Liberal Party of Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liberal Party of Canada
Parti libéral du Canada
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|---|---|
 |
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| Abbreviation |
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| Leader | Justin Trudeau |
| President | Sachit Mehra |
| House leader | Karina Gould |
| Founder | George Brown |
| Founded | July 1, 1867 |
| Preceded by | Parti rouge (Canada East) Clear Grits (Canada West) |
| Headquarters | |
| Youth wing | Young Liberals of Canada |
| Membership (2014) |  300,000 |
| Ideology | Liberalism (Canadian) Social liberalism |
| Political position | Centre to centre-left |
| International affiliation | Liberal International |
| Colours | Red |
| Senate |
0 / 105
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| House of Commons |
155 / 338
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The Liberal Party of Canada (often called the LPC) is a major political party in Canada. It believes in liberalism, which means it supports individual rights, freedoms, and social progress. The party is generally seen as being in the middle or slightly to the left of the Canadian political scene. Its main rivals are the Conservative Party (who are more to the right) and the New Democratic Party (who are more to the left).
The Liberal Party is known for being a "big tent" party. This means it tries to attract many different kinds of voters. It is the oldest and longest-serving federal political party in Canada. For much of the 20th century, the Liberals were in power for almost 70 years. Because of this, some people have called it Canada's "natural governing party."
The party first took power in 1873 with Alexander Mackenzie as Prime Minister. They lost power five years later. They returned to office in 1896 under Wilfrid Laurier. He was Prime Minister until 1911 and worked to bring together English and French Canadians. From the 1920s to the 1950s, Liberal Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent helped create Canada's social safety net. This included programs to help people in need.
Some important policies and laws from the Liberal Party include universal health care (where everyone gets medical care), the Canada Pension Plan (money for retirement), and Canada Student Loans. They also helped create the Royal Canadian Navy, supported working with other countries, and made English and French Canada's official languages. They also supported multiculturalism (celebrating different cultures), gun control, and bringing Canada's Constitution home from Britain. They also helped create the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, passed the Clarity Act, made same-sex marriage legal, and introduced national carbon pricing.
Today, the Liberal Party is led by Justin Trudeau. He became leader in 2013. The party won a majority government in the 2015 federal election. They were re-elected in 2019 and 2021, but with a minority government (meaning they needed support from other parties to pass laws).
Contents
History of the Liberal Party
The Liberal Party has a long and interesting history in Canada. It has shaped the country in many ways.
Early Beginnings
How the Party Started
The Liberal Party comes from groups in the mid-1800s called "Reformers." These groups wanted the government to be more responsible to the people. Important Reformers included George Brown and Alexander Mackenzie in Upper Canada (now Ontario). There were also groups like the Clear Grits and the Rouges in Lower Canada (now Quebec). These groups sometimes worked together in the government. However, a truly united Liberal Party with both English and French Canadian members was not formed until 1867.
After Confederation
When Canada became a country in 1867, the Liberal Party was not in power. The Conservative leader, Sir John A. Macdonald, formed the first government. For 29 years after Confederation, the Liberals were mostly in opposition.
Alexander Mackenzie became the first official leader of the Liberal Party in 1873. He led the party to power that same year. This happened after the Macdonald government resigned due to a scandal. Mackenzie won the 1874 election and was Prime Minister for four years. His government made many changes. They introduced the secret ballot for voting and created the Supreme Court of Canada. However, the party mostly had strong support only in Ontario. In 1878, they lost to Macdonald's Conservatives. The Liberals then spent the next 18 years out of power.
Wilfrid Laurier's Leadership
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In its early days, the Liberals wanted Canada to be more independent from Britain. They also became popular with people in Quebec. This was because French Canadians were becoming unhappy with the Conservatives. The Conservatives had upset French Canadians over issues like the execution of Louis Riel and their views on French schools.
