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| − | The '''Liberal Party of Canada''', or '''Parti Libéral du Canada''' is a [[Canadian]] federal political party. Other Liberal parties exist in all of the Canadian provinces, but are not directly affiliated with the federal party. T | + | The '''Liberal Party of Canada''', or '''Parti Libéral du Canada''' is a [[Canadian]] federal political party. Other Liberal parties exist in all of the Canadian provinces, but are not directly affiliated with the federal party (in fact, one of those parties, the [[British Columbia Liberal Party]], broke ties with the federal Liberals in 1987 and, after moving centre-right, succeeded long-governing conservative party the British Columbia Social Credit Party as that province's main conservative political party). |
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| | + | Historically, the Liberal party has been either the ruling party, or the [[Official Opposition]]. It is generally to the (far) left of the [[Conservative Party of Canada]], yet to the right of the [[New Democratic Party|NDP]]. It is also the oldest party in Canada. The Liberal Party, and liberals in Canada are known informally as "Grits". They are opposed by the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]], [[New Democratic Party]], [[Green Party of Canada]] and the separatist [[Bloc Québecois]]. |
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| − | Historically, the Liberal party has been either the ruling party, or the [[Official Opposition]]. It is generally to the (far) left of the [[Conservative Party of Canada]], yet to the right of the [[New Democratic Party|NDP]]. It is also the oldest party in Canada. The Liberal Party, and liberals in Canada are known informally as "Grits". They are opposed by the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]], [[New Democratic Party]] and the sovereigntist [[Bloc Québecois]].
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| | ==2011 Elections== | | ==2011 Elections== |
| − | In the 2011 elections the Liberals were demolished by the success of the NDP. The Liberals seat total reduced from 77 in the to a record low of 34 making them, for the first time ever, the third party in Canadian politics. Their leader at the time, [[Michael Ignatieff]] failed to win even his own riding and resigned as party leader. Bob Rae, the former NDP premier of [[Ontario]] was named interim leader until [[Justin Trudeau]] was elected leader in 2013. | + | In the 2011 elections the Liberals were demolished by the success of the NDP. The Liberals' seat total was reduced from 77 prior to the election to a record low of 34 making them, for the first time ever, the third party in Canadian politics. Their leader at the time, [[Michael Ignatieff]] failed to win even his own riding and resigned as party leader. Bob Rae, the former NDP premier of [[Ontario]] was named interim leader until [[Justin Trudeau]] was elected leader in 2013. |
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| | ==Policies== | | ==Policies== |
| − | The Liberal party has always supported leftist policies, although not to the levels of the NDP. Historically, the main voting points of the liberal party were defined by the theories of Liberal theorists. Recently, however, a plethora of new ideologies are included in the party platform, including legalizing [[marijuana]], extending same-sex rights, increasing [[renewable energy]] resources, and increasing corporate tax to pre-conservative levels of 18% (Currently at 16.5%). | + | The Liberal party has always supported leftist policies, although not to the levels of the NDP. Historically, the main voting points of the Liberal Party were defined by the theories of Liberal theorists. Recently, however, a plethora of new ideologies are included in the party platform, including legalizing [[marijuana]], extending same-sex rights, increasing [[renewable energy]] resources, and increasing corporate tax to pre-conservative levels of 18% (Currently at 16.5%). |
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| | ==External links== | | ==External links== |
| | * [http://www.liberal.ca/ Liberal Party of Canada official site] | | * [http://www.liberal.ca/ Liberal Party of Canada official site] |