The Party System

There's been a slow transformation in the Canadian political scene over the years. While the federal government has yet to experience this great change, some provinces have, while others have not. In fact, other Westminster-style governments such as Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have also seen it. This great change is the symbolic death of the centre.

In the United Kingdom, the political scene was dominated by the Liberals and Conservatives: the Liberals at the time representing the left, and the Conservatives for the right. Over time, the Labour Party grew to become a huge force and has replaced the Liberals (now Liberal Democrats) as the primary left-wing party, pushing them into the centre of the political spectrum. This is the party system in Britain.

In Canada, this "new" left-wing is the New Democratic Party. It has replaced the left-wing Liberals in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia who now run under the name as a group of conservatives. Yukon is currently undergoing the process and could very well adapt to this two-party system very quickly, perhaps within the decade. Should Nova Scotia's NDP also hold onto power for a little longer, the same thing could also occur.

This switch occurs simply because the entire political scene is dominated by contrast. When one party exists on the centre-right, the other must adapt to the centre-left if it is to survive. Saskatchewan altered in the 1960's, while Manitoba and British Columbia transformed by the 1970's. It has happened there, and will happen in the Yukon, and for that matter in every jurisdiction. A centrist party cannot run against a conservative government and be effective. The people won't accept it, nor will the party membership.

This change is controversial, but even the federal government will adapt. This is inevitable. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon the Liberals will become a fringe party or at best the third party everywhere in the face of intense competitions between the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party. This change is not something to fear (unless you're a committed Liberal, in which case - shit!) rather it is something to celebrate. The great debate on social democracy and conservatism is about to erupt internationally, and I'm placing my bets to the one on the left.