List of political parties in British Columbia
Prior to 1903, there was no strong party discipline in the province, and governments rarely lasted more than two years as independent-minded members changed allegiances. MLAs were elected under a myriad of party labels many as Independents, and no one party held strong majorities.
The first party government, in 1903, was Conservative. And disciplined party caucuses have been the backbone of BC provincial politics ever since.
A list of political parties currently registered with Elections BC can be found at the Elections BC website.[1]
Parties represented in the current Legislative Assembly[]
| Name | Founded | Ideology | Leader | MLAs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia New Democratic Party | 1933 | Social democracy | John Horgan | 57 | |
| British Columbia Liberal Party | 1903 | Conservatism, Neoliberalism | Shirley Bond | 28 | |
| Green Party of British Columbia | 1985 | Green politics | Sonia Furstenau | 2 | |
Other parties that have formed governments[]
- British Columbia Social Credit Party
- British Columbia Conservative Party
Historical parties that have been represented in the legislature[]
- Nationalist Party (espoused "National Socialism", based on Edward Bellamy's writings, favoured nationalization of industry)- Robert Macpherson elected MLA in 1894 and 1898; George R. Maxwell elected MP in 1896 [2]
- Labour/Independent Labour/Federated Labour (1903–1907; 1920–1924; 1928–1960)
- Socialist Party (1903–1916)
- Social Democratic (1912–1916)
- (1920–1924)
- Provincial Party of British Columbia (1924–1928)
- Non Partisan Independent Group (1933–1937)
- (1933–1937)
- Social Constructive Party (official opposition 1936–1937)
- United Party of British Columbia (1986)
- Progressive Democratic Alliance (1993–1997)
- Reform (1994–1997)
- Democratic Reform British Columbia (2005)
Current parties[]
- Action Party (2013 iteration)
- Cascadia Party
- Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia (formerly BC Heritage Party)
- Communist Party of British Columbia
- Cultural Action Party
- Direct Democracy Party
- Ecosocialists
- Excalibur Party
- Libertarian Party
- Rural BC Party
- Vision
- Wexit BC
- Your Political Party of British Columbia
Historical parties[]
- Action Party (2001 iteration)
- (2006–2014
- All Nations Party of British Columbia (2001 election–2005)
- (?–2005)
- Annexation Party of British Columbia (2003–2009)
- (2010–2018)
- British Columbia Party
- (?–2005)
- (2001 election)
- (2000–2005)
- (1952 and 1953 elections)
- Citizens Action Party (BC Grey Party) (2002–2009)
- (2017)
- (?–2007) (2001 election)
- (2001 election)
- (1996 election)
- (2001 election)
- (2003–2009)
- Constructive Party (1937 election)
- Democratic Alliance (2004–2005)
- (2003–2009)
- (2002)
- (1941 election)
- Emerged Democracy Party of British Columbia (2004–2009) (2005 election)
- Family Coalition Party of British Columbia (1991 and 1996 elections)
- (2005–2008)
- (2003–2008)
- Freedom Party of British Columbia (2001–2009) (2001 and 2005 elections)
- Gay Alliance Toward Equality (1979 election)
- (1991 election)
- Helping Hand Party (2011–2013)
- (1991 election)
- (2003–2008)
- (1979 election)
- (2011–2013)
- (1937 election)
- (2004–2009)
- Labour Representation Committee (1952 election)
- Land Air Water Party (2015–2018) (2017 election)
- (1975 election)
- Link BC (2002–2009)
- Marijuana Party (2000–2019) (2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013 elections)
- (2002–2008)
- Moderate Democratic Movement (2003–2008) (2005 election)
- Nation Alliance Party (2007–2012) (2009 election)
- Natural Law Party of British Columbia (199?–2005)
- New Republican Party (2017–2019) (2017 election)
- (2011–2015)
- North American Labour Party (1975 and 1979 elections)
- (2001 election)
- Patriot Party (2001–2013)
- People's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1945 election)
- People's Front (Marxist–Leninist) (1986 election - 2017)
- (1945, 1953 and 1956 elections)
- (2006–2008)
- Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness
- Progressive Nationalist Party (Bloc BC Party) (2004–2013)
- Refederation Party (formerly Western Refederation Party; Western Independence Party)
- (1941 election)
- (2004–2008)
- (1975 election)
- 1945–1953
- The Sex Party (2005–2012) (2005 and 2009 elections)
- (1969 election)
- (1933 election)
- (2003–2006)
- Unparty: The Consensus-Building Party (formerly the People's Senate Party)
- Vancouver Island Party
- (1941 election)
- Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia (1980–2013)
- (1979 election)
- (1983 election)
- (2001 election)
- Work Less Party of British Columbia (2003–2017)
- Unity Party (2001–2008) (2001 & 2005 election)
- Youth Coalition (2000–2009)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Elections BC website". Archived from the original on 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ Encyclopedia of British Columbia, p. 486
| Lieutenant governor |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Premier | ||
| Leader of the Opposition | ||
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | ||
| Legislative Assembly |
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| Political parties |
Contested in British Columbia 2020 election:
Not contested in British Columbia 2020 election:
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| Elections |
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| Other Canadian politics | ||
| Parties represented in the Legislative Assembly |
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| Other parties recognized by Elections BC that contested the 2020 election |
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| Parties recognized by Elections BC that did not contest the 2020 election | |
| Historical parties represented in the Legislative Assembly |
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Categories:
- Provincial political parties in British Columbia
- British Columbia-related lists
- Lists of political parties in Canada