List of political parties in British Columbia
Prior to 1903, there was no strong party discipline in the province, and governments rarely lasted more than two years as independent-minded members changed allegiances. MLAs were elected under a myriad of party labels many as Independents, and no one party held strong majorities.
The first party government, in 1903, was Conservative. And disciplined party caucuses have been the backbone of BC provincial politics ever since.
A list of political parties currently registered with Elections BC can be found at the Elections BC website.[1]
Parties represented in the current Legislative Assembly
| Name | Founded | Ideology | Leader | MLAs | In Legislature | In Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia New Democratic Party (known as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation until 1961) |
1933 | Social democracy, left-wing populism | David Eby | 47 | 1933–present | 1972–1975, 1991–2001, 2017–present | |
| Conservative Party of British Columbia (known as the Progressive Conservative Party from 1942 to 1991) |
1903 | Conservatism, right-wing populism, Social conservatism | John Rustad | 44 | 1903–1933, 1937–1956, 1971–1979, 1986, 2012, 2023–present | 1903–1916, 1928–1933, 1941–1952 | |
| Green Party of British Columbia | 1985 | Green politics | Sonia Furstenau | 2 | 2013–present | none | |
Current parties outside the legislature
Political parties currently registered to Elections BC as of April 17, 2024.[2]
| Name | Founded | Ideology | Leader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Action Party | 2013 | Fiscal conservatism | Vacant | |
| BC Cascadia Party | 2016 | Cascadian separatism | Troy Gibbons | |
| Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia | 2010 | Christian right, Constitutionalism, Social conservatism | Rod Taylor | |
| Communist Party of British Columbia (known as the Labor-Progressive Party from 1943 until 1959) |
1924 | Communism, Marxism-Leninism | Kimball Cariou | |
| British Columbia Direct Democracy Party | 2020[3] | Direct democracy | John Walsh | |
| Freedom Party of British Columbia | 2023[4] | Amrit Birring | ||
| British Columbia Libertarian Party | 1986 | Libertarianism | Alex Joehl | |
| Party of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Ourselves & Be Our Own Politicians | 2001 election (original) 2023 (relaunch)[5] |
Gordon Watson | ||
| B.C. Vision | 2013 | Fiscal conservatism, Green politics | Jagmohan Bhandari | |
| Your Political Party of British Columbia | 2002 | Open government | James Filipelli | |
Other parties that have formed governments
| Name | Founded | Ideology | Leader | In legislature | In Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC Liberal Party (known as BC United after 2023) |
1903 | Conservatism, Neoliberalism | Kevin Falcon | 1903–1912, 1916–1975, 1991–2024 | 1916–1928, 1933–1952, 2001–2017 | |
| British Columbia Social Credit Party | 1935 | Social credit, Conservatism, Right-wing populism | Vacant | 1952–1996 | 1952–1972, 1975–1991 | |
Historical parties that have been represented in the legislature
| Name | Founded | Ideology | In Legislature | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour/Independent Labour/Federated Labour | N/A | Social democracy | 1903–1907, 1920–1924, 1928–1960 | |
| Socialist Party of British Columbia | 1901 | Socialism, Impossiblism | 1905–1916 | |
| Social Democratic Party of British Columbia | 1907 | Social democracy | 1912–1916 | |
| People's Party of British Columbia | N/A | Populism | 1920–1924 | |
| Provincial Party of British Columbia | 1923 | Agrarianism | 1924–1928 | |
| Non Partisan Independent Group | 1933 | Conservatism | 1933–1937 | |
| Unionist Party of British Columbia | 1933 | Conservatism | 1933–1937 | |
| British Columbia Social Constructive Party | 1936 | Reformism, Social Democracy | 1936–1937 | |
| United Party of British Columbia | 1986 | |||
| Progressive Democratic Alliance | 1993 | Centrism | 1993–1997 | |
| Reform Party of British Columbia | 1983 | Right-wing populism | 1994–1997 | |
| Democratic Reform British Columbia | 2005 | Centrism, Progressivism, Populism | 2005 | |
Historical parties that never had seats in the legislature
- 4BC (2017 election)
- Action Party (2001 iteration)
- Advocational International Democratic Party of British Columbia (2006–2014
- All Nations Party of British Columbia (2001 election–2005)
- Allegiance Party
- Alternative Party of British Columbia (?–2005)
- Annexation Party of British Columbia (2003–2009)
- BC Ecosocialists
