NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

The New Democratic Party
http://www.ndp.ca/

is a left-of-Centre political party in Canada that advocates varying forms of social democracy and democratic socialism. It contests elections at the federal and provincial levels. In the Canadian House of Commons, it represents the left wing of the Canadian political spectrum while the Liberal and Conservative parties represent the centre and right wings, respectively. The NDP is a member of the Socialist International organization of Democratic socialist and Social democratic parties.

The NDP is noted for its populist, agrarian and democratic socialist roots, its close affiliation with organized labour, and, while the party is secular and pluralistic, it has a longstanding relationship with the Christian left and the Social Gospel movement, particularly the United Church of Canada. The federal leader of the NDP is Jack Layton.

The NDP has never formed the federal government, but has wielded considerable influence during federal minority governments, such as in the current 38th Parliament. In addition former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a supporter of the NDP and CCF, but entered politics as a Liberal because he did not believe the NDP had a chance of ever forming a government.

Provincial New Democratic Parties, technically sections of the federal party, have governed several provinces and a territory. They currently govern the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, form the Official Opposition in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Yukon, and have sitting members in every provincial legislature except those of Quebec and Prince Edward Island. In previous terms, they have formed governments in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, and in Yukon territory.

New Democrats are also active municipally, and have been elected mayors, councillors, and school and service board members — Toronto mayor David Miller is a leading example. Like most municipal office-holders in Canada, they are usually elected as independents or with autonomous municipal parties.

Liberal
http://www.liberal.ca/

is a Left-of-center political party in Canada. It forms the federal government under Prime Minister Paul Martin, but was defeated on November 28, 2005, by a motion of no-confidence tabled by Opposition Leader Stephen Harper.

The Liberal Party is often called "Canada's natural governing party" because it has been in power in 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 now-defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (one of the two ancestors of the modern-day Conservative Party of Canada). Every Liberal leader in the 20th century and since has served as Prime Minister of Canada; 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. 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 Jean Chrétien's cabinet, who was in John Turner's cabinet, who was in Pierre Trudeau's cabinet, etc. Conversely, the Progressive Conservatives often chose leaders without Cabinet experience.

The party is known colloquially as the "Grits" (originally "Clear Grits").

Conservative Party of Canada
http://www.conservative.ca/

is a right-of-centre political party in Canada, formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in December 2003. The party currently forms the official Opposition in the House of Commons. The Honourable Stephen Harper is the current leader of the party.

The Conservative Party will be guided in its constitutional framework and its policy basis by the following principles:

• A balance between fiscal accountability, progressive social policy and individual rights and responsibilities;

• Build a national coalition of people who share these beliefs and who reflect the regional, cultural and socio-economic diversity of Canada;

• Develop this coalition, embracing our differences and respecting our traditions, yet honoring a concept of Canada as the greater sum of strong parts;

• The Conservative Party will operate in a manner accountable and responsive to its members;

• A belief in loyalty to a sovereign and united Canada governed in accordance with the Constitution of Canada, the supremacy of democratic parliamentary institutions and the rule of law;

• A belief in the equality of all Canadians;

• A belief in the freedom of the individual, including freedom of speech, worship and assembly;

• A belief in our constitutional monarchy, the institutions of Parliament and the democratic process;

• A belief in the federal system of government as the best expression of the diversity of our country, and in the desirability of strong provincial and territorial governments;

• A belief that English and French have equality of status, and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada;

• A belief that the best guarantors of the prosperity and well-being of the people of Canada are:

• The freedom of individual Canadians to pursue their enlightened and legitimate self-interest within a competitive economy;

• The freedom of individual Canadians to enjoy the fruits of their labour to the greatest possible extent; and

• The right to own property;

• A belief that a responsible government must be fiscally prudent and should be limited to those responsibilities which cannot be discharged reasonably by the individual or others;

• A belief that it is the responsibility of individuals to provide for themselves, their families and their dependents, while recognizing that government must respond to those who require assistance and compassion;

• A belief that the purpose of Canada as a nation state and its government, guided by reflective and prudent leadership, is to create a climate wherein individual initiative is rewarded, excellence is pursued, security and privacy of the individual is provided and prosperity is guaranteed by a free competitive market economy;

• A belief that the quality of the environment is a vital part of our heritage to be protected by each generation for the next;

• A belief that Canada should accept its obligations among the nations of the world;

• A belief that good and responsible government is attentive to the people it represents and has representatives who at all times conduct themselves in an ethical manner and display integrity, honesty and concern for the best interest of all;

• A belief that all Canadians should have reasonable access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay; and

• A belief that the greatest potential for achieving social and economic objectives is under a global trading regime that is free and fair.