The Liberal Party truly became a modern party when Wilfrid Laurier became its leader. Laurier was able to gain support from French Canada. He also made the party popular with farmers in English-speaking Canada. This was because he supported "reciprocity," which meant free trade with the United States.
Laurier led the Liberals to power in the 1896 election. He became the first French-speaking Prime Minister of Canada. His government encouraged many people to move to Western Canada. They also created the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Laurier's government helped Canadian industries grow.
The 20th Century
Party Structure and Growth
For a long time, the Liberal Party was a loose group of local and provincial organizations. It had a strong national leader, but no formal national membership. People joined by becoming members of a provincial Liberal party. Laurier held the party's first national meeting in 1893 to unite supporters.
After losing elections in 1911 and 1917, Laurier tried to organize the party better nationally. In 1919, the party held its second national meeting to choose William Lyon Mackenzie King as Laurier's replacement. This was Canada's first ever leadership convention.
Over time, the party worked to create a stronger national organization. This was especially true after losing elections in 1930 and 1957. They wanted to be less dependent on provincial parties. National party meetings became more regular. Many provincial Liberal parties also became separate from the federal party. By the 1980s, the national organization was officially known as the Liberal Party of Canada.
Canadian Independence
Under Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Liberals pushed for Canada to be more independent within the British Commonwealth. They argued that Britain and its dominions (like Canada) should be equal. They also believed Canada should control its own foreign policy and defense.
In 1905, Laurier created the Department of External Affairs. This department handles Canada's relationships with other countries. He also suggested creating a Canadian Navy in 1910. Mackenzie King appointed the first Canadian ambassador to Washington in 1926. This showed Canada wanted direct relations with the United States, not through Britain.
Building a Social Safety Net
Before and after the Second World War, the Liberal Party became known for its "progressive social policies." As Prime Minister for much of the time between 1921 and 1948, King introduced programs that led to Canada's social safety net. He introduced payments to mothers with young children and old age pensions.
Louis St. Laurent became Liberal leader and Prime Minister in 1948. He led the party to two big majority governments in 1949 and 1953. As Prime Minister, he oversaw Newfoundland joining Canada as the tenth province. He also set up payments to help balance wealth among provinces. He continued social reforms with better pensions and health insurance. Canada was doing well economically during his time.
Lester B. Pearson became Liberal leader in 1958. He led the party back to power in 1963, forming a minority government. Pearson served as Prime Minister for five years. His government introduced Medicare (universal health care), a new immigration act, the Canada Pension Plan, and Canada Student Loans. He also oversaw the adoption of the Maple Leaf as Canada's national flag.
Pierre Trudeau's Era
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Under Pierre Trudeau, the Liberals aimed to create a "just society." Trudeau's Liberal Party promoted official bilingualism. They passed the Official Languages Act. This law made French and English equal languages in Canada. Trudeau hoped this would keep Quebec in Canada and allow Canadians to live anywhere without losing their language.
The Trudeau Liberals also supported state multiculturalism. This helped immigrants join Canadian society while keeping their own cultures. This policy helped the party gain support from new immigrants and their families.
One of the most important things from the Trudeau years was bringing Canada's Constitution home from Britain. They also created the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This Charter protects the rights and freedoms of all Canadians. Trudeau's Liberals believed in a strong central government. They fought against Quebec wanting to separate from Canada.
John Turner's Time
After Trudeau retired in 1984, John Turner became leader and Prime Minister. He called an election right away. However, the party was hurt by many political appointments made by Turner. They were also unpopular in Quebec because of the Constitution changes that Quebec did not agree with.
The Liberals lost power in the 1984 election. They won only 40 seats, which was their worst defeat ever. Many people wondered if the party would recover. A group of young Liberal Members of Parliament, called the "Rat Pack," became famous for criticizing the new Conservative government.
In the 1988 election, Turner strongly opposed the free trade agreement with the United States. Even though many Canadians voted against free trade, the Conservatives won again. However, the Liberals recovered, winning 83 seats. This showed they were still a strong party.
