Canadian Politics - Political Parties in MB

What are the 3 different types of elections? name them

maintaining elections, deviating elections, realigning elections

describe maintaining elections:

an election in which partisan support remains generally / relatively stable.. minor shifts ex. 2019-2021

describe deviating elections:

an election in which partisan loyalties are disrupted.. but temporarily only (because of economic downtowns / leader charisma, etc..) ex. 2011

describe realigning elections:

an election that signals significant and long-lasting shifts within the electorate

going from one party system to another is due to this election

Describe the first party system of MB: Embryonic formative system:

power sharing democracy: 12 seats for the French speaking citizens 12 for English, governing together

non-party system: candidates presented under no political banner

once elected: MLA’s either aligned with the government or opposed to it

no legislative building but a provincial senate (abolished 1876 no money, conditional federal transfers)

First election in MB? votes? seats?

first election 1870: 1057 votes, 24 seats

What led to to the second party system of MB?

1878/79, candidates began to affiliate with parties, echoes to federal scene, Scottish Ontarian migrants brought wigs and tories logic

Describe the 2nd party system of MB: traditional 2 party system:

-migrants from ON brought the logic of party affiliations - not meaningful ideologically speaking

-two parties governed: liberals (Thomas Greenway) and Conservatives (Rodmond Roblin)

-multiple electoral reforms (PR in Winnipeg, first time in North America)

-experimentation, settled down t0 status quo (SMP)

When did the traditional two party system begin in MB?

1879-1922

What type of election in the second party system?

realigning election

Describe the 3rd party system of MB: Quasi-party systems

-John Bracken: United farmers of MB “progressive” everywhere

-only governing party to survive the depression

-Bracken party

-no party discipline → free votes would either join opp or gov

-no real opposition either; reinforced his all-powerful status

-no party politics - candidates elected by acclamation

-wanted rural MB to rule, to WPG

When did the quasi party system begin in MB? end?

1992; 1958

What type of election was the third party system (Quasi-party systems)

realigning - 1922

Describe the 4th party system of MB: Three Party system:

-the return of traditional politics within a British-inspired parliamentary system; PCs centre right

-Duff Roblin ++ (PC minority gov) .. liberal decline - NDPs centre left, libs go right

-CCF becomes NDP in 1961

-electoral map revised - WPG gained seats (early 60’s

When did the three party system begin in MB? end?

1958; 1969

Describe the 5th (and current) MB party system: The 2 ½ party system:

- Liberals always in the opposition... NDP governs ++
- But the PC does good periodically (1977-1981 ; 1988-1999 ; 2016-today)
- Pallister (summer 2021) → Shelly Glover vs Heather Stefanson

When did the 2 ½ party system begin in MB? end?

1969 - current

What type of election was the 2 ½ party system begin in MB?

realigning election

T/F? NDP went from thrd party to governing party

True

Wab Kinew has (in his first 13 days):

Louis Riel bill

Orange shirt day as STAT holiday

Suppressing gas taxes (population was unsure of this)

Ethics issue of Stefanson?

decided not to accept env procedures. Outgoing govt is not supposed to take BIG decisions, supposed to leave it for the new govt.

NDP principles:

• Key word “individuals” = socialist appeal?

• On the left but pragmatic

  • For example, NDP spends less than PC

• Catch-all party which likes to present itself as mass-based party

• Parliamentary wing is absolutely strongest than the extra-parliamentary wing

When did NDP first take power in MB?

June 1969

The NDP formed gov every decade following 1969. How?

Catalyst: General strike:

• Work conditions were terrible

• Unprecedented → led to multiple arrests and police brutality; united the working-class

• Movement around the world → communist taking root

• Woodsworth → prominent intellectuals of NDP origin

What are the 4 reasons NDP took power in MB? name them

Context, ideology, electoral reforms, media,

Describe the context reason for the NDP taking power:

- Liberals chose a new leader (Bobby Bend), pushed his party on the right
-Progressive Conservatives chose a new leader (Walter Weir), also pushed his party on the right...
-NDP chose a new leader (Ed Schreyer), pushed his party on the right... landing right on the centre

Describe the ideology reason for the NDP taking power:

- NDP chose a new leader (Ed Schreyer), pushed his party on the right... landing right on the centre.

Describe the electoral reforms aspect for the NDP taking power:

- Before the 1960s... ratio of 4:7 in favour of rural Manitoba
- The NDP was doing good in urban ridings

Describe the media aspect for the NDP taking power:

- First leadership convention (Ed Schreyer) to be televised
- Unprecedented level of public awareness
- With this ideological shift, NDP + Schreyer entered the political mainstream

-Schreyer: equivalent of P. Poilievre; able to get message across media → won NDP leadership and the electionm

Name NDP leaders:

-After Schreyer (1969-1979)... became GG
-Howard Pawley (1979-1988 | 1981-1988), more ideological than pragmatic... was defeated while he had a majority government*... (budget, 1988)... Became prof. at UofWindsor
- Gary Doer (1988-2009 | 1999-2009), “non-ideological”... became Canadian Ambassador to the US
- Greg Selinger (2009-2016), former professor of social work, ... “non-ideological”
- Wab Kinew (2016- ).