Liberals Will Have Zero to Little Representation In BC, AB, MB, SK & Ont

Mighty Middle wrote:

So the Liberals are poised to only have provincial representation in Atlantic Canada. By the end of the week they will have zero to little representation in BC, AB, MB, SK and Ontario.

In Quebec, BC and Yukon there is a "Liberal" name,  but that is a misnomer. Those Liberals are actually a coalition of Liberals and Conservatives.

In contrast the NDP is alive and well (provincially) in Yukon, BC, AB, MB, SK and Ontario. But not a presence in Quebec, with representation in NS and NL.

So the NDP has better bench strength across the country provincially than the Liberals.

Actually, it's the Yukon Party that's the Lib/Tory or "BC Socred" equivalent up there.  Not sure where the actual Yukon Liberals fit in on the spectrum.  When you put that together with the BC Libs(is anybody wondering why they haven't just rename themselves the "British Columbia Party"?) and the Saskatchewan Party, it raises the question of whether somebody will simply form a federal equivalent called the "Canada Party/Parti Canada'".

Misfit wrote:

Yes it is the right wing parties they have to change their names to patriotic ones when the right wing agenda makes them extremely unpopular and they know they'll never get reelected any other way.

Well, in Alberta, the Alberta Party are sort of the equivalent of federal Liberals, ideologically speaking, so not right-wing in a relative sense. Though the party did evolve from being an offically conservative one(complicated history there), and they've never actually held power(or anything close), so don't need to run away from any legislative record.

The federal Conservatives would be an example of a party that was doing quite well for a while under an obviously right-wing label, and as far as I know, they don't have any plans to change their name. And I guess we'll see what happens in Ontario in a few days.

More on this topic, who will be the next NDP Premier to join the Federal Liberals?   First it was Dosanjh and Rae.   Now everyone calls Notley a Liberal.    Is Jonh Horgan going to be next?

Ken Burch wrote:

When you put that together with the BC Libs(is anybody wondering why they haven't just rename themselves the "British Columbia Party"?)

​The Liberal party of BC has a sort of interesting history. There was a Liberal party outside of the Socreds, and that lasted well into the 70's. It fell on hard times, and in 1975 three of the Liberal MLA's went over to the Socreds.

It was revived in 1987 by Gordon Wilson, who took it to Opposition status in the 1991 Election. By 1994 Wilson was on the outs. A variety of problems, including an extramarital affair with another Liberal MLA, ended with a leadership campaign that was won by Gordon Campbell. 

Campbell reformed the party as a coalition of the various right-wing elements, and that's where they've been since. There has been the odd attempt to change the name, but because almost no one in BC associates the BC Liberal Party with the federal party, there really isn't any reason. It is well understood that the BC Liberals are a coalition. The name is merely a convenience. 

Mr. Magoo wrote...

I think you skipped a thread somewhere. I suspect the above post was intended for a different thread (appropriation??)

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Quote:

Not just because of the cheap patriotism, but it also strikes me as really unimaginative.  

I don't disagree.  But I'll take 'counterpoint' anyway and say I'm just as annoyed when parties or affiliations choose meaningless and vague names like "Vision".  That really doesn't help me understand what you stand for any more than "Vancouver" would.

But it's all just empty branding, and we should support that.  Whatever works, right?

Well, aesthetically speaking, I'd still prefer a generic synonym for "something good", rather than just the name of the province. I mean, at least the former requires slightly more creativity than just saying "Okay, what province are we in?"

And if it helps, imagine the premiers of all the provinces being introduced at a public meeting with the names of their parties.

"Mr. Jones of the Vision Party!

Ms. Kent of the Integrity Party!

Mr. Chan of the Forward Thinking Party!"

Now imagine the same thing, only starting with "Mr. Jones of the BC Party!", and proceeding in that format.

Speaking of party names, the NDP could probably use a name change.   At least drop the "New."     And why not "Labour" Party?    It's been used successfully throughout the world.