List of political parties in British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Until 1903, there were no party politics in the province, and governments rarely lasted more than two years as independent members changed allegiances. The first party government, in 1903, was Conservative. A list of political parties currently registered with Elections BC can be found at the Elections BC website.
Parties represented in the current Legislative Assembly
- British Columbia Liberal PartyBritish Columbia Liberal PartyThe British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
- British Columbia New Democratic Party
Other parties that have formed governments
- British Columbia Conservative PartyBritish Columbia Conservative PartyThe British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...
(formerly known as the British Columbia Progressive Conservative Party) - British Columbia Social Credit PartyBritish Columbia Social Credit PartyThe British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...
Other parties that have been represented in the legislature
- Labour/Independent Labour/Federated Labour (1903-1907; 1920-1924; 1928-1960)
- Socialist Party (1903-1916)
- Social DemocraticSocial Democratic Party of CanadaThe Social Democratic Party was a social democratic political party in Canada founded in 1911 by members of the right wing of the Socialist Party of Canada. these members were dissatisfied with what they saw as that party's rigid, doctrinaire approach...
(1912 -1916) - People's Party (1920-1924)
- Provincial Party of British ColumbiaProvincial Party of British ColumbiaThe Provincial Party of British Columbia was a political party in British Columbia, Canada.It was formed by a group of British Columbia Conservative Party dissidents known as the "Committee of 100", led and funded by the wealthy General Alexander McRae and political elements from the United...
(1924-1928) - Non Partisan Independent Group (1933 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1933The British Columbia general election of 1933 was the eighteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 13, 1933, and held on November 2, 1933...
-1937) - Unionist (1933-1937)
- Social Constructive Party (official opposition 1936-1937)
- United Party of British Columbia (1985-1986)
- Progressive Democratic AllianceProgressive Democratic AllianceThe Progressive Democratic Alliance was a centrist political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Powell River—Sunshine Coast....
(1993-1997) - ReformReform Party of British ColumbiaThe Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
(1994-1997) - Democratic Reform British ColumbiaDemocratic Reform British ColumbiaDemocratic Reform British Columbia is a progressive–centrist political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.-Formation of the party:...
(2005)
Current parties that have nominated candidates
- Bloc British Columbia Party
- British Columbia PartyBritish Columbia PartyThe British Columbia Party is a right-wing political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia, founded in 1998 as a populist party by John Motiuk, a North Vancouver lawyer.The party did not nominate candidates in the 2001 provincial election...
- British Columbia Refederation PartyBritish Columbia Refederation PartyThe B.C. Refederation Party is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada advocating direct democracy and reform to Canadian federalism...
- BC Unity PartyBritish Columbia Unity PartyThe British Columbia Unity Party was a political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party was founded as an attempted union of five conservative parties: the Reform Party of British Columbia, the British Columbia Social Credit Party, the British Columbia Conservative Party, the British Columbia...
(2004- ) - Canadian Alliance Party of British Columbia
- Centre Democratic Party
- Citizens Action PartyCitizens Action Party (British Columbia)The Citizens Action Party is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was formed as a protest movement of senior citizens against their perceived victimization by the BC Liberal Party...
- Communist Party of British ColumbiaCommunist Party of British ColumbiaThe Communist Party of British Columbia is the British Columbia branch of the Communist Party of Canada. Its leader is Sam Hammond.From the 1945 British Columbia election to the 1956 election, it was known as the Labour Progressive Party....
- Democratech Party of British Columbia
- Emerged Democracy Party of British ColumbiaEmerged Democracy Party of British ColumbiaThe Emerged Democracy Party of British Columbia was a fringe political party in the province of British Columbia, Canada, formed in 2004, with Tony Luck as leader...
- Green Party of British ColumbiaGreen Party of British ColumbiaThe Green Party of British Columbia is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. It is led by former Esquimalt municipal councillor, university professor and businessperson Jane Sterk, she was elected by the party in 2007. Penticton realtor and columnist Julius Bloomfield serves as the deputy...
- Libertarian PartyBritish Columbia Libertarian PartyThe British Columbia Libertarian Party is a libertarian political party in British Columbia, Canada.It first nominated candidates in the 1986 provincial election...
- Marijuana PartyBritish Columbia Marijuana PartyThe British Columbia Marijuana Party is a minor political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia that advocates the legalisation of cannabis....
- British Columbia Marxist-Leninist Party
- Moderate Democratic MovementBritish Columbia Moderate Democratic MovementThe British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement is a minor political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Its current status is unclear:...
(2003– ) - Natural Law Party of British ColumbiaNatural Law Party of CanadaThe Natural Law Party of Canada was the Canadian branch of the international Natural Law Party founded in 1992 by a group of educators, business leaders, and lawyers who practiced Transcendental Meditation....
