List of political parties in Ontario facts for kids
Here is a list of the main political groups, called political parties, that are active in Ontario, Canada. These parties are groups of people who share similar ideas about how the government should run things. They work together to get their members elected to make decisions for everyone in the province.
Contents
Political Parties in Ontario's Government
These are the political parties that currently have members elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Legislative Assembly is where laws are made for Ontario. Each elected member is called an MPP.
| Party Name | Started | Main Ideas | Leader | Number of MPPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Parti progressiste-conservateur de l'Ontario |
1854 | Conservatism: Generally believes in individual freedom, lower taxes, and less government involvement in the economy. | Doug Ford | 79 | |
| Ontario New Democratic Party Nouveau Parti démocratique de l'Ontario |
1961 | Social democracy: Focuses on social fairness, public services like healthcare and education, and helping workers. | Marit Stiles | 28 | |
| Ontario Liberal Party Parti libéral de l'Ontario |
1857 | Liberalism: Supports individual rights, democracy, and a balanced approach to the economy and social programs. | Bonnie Crombie | 9 | |
| Green Party of Ontario Parti vert de l’Ontario |
1983 | Green politics: Prioritizes protecting the environment, sustainable living, and social justice. | Mike Schreiner | 2 | |
Other Registered Political Parties
Besides the parties with elected members, there are many other political parties officially registered with Elections Ontario. These parties also try to get their members elected, but they don't currently have seats in the Legislative Assembly.
| Party Name | Started | Main Ideas | Leader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Blue Party of Ontario Nouveau Parti Bleu de l'Ontario |
2020 | Right-wing populism: Focuses on traditional values and often challenges the political establishment. | Jim Karahalios | |
| None of the Above Direct Democracy Party Aucune de ces Réponses Démocratie Directe Parti |
2014 | Direct democracy: Wants citizens to have more direct say in government decisions. | Greg Vezina | |
| Ontario Libertarian Party Parti libertarien de l'Ontario |
1975 | Libertarianism: Believes in maximum individual freedom and very limited government. | Mark Snow | |
| Ontario Party | 2018 | Social conservatism: Focuses on traditional social values. | Derek Sloan | |
Historical Political Parties in Ontario
Over the years, many different political parties have existed in Ontario. Some of these parties even had members elected to the Legislative Assembly in the past.
Parties That Held Seats
- Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1932 – 1961)
- (Independent) Labour (1874-1937)
- Labor-Progressive Party (1941 - 1959)
- Liberal-Labour (1943 - 1970s)
- United Farmers of Ontario (1918 - 1940)
Parties Before Canada Was Formed
These parties were active in the area that is now Ontario before Canada became a country in 1867.
- Clear Grits
- Reform Party
- Family Compact (a powerful group before 1837)
Other Past Parties
Many other parties have been registered or active in Ontario's history. Here are a few examples:
| Name | Active Period | Main Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Go Vegan | 2011-before 2022 | Environmentalism, Animal rights: Focused on animal welfare and environmental protection. |
| Natural Law Party of Ontario | 1993-2000 | Supported Transcendental Meditation for societal improvement. |
| Reform Party of Ontario | 1989-2015 | Right-wing populism, Social conservatism: Focused on traditional values and often challenged the political establishment. |
See also
- List of Ontario general elections
- Elections Ontario
