Canada Political Parties
A clear, up-to-date guide to the political parties of Canada. Compare the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Greens, Bloc Québécois, and the People's Party: their ideologies and where they stand.
Canada has a multi-party system in which the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party are the two largest forces and the main contenders for government. The New Democratic Party sits on the left, the Greens focus on the environment, the Bloc Québécois runs only in Quebec on a sovereigntist platform, and the People's Party competes on the populist right. Canada's parliamentary system frequently produces minority governments in which smaller parties hold influence.
This guide sets out where each party stands: its history, its core ideology, and its positions on the economy, social questions, and foreign policy. Use it to understand the Canadian political landscape, then take the test to see where your own views fall.
Liberal Party of Canada
Centre to centre-left · Founded 1867
Canada's traditional governing party of the centre, socially liberal and pragmatic, returned to power for a fourth term in 2025 under Mark Carney.
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Conservative Party of Canada
Centre-right · Founded 2003
Canada's main centre-right party, favouring lower taxes, smaller government, and resource development, and the official opposition under Pierre Poilievre.
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New Democratic Party
Left-wing · Founded 1961
Canada's main left-wing party, rooted in the labour and social democratic tradition, campaigning for expanded public services and workers' rights.
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Green Party of Canada
Left-wing · Founded 1983
Canada's environmental party, focused on climate action and social justice, holding a small number of seats in Parliament.
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Bloc Québécois
Centre-left, Quebec nationalist · Founded 1991
A party that runs only in Quebec, defending Quebec's interests and its right to sovereignty, with a broadly centre-left social platform.
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People's Party of Canada
Right-wing populist · Founded 2018
A right-wing populist party founded by Maxime Bernier, campaigning for sharply reduced immigration, lower taxes, and a smaller state.
Read full profile →Where do you stand?
Take the CoreOpinion Canada political test to see how your views compare with these parties.
Take the Canada Test