"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
om...
My understanding is that the democratic party was not liberal enough
for the Canadians. They now have a liberal party in addition to the
democrat party.


The "Liberals" in Canada are actually the middle-of-the-road party. It is
the "Democrats" (actually "New Democratic" Party) which is the most
"left-leaning".


Canadian politics morphs over time.

The "basic" Candian sentiment is:

a "Conservative" party that is similar to USA Republicans with a
"conservative" fiscal and military platform, and perhaps a
only-slightly-less conservative social policy. A "Conservative" government
was responsible for the USA-Canada NAFTA agreement, but was decimated
electorally in 1993.

a "Liberal" party which is middle of the road, shading towards a
"conservative" fiscal policy, moderate military policy, fairly liberal
social policy. Many complain that this Liberal party is just as
"conservative" as the "Conservatives". THIS is the "natural" governing
party and has governed Canada for the majority of years, including
1993-present.

a "Democratic" party, which is actually the most left-leaning party in all
aspects. They have routinely been the party with the fewest seats
federally, although they have frequently formed governments in one or more
Provinces. This party morphed from labor activism in the dirty thirties.
Their previous incarnation managed to gain power in a single province in
1944 and were the first to institute universal medicare, starting with
hospital care in 1947 and medical (Doctor) services in 1962. Eventually,
this was accepted as a "good" thing, and universal medicare was accepted
nationally in 1966 and supported by all parties to some degree.

In recent years, regional squabbles have intensifed. The "Conservatives"
were not "conservative" enough (especially socially) for the rich
oil-producing provinces, and a more-right-leaning party was created, more
like a true Republican party. (Quebec had their own agenda and created a
"Quebec only" conservative-leaning party. Etc..) At one point the original
Conservatives were decimated and the new version ended up with a significant
portion of the vote. But vote-splitting between the two right-wing parties
ensured that the centre-of-the-road "Liberals" would remain as the governing
party forever.

So the Conservatives (except for the Quebec version) have re-joined into a
single party once more. Their platform is still nebulous since this newest
version has never actually governed; we have yet to see what their actual
policies might be.

In the most recent election (this summer), therefore, renewed interest in
the combined "Conservatives"... and vote-splitting between the
centre-of-road "Liberals", and the left-leaning "Democrats".... has left no
party with a majority of seats in Parliament. The "Liberals" retain the
most seats, the "Conservatives" next, then the Quebec-conservatives, and the
"Democrats" the fewest. The first sessions since the election are yet to
convene; it is believed some sort of coalition between the "Liberals" and
"Democrats" will be able to govern.

Such "minority" governments are not new in Canada, and in fact, have
produced some "ground-breaking" legislation because of the compromises
required to maintain a voting majority. Universal Medicare, to a certain
extent, was implemented federally because of a minority government.



--
*** A great civilization is not conquered from without until it
has destroyed itself from within. ***
- Ariel Durant 1898-1981