What distinguishes the liberal party from the conservative party in Canada? Which party is more popular?

Answer 1

Canada's four major political parties are the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party (NDP), and the Bloc Québécois. The current government is formed by the Conservative Party of Canada.

Conservative Party of Canada

The new Conservative Party is an amalgam of two contrasting views about conservatism in Canada. Historically, the Progressive Conservatives touted traditional Red Tory ideals like state funded social programs, rejected closer ties with the United States and attempted to model Canada after centuries-old British institutions. Western Canadian conservatism, embodied in the Canadian Alliance party, was more inspired by U.S.-based conservatism; it espoused closer ties with the United States, Blue Tory conservatism, privatization, smaller government as well as reform and overhaul of political institutions (on the American/Australian model) and a decentralized federalism (a limited government in Ottawa with stronger provinces, as also advocated by Brian Mulroney). The new party generally supports a market economy approach to the economic sphere. The Conservative Party also provides a home for a multitude of other conservatives, such as libertarian conservatives, environmental conservatives, Canadian republicans, and many others.

Since most of the MPs for the new party as well as the grassroots supporters come from the western provinces, its policy has significant influence from Reform Party of Canada philosophy, even though the new party has shed much of Reform's social conservative image, and is more focused on economic, military, "law and order" and democratic reform/ethics-in-government issues. Unlike the old Progressive Conservatives, it more reflects a strong Blue Tory ideology. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is known as an avid fiscal conservative and a strong supporter for a strong military within the context of a joint command for the Canadian Forces co-operating and co-planning with the U.S. under the umbrella of a central command, modelled after NORAD. He has embraced some social conservative positions, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, though not to same-sex civil unions.
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada

The merger symbolizes the latest chapter in the evolution of conservatism in Canada, as the historical Conservative Party, which was founded by United Empire Loyalists, was vehemently opposed to free trade and further integration with the United States, aiming instead to model Canadian political institutions after British ones. Then under the leadership of Brian Mulroney, the party emphasized market forces in the economy and reached a landmark free-trade deal with the United States. Some argue that the current incarnation of conservatism espouses pro-American views, aspires to emulate American capitalism, less government involvement in the economy and more grassroots-oriented Jeffersonian democratic reform.

Being conservative both fiscally and socially, the Conservative Party generally favours lower taxes, smaller government, more decentralization of federal government powers to the provinces modelled after the Meech Lake Accord, a tougher stand on "law and order" issues and more spending on the military, and harmonizing standards and regulations with those of the United States. It is also opposed to the legalization of cannabis and has had a free vote on whether the House wanted to reopen the issue of same-sex marriage, which was defeated. As the successor of the western-based Canadian Alliance, the party also supports reform of the Senate to make it "elected, equal, and effective" (the "Triple-E Senate"), as well as several other substantial reforms to reduce the present power of the Prime Minister's Office, such as establishing fixed election dates every four years and giving individual MPs more leeway in representing their constituents. In addition, in the wake of the sponsorship scandal and the resulting high-profile Gomery Inquiry the Conservative Party has advocated government accountability and transparency reforms.

Liberal party of Canada

In the present times, the Liberal party has favoured a variety of policies from both right and left, but mostly left of the political spectrum. It has been a strong champion of balanced budgets, and eliminated the deficit completely from the federal budget a few years after coming to power in 1993, by reducing spending on and/or downloading social programs to 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.

Answer 2

The Conservative Party Of Canada

Answer 3

Well, generally, the Conservatives are in power right now, so as of the last election, they are more popular. However, in Canadian history, the Liberals have been in power far longer.

The Liberals are very liberal, and the Conservative party is also rather liberal, just not as liberal as the Liberals. The Liberals are left-wing, and the Conservatives are centre-left. There once was a conservative party called Reform, then Alliance, but they merged with the Progressive Conservative party to form the Conservative Party.

There is also a socialist party called the NDP (New Democratic Party) but they only win a few seats, and are never taken seriously by anyone with an ounce of sense.

Answer 4

Wouldn't work. The GOP would label all of those parties Socialist because they all support Universal Healthcare. And the word socialism makes them crap themselves. Truth be told, all the parties listed after the GOP are to the Left of the Democratic Party. hahaha @Conservative and Proud, the GOP IS the Republican Party...didn't pay too much attention in US Govt., eh?