Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Elizabeth May

The Green Party

The House of Commons

Key Terms to KnowKey Terms to KnowPlatform:Platform: A formal, written statement outlining the A formal, written statement outlining the

policies of a political partypolicies of a political partyPolitical Parties:Political Parties: Organized groups of people with Organized groups of people with

common values or goals who compete to get candidates common values or goals who compete to get candidates elected and to form the government.elected and to form the government.

Political Spectrum:Political Spectrum: A line showing the range of political A line showing the range of political beliefs from liberalism (left) to conservatism (right)beliefs from liberalism (left) to conservatism (right)

Interest GroupsInterest Groups: Organizations of people who share : Organizations of people who share social, political and other goals and act together to social, political and other goals and act together to influence governments. They may be local, national or influence governments. They may be local, national or international in scope.international in scope.

Referendum:Referendum: A direct yes or no vote of the electorate on a A direct yes or no vote of the electorate on a specific issue, policy or law.specific issue, policy or law.

The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum Your views on economic, social, and Your views on economic, social, and

religious issues has a direct impact religious issues has a direct impact upon the Political Party that you wish upon the Political Party that you wish to support. For instance,to support. For instance,

Should the government censor the arts?Should the government censor the arts? Should Marijuana be de-criminalized?Should Marijuana be de-criminalized? Should all Canadians receive equal Should all Canadians receive equal

access to health care?access to health care? Should taxes be raised to pay for much Should taxes be raised to pay for much

needed social programs?needed social programs? Should same sex marriages be Should same sex marriages be

recognized?recognized?

The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum

Anti-Globalization Rally

Supporter of the Gun Lobby

The Political Spectrum: Right Wing, The Political Spectrum: Right Wing, Left Wing and ModeratesLeft Wing and Moderates

When people describe their When people describe their political views, they often political views, they often refer to themselves as “Right refer to themselves as “Right wing” (Conservative), “left wing” (Conservative), “left wing” (Liberal), or wing” (Liberal), or “moderate” (in the middle).“moderate” (in the middle).

How you place yourself on How you place yourself on the Political Spectrum is the Political Spectrum is based on your responses to based on your responses to Political issues.Political issues.

How do you know what you How do you know what you are?are?

LiberalsLiberals Liberals tend to hold the Liberals tend to hold the

following Political Views:following Political Views: Government should be Government should be

heavily involved in the lives heavily involved in the lives of citizens.of citizens.

Citizens should have equal Citizens should have equal opportunities through law opportunities through law (e.g. affirmative action (e.g. affirmative action programs)programs)

Strong support of social Strong support of social programs such as welfare, programs such as welfare, medicare and pensionsmedicare and pensions

Higher taxes to pay for social Higher taxes to pay for social programsprograms

A small military A small military

ConservativesConservatives Conservatives tend to hold the Conservatives tend to hold the

following views:following views: There should be minimal There should be minimal

government intervention in the government intervention in the economyeconomy

Citizens should take greater Citizens should take greater responsibility for themselvesresponsibility for themselves

They believe in traditional values They believe in traditional values (e.g. religious views on social (e.g. religious views on social issues)issues)

Lower taxes to increase global Lower taxes to increase global competitivenesscompetitiveness

There should be a strong militaryThere should be a strong military

Political Spectrum to Political Political Spectrum to Political PartiesParties

Where you position yourself on Where you position yourself on the political spectrum has a the political spectrum has a direct impact on your choice of direct impact on your choice of political party.political party.

In Canada, “right wingers” tend In Canada, “right wingers” tend to vote for the Conservative to vote for the Conservative Party, “left wingers” the NDP Party, “left wingers” the NDP and “moderates” the Liberal and “moderates” the Liberal Party.Party.

Question: Would “liberals” Question: Would “liberals” vote for the Liberal Party?vote for the Liberal Party?

Political Party PlatformsPolitical Party Platforms Each political party has their Each political party has their

own set of policies on a number own set of policies on a number of different issues:of different issues:

Health CareHealth Care Taxes/Government SpendingTaxes/Government Spending Social Welfare ProgramsSocial Welfare Programs Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex

Marriage)Marriage) Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives

(e.g. Globalization, NAFTA)(e.g. Globalization, NAFTA) The Military (e.g. the War in The Military (e.g. the War in

Afghanistan)Afghanistan)

Political Party PlatformsPolitical Party Platforms

When a political party presents When a political party presents their ideas before the electorate on their ideas before the electorate on a series of issues, they are said to a series of issues, they are said to be presenting their be presenting their Political Political Platform.Platform.

How do you win an election? How do you win an election? By presenting a political platform By presenting a political platform

that represents the views of the that represents the views of the majority of the electorate majority of the electorate (Canadians, Ontarians, (Canadians, Ontarians, Georgetownians?, etc)Georgetownians?, etc) Who would you vote for?