Jean Chrétien's Leadership
Turner resigned in 1989. Jean Chrétien became the new leader in 1990. Chrétien had been a minister in many Liberal governments since 1965.
In the 1993 election, Chrétien's Liberals promised to change the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and get rid of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). They also released the "Red Book," which was a detailed plan for the economy, social programs, and foreign policy. They won a strong majority government with 177 seats. This was one of their best election results ever. The Conservatives were reduced to only two seats. The Liberals were re-elected in 1997 and 2000.
For the next decade, the Liberals were very powerful in Canadian politics. This was partly because the opposition parties were divided. The Liberals won many seats, especially in Ontario. Even though Chrétien was from Quebec, the Liberals did not fully regain their strong position there.
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While in power, the Chrétien Liberals focused on balancing the federal budget. They reduced spending on some social programs. They made only small changes to NAFTA and supported free trade. After Quebec's independence proposal was narrowly defeated in 1995, the Liberals passed the "Clarity Act." This law set out the federal government's rules for negotiating if a province wanted to separate.
In his last term, Chrétien supported same-sex marriage and signed the Kyoto Protocol (an agreement to reduce greenhouse gases). In 2003, Chrétien announced that Canada would not join the invasion of Iraq. This decision was very popular with Canadians. Before he left office, Chrétien introduced a law to limit how much money people could donate to political parties.
The 21st Century
Paul Martin's Time
Paul Martin took over from Chrétien as party leader and Prime Minister in 2003. Martin had been the Minister of Finance and was behind the Liberals' economic policies in the 1990s.
However, a problem arose with the "sponsorship scandal." This involved advertising agencies linked to the Liberal Party receiving too much money for their services. This hurt the party's image. Also, the Conservative Party had united under Stephen Harper, creating a stronger opposition. The Liberals also had disagreements between Martin and Chrétien's supporters.
In the 2004 election, the Liberals won enough support to stay in power, but they formed a minority government. This meant they had fewer seats and needed support from other parties.
In 2005, Martin's government passed a law to legalize same-sex marriage across Canada. This made Canada the fourth country in the world to allow it. In November 2005, the government also made a deal called the Kelowna Accord. This plan aimed to improve education, housing, and health care for Indigenous peoples.
After a report on the sponsorship scandal was released, the Liberals lost support. Martin's government lost a vote in Parliament in November 2005. This led to an election in January 2006. The sponsorship scandal continued to hurt the Liberal campaign. The Conservatives won more seats, and Martin resigned as Liberal leader.
Challenges in Opposition
Stéphane Dion was elected Liberal leader in December 2006. Dion focused on environmental protection. He proposed a "Green Shift" plan, which included a national carbon tax. This plan was a key part of the party's platform in the 2008 federal election. However, it was not well received by voters.
In the 2008 election, the Liberal Party won only 77 of 308 seats. Their popular support was the lowest in the party's history. Dion announced he would step down as leader. Michael Ignatieff became the interim leader.
Ignatieff was formally named leader in May 2009. At first, the Liberals had a good lead in polls. However, their support fell. In the 2011 election, the Liberals suffered their biggest loss ever. They finished in third place with only 34 seats. This was the first time the Liberals were not the government or the official opposition. Ignatieff lost his own seat and resigned as leader. Bob Rae became the interim leader.
Many experts wondered if the Liberal Party could recover. Some even said the Liberals had become an "endangered species."
Justin Trudeau's Leadership
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On April 14, 2013, Justin Trudeau, the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was elected leader of the Liberal Party. He won with 80% of the votes. After he won, support for the Liberal Party grew a lot.
In 2014, Trudeau removed all Liberal senators from the Liberal Party group in Parliament. He said that the Senate should be independent and check the power of the Prime Minister.
