the liberal party

where does the liberal party sit?

often changes their position depending on the public mood. they are not tied down to any ideological position, unlike the NDP or conservative

early values

free markets, personal responsibility, tolerant relations between French and English

after ww2

it became more left wing, advocating a more active govt, multiculturalism, bilingualism, internationalism, social equality

mackenize king

longest serving PM in Canadian history

lester pearson

won the noble peace prize, universal health care, student loans, CPP

pierre trudeau

prevented Queb. sovereignty, charter of rights, multiculturalism and social progressivism

why are they called the big tent?

they are constantly shifting, adapting, changing on the situation

first era

under mackenize king, they focused on old time politics such as patronage (people would vote based on their individual needs - bribing people to vote with chocolates, giving them govt. jobs, etc.

one party system - liberal

• saw increase support for provincial rights - allowing liberals to win at the provincial level

• adopted a limited govt philosophy

• wanted a separate/autonomist position from Britain (they establioshed a separate Navy)

downfall of liberal support in the 1911 election

limited free trade with US lost the support of pro-Birtain english CAN

Quebec resisted the naval agreement

the downfall of the first liberal era

the conscription issue in ww1 we were losing soldiers and no one was volunteering, therefore Laurier made conscription mandatory

• the Quebeckers did not align with the war, therefore they turned on the party and the party lost seats

second era

under king & laurent

they valued balanced, democratic decision making (mainly King)

Laurent build up the state - expanded public universities and health care, more jobs, etc.

• the party reorganized, they had conventions for leader selection

• rise of advertising (news/radio/tv/ads)

what led the liberals to power in 1896 (2nd era)

the liberals adopted the national policy, and the liberals were able to capture Queb.

downfall of the second liberal era

QC & liberal downfall (’58) because Q. wanted more power, so the Q. turned against the liberal party

the liberals were also seen more as an elitist group, undemocratic, etc.

third liberal era

under pierre trudeau

• he saw a constitutional problem in Canada - that we couldn’t amend our own constitution

• made electorate changes

• wanted the charter rights and freedoms - which recognizes individual rights

• saw the rise of unions and the growth the service/public sector

1981 constitutional conferences

the SC rules that the gov. can patriate the constitution, only after substantial support from the provinces (but what is substantial support ???????? thats the main issue)

why did the provinces not want a charter of rights and freedoms

because the courts become the final decision maker in all disputes - because they are not elected and they come from the elite Canadians

what made the provinces settle and sign the constitution

the exception that they could override certain sections (like 33, the notwithstanding clause). it can only be used for a period of 5 years maximum

what led to the downfall of the third era

trudeau reduced francophones down to the same as other ethnic groups in Canada - this sparked more anger and q. sovereignty

4th era

the party moves over to the right: adopted neoliberal paradigm

• pursued a policy of govt reform - slashed budgets and reduced debts, balanced the budget

• rise of constituency associations → the local ridings got more power over time

how does the liberal party currently operate

• a franchise system. the party centre largely determines the policies and things put forward

  • the centre sets the brand and the local constituencies have to find the customers

  • problem- the local constituencies want more power, but they cannot do this because all the const. want to be consistent

why was M. King not that popular

tended to represent an ontario viewpoint

successes of Laurier

sought the opinions of Queb. and adopted a Canadian viewpoint (he skillfully brokered Canada’s national divide

• he won Queb. in his election, making it obvious about the necessity of Queb.

changes of the 1939-45 war in politics

keynesian economics became very popular

liberals shifted to more of a welfare approach

led to 2 post war problems: economic management and development national social programs

lester pearson

saw a shift in the liberal partie

became more welfare focused

moved closer to the US