New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party or NDP is a democratic socialist Canadian political party. Its current leader is Jack Layton. It is noted for being the party of Tommy Douglas[1], founder of Canada's universal healthcare system and grandfather of Kiefer Sutherland, star of the television series 24[2]. Said of Douglas "He pursued his radical ideas relentlessly until they became so mainstream rival politicians claimed them as their own". Douglas also criticized liberalism. [3]
The NDP has traditionally been an opponent to both the Conservative Party and Liberal Party as well as the separatist Bloc Quebecois. From their success in the 2011 elections the NDP beat their all time record of 43 seats of the Ed Broadbent era with 103 seats making them the official opposition, though still in the minority.