By the time the 2015 federal election was called, the Liberals were in third place in polls. Trudeau and his team ran a campaign focused on boosting the economy. They won the election in a big way. They got 184 seats, forming a majority government. This was the first time a party went from third place to winning a majority government. Many called it a huge comeback in Canadian political history.
In the 2019 federal election, Trudeau's Liberal Party lost 20 seats. However, they still won the most seats (157) and formed a minority government. For the first time since 1979, the party with the most votes nationally did not win the most seats. The Conservatives had more votes, but the Liberals won more seats.
In the 2021 federal election, Trudeau and the Liberals won a third term. They secured another minority government with 160 seats. Again, they came in second in the national popular vote, behind the Conservatives. Their percentage of the popular vote was the lowest for a governing party in Canadian history.
In March 2022, Trudeau's Liberal Party made a deal with the New Democratic Party. This deal means the NDP will support the Liberals on important votes, helping the minority government stay in power.
Party Principles and Policies
The Liberal Party believes in liberalism. This means they support individual freedom, responsibility, human dignity, and a fair society. They also believe in political and religious freedom, national unity, equal opportunities, cultural diversity, and working with other countries.
Since the early 1900s, the Liberal Party has had a "big tent" approach. This means they have policies that appeal to people from different parts of the political spectrum. When they were in government from 1993 to 2006, they focused on balancing the budget. They also made same-sex marriage legal.
2021 Election Promises
During the 2021 federal election, the Liberal Party shared their plans. These plans included:
- Requiring travelers on trains, commercial flights, and cruise ships to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Investing $6 billion to help reduce waitlists in the health care system.
- Investing in building or improving 1.4 million new homes by 2025–26.
- Spending $2 billion over five years to address the history of residential schools. This money would support "truth, justice, and healing" initiatives.
- Re-introducing a law to stop the practice of gay conversion therapy.
- Working to achieve net-zero emissions (meaning no new greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere) by 2050.
- Creating a plan to fight hate by 2022, as part of a renewed Anti-Racism Strategy. This includes a Black Canadians Justice Strategy.
- Increasing the number of Afghan refugees Canada would welcome to 40,000.
- Creating a minimum tax rule for high-income earners. This would ensure they pay at least 15% in taxes each year.
- Setting up a permanent Council of Economic Advisors to give independent advice to the government on long-term growth.
- Making it easier for temporary foreign workers and former international students to become permanent residents.
- Setting aside at least $1 billion to help provinces or territories that ban handguns.
Provincial Liberal Parties
Eight provinces and one territory in Canada have a Liberal Party in their local governments. Nunavut and the Northwest Territories do not have party-based systems.
Some provincial Liberal parties, like those in Yukon, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, are separate from the federal party. They have their own policies, finances, members, and leaders.
However, the Liberal parties in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are connected to the federal Liberal Party.
