Open AccessThe Liberal Party of Canada: Still Canada’s “Natural Governing Party?”
Author(s) -
James Suderman
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the agora
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1927-4793
DOI - 10.29173/agora10110
Subject(s) - liberal party , politics , political science , party platform , realigning election , natural (archaeology) , political economy , public administration , ethnic group , core (optical fiber) , law , sociology , socialism , communism , democracy , composite material , materials science , archaeology , history
Canada´s evolving party system has shifted the discursive, institutional, and legal frameworks for how party politics are performed in Canada. As a result, the dominant track record of the Liberal Party of Canada now faces several new challenges to its historical status as Canada´s natural governing party. The inability to successfully fundraise to set election issues within the guidelines of new legal regulations has weakened the Liberal Party´s ability to compete with the Conservatives. The current leader-driven model of cadre party politics has also put more emphasis on attracting peripheral voters, such as flexible partisans and dealigned voters, which makes one-party domination less likely. Furthermore, the Liberal Party has also faced recent loses to their core support, due to shifts in historical regional support, religious support, and the support of ethnic minorities.