- Patriot PartyBritish Columbia Patriot PartyThe British Columbia Patriot Party is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada.In the 2005 provincial election, it nominated two candidates who won a total of 86 votes :...
- People's Front
- Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase AwarenessPlatinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase AwarenessThe Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness, also known as the Platinum Party, is a minor political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada....
- Renewal Party of British Columbia
- Sex PartySex Party (British Columbia)The Sex Party is a political party based in British Columbia, Canada, that contests provincial elections to promote libertarian and sex-positive attitudes towards sexual education, pornography, indecency laws, and prostitution. It describes itself as "the world's first registered political party...
- Western Canada Concept Party of British ColumbiaWestern Canada Concept Party of British ColumbiaThe Western Canada Concept Party of BC is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was the British Columbia branch of the Western Canada Concept, a political party that operated at the federal level, advocating the separation of the four western provinces of Canada and the...
- Western Refederation Party of British Columbia
- Work Less Party of British ColumbiaWork Less Party of British ColumbiaThe Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded in 2003 by Conrad Schmidt. It has a federal wing and also participates in municipal politics...
- Your Political Party of British ColumbiaYour Political Party of British ColumbiaYour Political Party of British Columbia is a minor political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It is registered with Elections BC, the provincial legislature's elections agency.-Electoral performance:...
- Youth CoalitionBritish Columbia Youth CoalitionThe British Columbia Youth Coalition is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada.In the 2005 BC provincial election, it nominated two candidates:*Augustine Lee won 260 votes in the riding of Chilliwack-Suma, and...
- NAPNation Alliance PartyThe Nation Alliance Party is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. Currently led by Wei Ping Chen, the party was recognized by Elections BC in 2007....
Other parties that have not nominated candidates
- Alternative Party of British Columbia
- Annexation Party of British ColumbiaAnnexation Party of British ColumbiaThe Annexation Party of British Columbia is a political party in British Columbia, Canada that seeks the annexation of the Province of British Columbia by the United States of America, thus making BC the 51st state of the American union...
- Allegiance Party
- Democratic Futures Party
- British Columbia Heritage Party
- Labour Party
- Confederation Party of British Columbia
- Democratic Idealists Party
- Enterprise Party of British Columbia
- Free Canadian Party
- Idealists Party
- Link BCLink BCLink BC is a minor political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, describing itself as "centre-right".In September 2004, it joined with the British Columbia Democratic Alliance, the Citizens Action Party and the British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement to form the British...
- People of British Columbia Millionaires Party
- People's Senate PartyPeople's Senate PartyPolitical party in British Columbia registered on Sept 20, 2011. The party holds the position that BC needs a senate, but formed from a random selection of citizens similar to how a courtroom jury is formed...
- United Peoples Action Party
Historical parties
- Action PartyBritish Columbia Action PartyThe BC Action Party was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. It nominated six candidates in the 2001 British Columbia election. These candidates won 1,718 votes . BCAP candidates ran in ridings in Okanagan, Kelowna and Surrey, and placed last in all six ridings...
(2001 election) - All Nations Party of British ColumbiaAll Nations Party of British ColumbiaThe All Nations Party was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. Its primary base of support was the First Nations aboriginal peoples of Canada....
(2001 election-2005) - Central Party (British Columbia)Central Party (British Columbia)The Central Party was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Scott Yee. It nominated one candidate in the 2001 British Columbia provincial election...
(2001 election) - Christian Democratic Party (1952British Columbia general election, 1952The British Columbia general election, 1952 was the 23rd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 10, 1952, and held on June 12, 1952. The new legislature met for the...
and 1953 electionsBritish Columbia general election, 1953The British Columbia general election of 1953 was the 24th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 10, 1953, and held on June 9, 1953...
) - Citizens Alliance NowBritish Columbia Citizens Alliance NowThe BC Citizens Alliance was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. It nominated two candidates in the 2001 British Columbia election:...
(2001 election) - Citizens Commonwealth FederationCitizens Commonwealth FederationThe Citizens Commonwealth Federation was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. It nominated one candidate in the 2001 British Columbia election, Laery Braaten, in the riding of Victoria-Hillside. He placed 6th out of 7 candidates, winning 49 votes . See also: List of political...
(2001 election) - Common Sense, Community, Family Party (1996 election)
- Council of British ColumbiansCouncil of British ColumbiansThe Council of British Columbians was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. It nominated two candidates in the 2001 British Columbia election:...