Electoral Performance
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1867 | George Brown | 60,818 | 22.70 |
62 / 180
|
62 |
2nd |
Opposition |
| 1872 | Edward Blake | 110,556 | 34.70 |
95 / 200
|
33 |
 2nd |
Opposition |
| 1874 | Alexander Mackenzie | 128,455 | 39.50 |
129 / 206
|
34 |
1st |
Majority |
| 1878 | 180,074 | 33.10 |
63 / 206
|
 66 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1882 | Edward Blake | 160,547 | 31.10 |
73 / 211
|
10 |
2nd |
Opposition |
| 1887 | 312,736 | 43.10 |
80 / 215
|
7 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1891 | Wilfrid Laurier | 350,512 | 45.20 |
90 / 215
|
10 |
2nd |
Opposition |
| 1896 | 401,425 | 41.40 |
117 / 213
|
27 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1900 | 477,758 | 50.30 |
128 / 213
|
11 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1904 | 521,041 | 50.90 |
137 / 214
|
9 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1908 | 570,311 | 48.90 |
133 / 221
|
4 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1911 | 596,871 | 45.82 |
85 / 221
|
48 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1917 | 729,756 | 38.80 |
82 / 235
|
3 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1921 | Mackenzie King | 1,285,998 | 41.15 |
118 / 235
|
36 |
1st |
Majority |
| 1925 | 1,252,684 | 39.74 |
100 / 245
|
18 |
2nd |
Minority | |
| Opposition | |||||||
| 1926 | 1,397,031 | 42.90 |
116 / 245
|
16 |
1st |
Minority | |
| 1930 | 1,716,798 | 45.50 |
89 / 245
|
27 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1935 | 1,967,839 | 44.68 |
173 / 245
|
84 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1940 | 2,365,979 | 51.32 |
179 / 245
|
6 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1945 | 2,086,545 | 39.78 |
118 / 245
|
61 |
1st |
Minority | |
| 1949 | Louis St. Laurent | 2,874,813 | 49.15 |
191 / 262
|
73 |
1st |
Majority |
| 1953 | 2,731,633 | 48.43 |
169 / 265
|
22 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1957 | 2,702,573 | 40.50 |
105 / 265
|
64 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1958 | Lester Pearson | 2,432,953 | 33.40 |
48 / 265
|
67 |
2nd |
Opposition |
| 1962 | 2,846,589 | 36.97 |
99 / 265
|
51 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1963 | 3,276,996 | 41.48 |
128 / 265
|
29 |
1st |
Minority | |
| 1965 | 3,099,521 | 40.18 |
131 / 265
|
3 |
1st |
Minority | |
| 1968 | Pierre Trudeau | 3,686,801 | 45.37 |
154 / 264
|
23 |
1st |
Majority |
| 1972 | 3,717,804 | 38.42 |
109 / 264
|
46 |
1st |
Minority | |
| 1974 | 4,102,853 | 43.15 |
141 / 264
|
32 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1979 | 4,595,319 | 40.11 |
114 / 282
|
27 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1980 | 4,855,425 | 44.34 |
147 / 282
|
33 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1984 | John Turner | 3,516,486 | 28.02 |
40 / 282
|
107 |
2nd |
Opposition |
| 1988 | 4,205,072 | 31.92 |
83 / 295
|
43 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1993 | Jean Chrétien | 5,647,952 | 41.24 |
177 / 295
|
94 |
1st |
Majority |
| 1997 | 4,994,277 | 38.46 |
155 / 301
|
22 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 2000 | 5,252,031 | 40.85 |
172 / 301
|
17 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 2004 | Paul Martin | 4,982,220 | 36.73 |
135 / 308
|
37 |
1st |
Minority |
| 2006 | 4,479,415 | 30.23 |
103 / 308
|
32 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 2008 | Stéphane Dion | 3,633,185 | 26.26 |
77 / 308
|
26 |
2nd |
Opposition |
| 2011 | Michael Ignatieff | 2,783,175 | 18.91 |
34 / 308
|
43 |
3rd |
Third party |
| 2015 | Justin Trudeau | 6,928,055 | 39.47 |
184 / 338
|
150 |
1st |
Majority |
| 2019 | 6,018,728 | 33.12 |
157 / 338
|
27 |
1st |
1st |
Minority |
| 2021 | 5,556,629 | 32.62 |
160 / 338
|
3 |
1st |
Minority (with NDP confidence and supply) |
Party Leadership
Only seven Liberal leaders have never served as Prime Minister. Three of these were interim leaders.
