Difference between The Conservative Party and The Liberal Party In Canada
In spite of the seemingly laid back temperament of the Canadian people, the country's history has been just as wracked with political conflict and turmoil as many other political hotbeds of the world. Often at opposing sides of conflicting political ideologies and policies are the country's Conservative Party and Labour Party, both of which are the subject of this revealing comparison article.
Profile
The Conservative Party of Canada is a political party that came about as a result of the 2003 merger between the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Parties of Canada. In the most recent Canadian federal election, the party received 37.6% of the total votes. At the time of this writing, the leader of the party is Stephen Harper, who was also the country's Prime Minister since 2006.
The Liberal Party of Canada is the earliest political party to have federally registered in Canada. Also known informally as “the Grits” the party adopts a center-left policy. Since the federal election of 2006, the party has been designated the Official Opposition party in the Canadian Parliament. The Liberal Party has actually been the dominant force in Canadian federal politics throughout much of the country's history, and it has in fact held power for nearly 70 years in the 20th century. This period is longer than that which any other party in the world has held power. The Liberal Party’s leader is Michael Ignatieff, and he has held the position since the Liberal leadership convention of May 2009.
Origins
Conservative Party grew out of several right-of-centre Canadian political parties that have existed in the country since the mid-19th century. As with many other conservative parties before it, members are often referred to as "Tories". The present Conservative Party of Canada also assumed the assets and liabilities of the previous Progressive Conservative Party following the 2003 merger.
The Liberal Party can trace its roots to the Reformers political party of the mid-1800s, which sought a responsible government in what was then British-held North America. Among the earliest members of the party were George Brown, Robert Baldwin, and William Lyon Mackenzie. The party was also comprised of the so-called “Clear Grits” from the northern part of the country and the Patriotes and Rouges from the south. All these factions often formed a united front in the legislature of the Canadian Province from 1854 onwards and in 1862 brought about a united Liberal Party that combined English and French Canadian members.
Policies
The Conservative Party is generally in favor of reduced taxes, a smaller government and the decentralization of the powers of the federal government powers toward the provinces. The party also opposes cannabis legalization and favors increased military spending.
Liberal Party
At present, the Liberal Party has tended towards policies that are informed almost equally by right and left leanings. Beginning in 1993 until 2006, the party was a strong advocate of balanced budgets and the total elimination of the deficit from the federal budget by way of the reduction of social program spending, proposing instead that funds be delegated to the provinces. The Liberal Party has also voiced support for same-sex marriage and medical cannabis use. The party has in fact proposed the total decriminalization of marijuana possession in small amounts, and is generally supportive of abortion.
Summary
Conservative Party
- Resulted from the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Parties of Canada
- Opposes cannabis legalization
- Favors increased military spending
Liberal Party
- Is the earliest political party to have federally registered in Canada
- Also known informally as “the Grits”
- Supports same-sex marriage and medical cannabis use