(2001 election) - Constructive Party (1937 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1937The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
) - Democratic AllianceBritish Columbia Democratic AllianceThe British Columbia Democratic Alliance was a political party at the provincial level in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.It was founded in June 2004 by "individuals who are progressive in their policies, democratic in their principles, and represent an alliance of interests reflecting the...
(2004-2005) - Emancipation Party (1941 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1941The British Columbia general election, 1941 was the twentieth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 9, 1941, and held on October 21, 1941.After the election, a...
) - Family Coalition Party of British ColumbiaFamily Coalition Party of British ColumbiaThe Family Coalition Party of British Columbia was a conservative, pro-life political party in British Columbia, Canada.In the 1991 election, it nominated 8 candidates in the province's 75 ridings. They won a total of 1,310 votes, or 0.09% of the provincial total. In the 1996 election, it nominated...
(1991 and 1996 elections) - Freedom Party of British ColumbiaFreedom Party of British ColumbiaThe Freedom Party of British Columbia is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. Several of its policies are based on fundamentalist Christian values....
(2001 and 2005 elections) - Gay Alliance Toward EqualityGay Alliance Toward EqualityThe Gay Alliance Toward Equality, or GATE, was one of the first Canadian gay liberation groups.Formed in spring 1971 in Vancouver, British Columbia, GATE was the first Canadian gay group to explicitly discuss and plan civil rights strategies for achieving gay and lesbian equality under Canadian law...
(1979 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1979The British Columbia general election of 1979 was the 32nd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 3, 1979...
) - Green Go (Green Wing/Rhino) (1991 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1991The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
) - Human Race Party (1991 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1991The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
) - Independent New Hope Party (1979 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1979The British Columbia general election of 1979 was the 32nd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 3, 1979...
) - Financial Justice Party (1937 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1937The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
) - Labour Representation Committee (1952 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1952The British Columbia general election, 1952 was the 23rd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 10, 1952, and held on June 12, 1952. The new legislature met for the...
) - League for Socialist Action (1975 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1975The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975...
) - North American Labour PartyNorth American Labour PartyThe North American Labour Party was a Canadian political party that nominated candidates in federal elections in the 1970s. However, because it was not a registered political party under the rules of Elections Canada, its candidates were considered to be independents.The NALP was the Canadian...
(1975British Columbia general election, 1975The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975...
and 1979 electionsBritish Columbia general election, 1979The British Columbia general election of 1979 was the 32nd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 3, 1979...
) - Party of Citizens Who Have Decided to Think for Themselves and Be Their Own PoliticiansParty of Citizens Who Have Decided to Think for Themselves and Be Their Own PoliticiansThe Party of Citizens Who Have Decided to Think for Themselves and Be Their Own Politicians is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. It registered with Elections BC, the government elections agency, in 1995...
(2001 election) - People's Co-operative Commonwealth FederationPeople's Co-operative Commonwealth FederationThe People's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a label used by candidates in elections in the Canadian province of British Columbia who were not endorsed by the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, but who were supportive of its policies....
(1945 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1945The British Columbia general election of 1945 was the twenty-first general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 31, 1945, and held on October 25, 1945...
) - People's Party (1945British Columbia general election, 1945The British Columbia general election of 1945 was the twenty-first general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 31, 1945, and held on October 25, 1945...
, 1953British Columbia general election, 1953The British Columbia general election of 1953 was the 24th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 10, 1953, and held on June 9, 1953...
and 1956 electionsBritish Columbia general election, 1956The British Columbia general election of 1956 was the 25th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 13, 1956, and held on September 19, 1956. The new legislature met...
) - Religious Political Brotherhood (1941 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1941The British Columbia general election, 1941 was the twentieth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 9, 1941, and held on October 21, 1941.After the election, a...
) - Revolutionary Marxist Group (1975 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1975The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975...
) - Revolutionary Workers Party 1945 - 1953
- Social Conservative Party (1969 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1969The British Columbia general election of 1969 was the 29th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 21, 1969, and held on August 27, 1969...
) - Socialist Labour Party
- United Front (1933 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1933The British Columbia general election of 1933 was the eighteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 13, 1933, and held on November 2, 1933...
) - Victory Without Debt Party (1941 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1941The British Columbia general election, 1941 was the twentieth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 9, 1941, and held on October 21, 1941.After the election, a...
) - Western Independence Party (1979 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1979The British Columbia general election of 1979 was the 32nd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 3, 1979...
) - Western National Party (1983 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1983The British Columbia general election of 1983 was the 33rd provincial election for the province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 7, 1983. The election was held on May 5, 1983...
) - Western ReformWestern ReformThe Western Reform Party was a right-wing populist political party in British Columbia, Canada. It nominated one candidate, Lisa Maskell, in Prince George North riding in the 2001 provincial election....
(2001 election)