Canada's party system

Question 1

What explains collapse of postwar consensus in Canadian politics?

Answer 1

1. Changing Economy: unemployment & inflation, stagnant growth, debt & deficits leads to growing support for neo-liberal solutions
2. National unity/identity, and regional dimensions of political conflict makes a moderate, convergence strategy typical of brokerage politics very difficult

Question 2

Briefly describe the Liberal parties recent history

Answer 2

3 major consecutive victories (‘93, ‘97, ‘00) Then lost in ‘06 to Stephen Harper due to the Quebec sponsorship scandal. Liberals come back in 2015 with majority. Also minority government in 2019 and 2021

Question 3

Briefly describe the Conservative parties recent history

Answer 3

2003: Harper and CP merge parties to make CPC
Minority governements in ‘06 and ‘08
Majority in ‘11 dominance in the west + new support in ON

Question 4

Social bases of party support

Answer 4

Liberals: Catholics, visible minorities/immigrants, francophones outside & anglos inside Quebec [westerners and francophone Quebecers a problem]
Conservatives: Voter base in western Canada and rural areas in English speaking Canada, evangelical Christians [urban dwellers, Quebec & women a problem]
NDP: unionized households, non-religious, women voters [party suffers from lack of a large, secure base of voters]
BQ: limited to French-speaking Quebecers

Question 5

Describe the Canadian ideological landscape

Answer 5

On the right: Conservative and PCP
Liberals, NDP, and Greens all compete for left of centre voters.
Liberals: Catholics, visible minorities/immigrants, francophones outside & anglos inside Quebec [westerners and francophone Quebecers a problem]
Conservatives: Voter base in western Canada and rural areas in English speaking Canada, evangelical Christians [urban dwellers, Quebec & women a problem]
NDP: unionized households, non-religious, women voters [party suffers from lack of a large, secure base of voters]
BQ: limited to French-speaking Quebecers

Question 6

When does the vote swing from one majority to the other?

Answer 6

Liberals govern when centre-right vote fragments; Conservatives tend to govern when Liberals fail to coalesce the centre-left vote