Leaders
| Portrait | Name | Term start | Term end | Date of birth | Date of death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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George Brown | 1867 | 1867 | November 29, 1818 | May 9, 1880 | Unofficial leader of a group that helped form the Liberal Party. |
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Edward Blake | 1869 | 1870 | October 13, 1833 | March 1, 1912 | Unofficial leader. |
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Alexander Mackenzie | March 6, 1873 | April 27, 1880 | January 28, 1822 | April 17, 1892 | Canada's 2nd Prime Minister (and the 1st Liberal Prime Minister). |
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Edward Blake | May 4, 1880 | June 2, 1887 | October 13, 1833 | March 1, 1912 | |
|
Wilfrid Laurier | June 23, 1887 | February 17, 1919 | November 20, 1841 | February 17, 1919 | Canada's 7th Prime Minister. |
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Daniel Duncan McKenzie | February 17, 1919 | August 7, 1919 | January 8, 1859 | June 8, 1927 | Interim leader. |
|
William Lyon Mackenzie King |
August 7, 1919 | August 7, 1948 | December 17, 1874 | July 22, 1950 | Canada's 10th Prime Minister. |
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Louis St. Laurent | August 7, 1948 | January 16, 1958 | February 1, 1882 | July 25, 1973 | Canada's 12th Prime Minister. |
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Lester B. Pearson | January 16, 1958 | April 6, 1968 | April 23, 1897 | December 27, 1972 | Canada's 14th Prime Minister. |
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Pierre Trudeau | April 6, 1968 | June 16, 1984 | October 18, 1919 | September 28, 2000 | Canada's 15th Prime Minister. |
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John Turner | June 16, 1984 | June 23, 1990 | June 7, 1929 | September 18, 2020 | Canada's 17th Prime Minister. |
|
Jean Chrétien | June 23, 1990 | November 14, 2003 | January 11, 1934 | living | Canada's 20th Prime Minister. |
|
Paul Martin | November 14, 2003 | March 19, 2006 | August 28, 1938 | living | Canada's 21st Prime Minister. |
 |
Bill Graham | March 19, 2006 | December 2, 2006 | March 17, 1939 | August 7, 2022 | Interim leader. |
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Stéphane Dion | December 2, 2006 | December 10, 2008 | September 28, 1955 | living | |
 |
Michael Ignatieff | December 10, 2008 | May 25, 2011 | May 12, 1947 | living | Interim leader until May 2, 2009, then permanent leader. |
 |
Bob Rae | May 25, 2011 | April 14, 2013 | August 2, 1948 | living | Interim leader. |
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Justin Trudeau | April 14, 2013 | Incumbent | December 25, 1971 | living | Canada's 23rd Prime Minister. |
Presidents of the Party
- Vincent Massey 1932–1935
- Norman Platt Lambert 1936–1941
- vacant 1941–1943
- Norman Alexander McLarty 1943 (acting)
- Wishart McLea Robertson 1943–1945
- James Gordon Fogo 1946–1952
- Duncan Kenneth MacTavish 1952–1958
- Bruce Matthews 1958–1961
- John Joseph Connolly 1961–1964
- John Lang Nichol 1964–1968
- Richard Stanbury 1968–1973
- Gildas Molgat 1973–1976
- Alasdair Graham 1976–1980
- Norman MacLeod 1980–1982
- Iona Campagnolo 1982–1986
- J. J. Michel Robert 1986–1990
- Don Johnston 1990–1994
- Dan Hays 1994–1998
- Stephen LeDrew 1998–2003
- Michael Eizenga 2003–2006
- Marie Poulin 2006–2008
- Doug Ferguson 2008–2009
- Alfred Apps 2009–2012
- Mike Crawley 2012–2014
- Anna Gainey 2014–2018
- Suzanne Cowan 2018–2023
- Sachit Mehra 2023–present
Images for kids
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Trudeau-era wordmark and logo
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Graph of opinion polls conducted between the 2008 and 2011 elections
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The Liberal Party logo used from 2010 to 2014. In this and the subsequent logo, the stem of the maple leaf forms an acute accent, used in the word Libéral in French
See also
In Spanish: Partido Liberal de Canadá para niños
- Liberal Party of Canada leadership elections
- Liberalism in Canada
- List of political parties in Canada
- Senate Liberal Caucus
- Trudeauism