- BC First Party (2010–2018)
- BC Independence Party (2021-2024)[6]
- British Columbia Party
- Canadian Alliance Party of British Columbia (?–2005)
- Central Party (British Columbia) (2001 election)
- Centre Democratic Party (2000–2005)
- Christian Democratic Party (1952 and 1953 elections)
- Citizens Action Party (BC Grey Party) (2002–2009)
- Citizens First Party (2017)
- Citizens Alliance Now (?–2007) (2001 election)
- Citizens Commonwealth Federation (2001 election)
- Common Sense, Community, Family Party (1996 election)
- Council of British Columbians (2001 election)
- Confederation Party of British Columbia (2003–2009)
- Constructive Party (1937 election)
- British Columbia Cultural Action Party
- Democratic Alliance (2004–2005)
- Democratic Futures Party (2003–2009)
- Democratic Idealists Party (2002)
- Emancipation Party (1941 election)
- Emerged Democracy Party of British Columbia (2004–2009) (2005 election)
- Enterprise Party of British Columbia
- Excalibur Party
- Family Coalition Party of British Columbia (1991 and 1996 elections)
- Feminist Initiative of BC (2005–2008)
- For British Columbia (4BC)
- Free Canadian Party (2003–2008)
- Freedom Party of British Columbia (2001–2009) (2001 and 2005 elections)
- Gay Alliance Toward Equality (1979 election)
- Green Go (Green Wing/Rhino) (1991 election)
- Helping Hand Party (2011–2013)
- Human Race Party (1991 election)
- Idealists Party (2003–2008)
- Independent New Hope Party (1979 election)
- Individual Rights Party of British Columbia (2011–2013)
- Financial Justice Party (1937 election)
- Labour Party (2004–2009)
- Labour Representation Committee (1952 election)
- Land Air Water Party (2015–2018) (2017 election)
- League for Socialist Action (1975 election)
- Link BC (2002–2009)
- Marijuana Party (2000–2019) (2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013 elections)
- Millionaires Party (2002–2008)
- Moderate Democratic Movement (2003–2008) (2005 election)
- Nation Alliance Party (2007–2012) (2009 election)
- Natural Law Party of British Columbia (199?–2005)
- New Republican Party (2017–2019) (2017 election)
- New Wave Party (2011–2015)
- North American Labour Party (1975 and 1979 elections)
- Patriot Party (2001–2013)
- People's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1945 election)
- People's Front (Marxist–Leninist) (1986 election – 2017)
- People's Party (1945, 1953 and 1956 elections)
- Planting Seeds Party (2006–2008)
- Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness
- ProBC
- Progressive Nationalist Party (Bloc BC Party) (2004–2013)
- Refederation Party (formerly Western Refederation Party; Western Independence Party)
- Religious Political Brotherhood (1941 election)
- Renewal Party of British Columbia (2004–2008)
- Revolutionary Marxist Group (1975 election)
- Rural BC Party (2018–2023)
- Revolutionary Workers Party 1945–1953
- The Sex Party (2005–2012) (2005 and 2009 elections)
- Social Conservative Party (1969 election)
- Socialist Labour Party
- United Front (1933 election)
- United Peoples Action Party (2003–2006)
- Unparty: The Consensus-Building Party (formerly the People's Senate Party)
- Vancouver Island Party (2016–2020)
- Victory Without Debt Party (1941 election)
- Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia (1980–2013)
- Western Independence Party (1979 election)
- Western National Party (1983 election)
- Western Reform (2001 election)
- Wexit BC (2019–2022)
- Work Less Party of British Columbia (2003–2017)
- Unity Party (2001–2008) (2001 & 2005 election)
- Youth Coalition (2000–2009)
See also
References
- ^ "Elections BC website". Archived from the original on 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ Registered political Parties elections.bc.ca
- ^ "Volume CLX, No. 27". The British Columbia Gazette. Government of British Columbia. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "About". Freedom Party of British Columbia. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Volume CLXIII, No. 34". The British Columbia Gazette. Government of British Columbia. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Volume CLXI, No. 13". The British Columbia Gazette. Government of British Columbia. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
| Parties represented in the Legislative Assembly |
|
|---|---|
| Other parties recognized by Elections BC that contested the 2024 election |
|
| Parties recognized by Elections BC that did not contest the 2024 election | |
| Historical parties represented in the Legislative Assembly | |
