Political parties and process

1. PowerPoint 4:
Political Parties

2. Political Beliefs
• People develop different opinions about society and
how things should be run in their community,
province and/or country.
• A political ideology is a group of shared beliefs or
principles about how society and government should
work.

3. What do YOU believe?
Do you agree or disagree with the following
statements?
• The government should be small and provide fewer
services so we do not have to pay a lot in taxes.
• Companies that pollute our air and water should
suffer consequences.
• Tradition is a more important than change in our
society.
• Canada should give more money and aid to poorer
countries.

4. What is a political party?
• A political party is an organized group of people who
share similar political beliefs and goals.
• Parties are made up of ‘members’ from the public.
• Party members work together to achieve power
through an election and try to accomplish their goals.
• Each party also selects a leader, usually through a
leadership contest.

5. Federal Political Parties
• There are 20 registered political parties in
Canada.
• Animal Alliance Environment Voters
Party of Canada
• Bloc Québécois
• Canadian Action Party
• Christian Heritage Party of Canada
• Communist Party of Canada
• Conservative Party of Canada
• Democratic Advancement Party of
Canada
• Forces et Démocratie
• Green Party of Canada
• Liberal Party of Canada
• Libertarian Party of Canada
• Marijuana Party
• Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada
• New Democratic Party
• Party for Accountability,
Competency and Transparency
• Pirate Party of Canada
• Progressive Canadian Party
• Rhinoceros Party
• The Bridge Party of Canada
• United Party of Canada

6. What is a party platform?
• A party platform explains the party’s ideas to deal
with major issues and how to make improvements.
• While all political parties may agree that education is
important, they may have different ideas about how
to improve the system and the steps that should be
taken.
• During elections, parties share their platform
through announcements, advertising and events,
and try to attract support from voters.

7. How does a party form government?
• The party that elects the most number of
representatives or wins the most seats usually forms
government.
• At the federal level, the leader of the party that
forms government becomes the prime minister.
• After the 2011 federal election, the Conservative
Party formed government because they had 166 out
of 308 legislative seats.

8. 2011 Federal Election Results
Political Party Candidates Elected
Conservative Party of Canada 166
New Democratic Party 103
Liberal Party of Canada 34
Bloc Québécois 4
Green Party of Canada 1
Other affiliations 0

9. 2011 Federal Student Vote Results
Political Party Candidates Elected
Conservative Party of Canada 130
New Democratic Party 113
Liberal Party of Canada 47
Bloc Québécois 6
Green Party of Canada 5
Other affiliations 0

10. Final Thoughts
• Why are political parties important?
• Would you ever join a political party?
• Which political party do you like the most and why?