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

Other parties that have formed governments

• British Columbia Social Credit Party
• British Columbia Conservative Party

Historical parties that have been represented in the legislature

• Nationalist Party (espoused "National Socialism", based on Edward Bellamy's writings, favoured nationalization of industry)- Robert Macpherson elected MLA in 1894 and 1898; George Maxwell elected MP in 1896 ^[2]
• Labour/Independent Labour/Federated Labour (1903–1907; 1920–1924; 1928–1960)
• Socialist Party (1903–1916)
• Social Democratic (1912–1916)
• People's Party (1920–1924)
• Provincial Party of British Columbia (1924–1928)
• Non Partisan Independent Group (1933–1937)
• Unionist (1933–1937)
• Social Constructive Party (official opposition 1936–1937)
• United Party of British Columbia (1986)
• Progressive Democratic Alliance (1993–1997)
• Reform (1994–1997)
• Democratic Reform British Columbia (2005)

Current parties that have nominated candidates

• British Columbia Party
• Communist Party of British Columbia
• Cultural Action Party
• British Columbia Excalibur Party^[3]
• Libertarian Party
• Marijuana Party
• Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness
• Refederation Party (Western Refederation Party)
• Unparty: The Consensus-Building Party (formerly the People's Senate Party)
• Work Less Party of British Columbia
• Your Political Party of British Columbia

Active parties that have not nominated a candidate

• BC Progressive Party (ProBC)
• British Columbia Peoples Party
• Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia (formerly BC Heritage Party)
• Land Air Water Party
• Rural BC Party
• Vancouver Island Party

Historical parties

• Action Party (2001 election)
• 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)
• 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 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)
• 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
• Family Coalition Party of British Columbia (1991 and 1996 elections)
• Feminist Initiative of BC (2005–2008)
• 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)
• League for Socialist Action (1975 election)
• Link BC (2002–2009)
• 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 Wave Party (2011–2015)
• North American Labour Party (1975 and 1979 elections)
• Party of Citizens Who Have Decided to Think for Themselves and Be Their Own Politicians (2001 election)
• 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)
• Progressive Nationalist Party (Bloc BC Party) (2004–2013)
• Religious Political Brotherhood (1941 election)
• Renewal Party of British Columbia (2004–2008)
• Revolutionary Marxist Group (1975 election)
• 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)
• 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)
• Unity Party (2001–2008) (2001 & 2005 election)
• Youth Coalition (2000–2009)

See also

• Elections BC
• BC Legislature Raids
• Municipal political parties in Vancouver

References