State
For many years Liberals have been accused of, or credited with, not having any great vision but rather reflecting whatever policies could best get them elected. In the period just before and after the Second World War, the party became a champion of social goals.
In keeping with the opinion stated above, Canada's welfare state was introduced (due to public support and not policy) under its longest serving Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King who instituted mother's allowance. He also reluctantly introduced old age pensions when J. S. Woodsworth required it in exchange for his support of Mackenzie in forming a majority coalition government. Later, Lester B. Pearson introduced universal health care, the Canada Pension Plan, Canada Student Loans, and the Canada Assistance Plan (which provided funding for provincial welfare programs).
Trudeau Era
Under Pierre Trudeau this mission evolved into the goal of creating a "just society". In recent years, however, the party has been accused of "campaigning on the left and ruling on the right".
The Trudeau Liberals became the champions of bilingualism passing the Official Languages Act which gave the French and English languages equal status in Canada. Trudeau hoped that the promotion of bilingualism would cement Quebec's place in confederation and counter growing calls for an independent Quebec by transforming Canada into a country where English and French-Canadians could live together in comfort and could move to any part of the country without having to lose their language. While this has not occurred, official bilingualism has helped to halt the decline of the French language outside of Quebec and has also ensured that all federal government services (as well as radio and television) are available in both languages throughout the country. The Trudeau Liberals are also credited with support for official multiculturalism as a means of integrating immigrants into Canadian society without forcing them to shed their culture (as a result of this and a more sympathetic attitude by Liberals towards immigration policy, the party has built a base of support among immigrants and their children).
The most lasting effect of the Trudeau years has been the patriation of the Canadian constitution and the creation of Canada's Charter of Rights. Trudeau Liberals support the concept of a strong, central government and fought Quebec separatism and other forms of Quebec nationalism as well as opposing the granting of distinct society status to Quebec.
Post-Trudeau
After Trudeau's retirement in 1984, many Liberals, such as Jean Chretien and Clyde Wells continued to adhere to Trudeau's concept of federalism. Others, such as John Turner and Paul Martin supported the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Constitutional Accordss which recognised Quebec as a distinct society and would have increased the powers of the provinces to the detriment of the federal government.
The Liberals lost power in the 1984 Canadian election and were reduced to only 40 seats in the House of Commons. Under the party's new leader, John Turner, the Liberals began a long process of reconstruction. The 1988 Canadian election was notable for John Turner's strong opposition to the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement negotiated by Tory Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Despite the fact that most Canadians voted for parties opposed to free trade, the Tories were returned with a majority government and implemented the deal. Turner resigned in 1990 due to growing discontent within the party with his leadership and he was replaced by bitter rival Jean ChrÃÂétien. ChrÃÂétien's Liberals still formally opposed free trade and campaigned in the 1993 Canadian election with promises of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement but when Chretien took power his government implemented only minor changes to NAFTA and embraced the free trade concept.
While the ChrÃÂétien Liberals campaigned from the left in power they have implemented a neo-liberal agenda reducing taxes and social programs, in order to balance the federal budget. The Liberals have also been keen supporters of globalization. ChrÃÂétien has, however, continued the Trudeau Liberal approach to federalism and has opposed making major concessions to Quebec. After the 1995 Quebec referendum narrowly defeated a proposal for Quebec independence, the Liberals passed the 'Clarity Act' in an attempt to outline the federal government's preconditions for negotiating Quebec independence. In ChrÃÂétien's final days, he supported same-sex marriage in Canada as well as the decriminalization of marijuana.
Paul Martin
Paul Martin succeeded Chretien in 2003 and despite the personal rivalry between the two, Martin was the architect of the Liberals' economic policies during the 1990s and is expected to continue them, though there is also speculation that he will be more flexible on the issue of federalism and possible constitutional concessions to Quebec and the provinces.
General
Known colloquially as the "Grits" (originally "Clear Grits"), the Liberal Party has held power for a substantial majority of the past century -- in fact, in the entire history of the Liberal Party, there has only been one non-interim leader, Edward Blake, who was never Prime Minister of Canada. It is also worth noting that every successive Liberal Prime Minister has been a cabinet minister in the past Liberal leader's cabinet (Martin was in Chretien's cabinet, who was in Turner's cabinet, who was in Trudeau's cabinet, etc). The party thus has a reputation among members for being very "tight" and loyal, though this is always called into question during leadership races.
The Liberal Party is a member of the Liberal International.
- For information about the anticipated 2004 election including a list of nominated candidates see: Canadian federal election, 2004
Leaders of the Liberal Party
- Alexander Mackenzie (July 1, 1867 - April 27, 1880)
- Edward Blake (May 4, 1880 - June 2, 1887)
- Wilfrid Laurier (June 23, 1887 - February 17, 1919)
- Daniel Duncan McKenzie (February 17, 1919 - August 7, 1919 interim)
- William Lyon Mackenzie King (August 7, 1919 - August 6, 1948)
- Louis St. Laurent (August 7, 1948 - January 15, 1958)
- Lester B. Pearson (January 16, 1958 - April 5, 1968)
- Pierre Trudeau (April 6, 1968 - June 15, 1984)
- John Turner (June 16, 1984 - June 22, 1990)
- Jean ChrÃÂétien (June 23, 1990 - November 13, 2003)1
- Paul Martin (November 14, 2003 - present)
1 Herb Gray served as Leader of the Opposition from June 23 until ChrÃÂétien was re-elected to Parliament in December 1990, though he was never the leader, nor even the interim leader, of the Liberal party.
The Liberal Party held its first leadership convention in 1919 electing William Lyon Mackenzie King as leader. Prior to that party leaders were chosen by caucus.
See also: Liberal leadership conventions for ballot by ballot results.
Each province in Canada has its own Liberal Party. Though most of these are not linked to the federal Liberals, relations are often close.
Officially, most provinces only have provincial wings of the federal party, much like the NDP.
These parties are:
Provincial Liberal Parties
The Parti libÃÂéral du QuÃÂébec and the BC Liberal Party use the Liberal name but are completely independent of the federal party and function as coalitions of Liberal and Conservative supporters. They do not support the Liberal Party in federal elections, preferring to remain neutral. In practice these parties are conservative in orientation though they do have prominent supporters of the federal Liberals in their caucuses.
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