Political Party PlatformsPolitical Party Platforms

The Conservative Party’s Platform

When you write the Political PlatformYou want to make sure that the policiesEnclosed reflect the prevailing interestsOf the majority of Canadians.A strong platform can win an election!

What else do you need for electoral success?

Who would you vote for? Who would you vote for? What is Charisma?What is Charisma?

For many, the main For many, the main ingredient for ingredient for electoral success is electoral success is charisma; the charisma; the ability to inspire ability to inspire the people to join the people to join you in a march you in a march towards greater towards greater prosperity.prosperity.

Who has Who has Charisma?Charisma?

Barack Obama

Hilary Clinton

CharismaCharisma

How do you define Charisma? Who has it? Who doesn’t? Do you need it to be successfulIn Politics?

Stephane Dion

Pierre Elliot Trudeau

How do Political Parties decide How do Political Parties decide which policies to adopt?which policies to adopt?

There are many different issues There are many different issues that Political Parties need to deal that Political Parties need to deal with:with:

Health CareHealth Care The EnvironmentThe Environment Taxes/Government SpendingTaxes/Government Spending Social Welfare ProgramsSocial Welfare Programs Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex

Marriage)Marriage) Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives

(e.g. Globalization)(e.g. Globalization) The Military (e.g. the War in The Military (e.g. the War in

Afghanistan).Afghanistan). What should they do?What should they do?

Trade issues are a hot topic!

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issues in their Party Platformsmany issues in their Party Platforms

Health Care

The Environment

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issuesmany issues

Funding for Education

Legal Issues

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issuesmany issues

Social Welfare issues

Taxiation: Taxes are too high!!!

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issuesmany issues

Military spending is Military spending is always an important always an important issue. For some, issue. For some, spending on spending on infrastructure and infrastructure and Healthcare is more Healthcare is more important than funding important than funding Canada’s military.Canada’s military.

For others, Canada’s For others, Canada’s lack of sufficient lack of sufficient military spending has military spending has been an international been an international embarrassment.embarrassment.

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Interest groups try to Interest groups try to influence policy makers influence policy makers to adopt laws in to adopt laws in accordance with their accordance with their views.views.

Ducks Unlimited tries to Ducks Unlimited tries to influence environmental influence environmental policies.policies.

The Canadian Labour The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) tries to Congress (CLC) tries to influence trade policies influence trade policies (e.g. Nafta).(e.g. Nafta).

Some interest groups are Some interest groups are more effective than more effective than others. Why would this others. Why would this be the case?be the case?

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Some Interest Groups like the Some Interest Groups like the CFIB are very influencial with CFIB are very influencial with parties like the Conservative parties like the Conservative Party while groups like the Party while groups like the CLC are popular with the CLC are popular with the NDP.NDP.

However, some groups are so However, some groups are so radical (controversial) that radical (controversial) that main stream parties are afraid main stream parties are afraid to take up their cause (e.g. to take up their cause (e.g. GreenPeace).GreenPeace).

Can the tactics of Greenpeace Can the tactics of Greenpeace still be effective? Is the still be effective? Is the support of the mainstream support of the mainstream parties necessary?parties necessary?

The CFIB

Greenpeace making their point!

Interest Groups: LobbyistsInterest Groups: Lobbyists Lobbyists are paid by Lobbyists are paid by

corporations to influence corporations to influence public policy.public policy.

For instance, if you are a For instance, if you are a company that wants low company that wants low corporate taxes, you “lobby” corporate taxes, you “lobby” the government for lower the government for lower taxiation. taxiation.

If you want to secure a large If you want to secure a large government contract, you hire government contract, you hire a lobbyist to “bend the ear” of a lobbyist to “bend the ear” of the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.members of the Cabinet.

Some Lobbyists are highly Some Lobbyists are highly influencial; especially former influencial; especially former prime ministers!prime ministers!

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (left)Acted as a Lobbyist for Airbus CorporationRepresented by Karl-Heinz Schrieber (right)

Should Lobbying be legal?

Canada’s Political PartiesCanada’s Political Parties Based on Based on

their Party their Party Platforms, Platforms, who would who would you vote you vote for?for?

Remember: They want your Vote!Remember: They want your Vote!

Although you need to be 18 Although you need to be 18 to vote in Canadian Federal to vote in Canadian Federal elections, the main political elections, the main political parties care about your parties care about your opinions.opinions.

Why is this so? Why are Why is this so? Why are the “young liberals” so the “young liberals” so important to the Liberal important to the Liberal Party of Canada?Party of Canada?

What role do you want to What role do you want to play in politics? Do you play in politics? Do you want to join a political want to join a political party? Explain your party? Explain your answer!answer!

The Liberal “Youth Wing”

What have we learned?What have we learned?

Key TermsKey Terms The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum Mainstream Political IssuesMainstream Political Issues Political Parties in CanadaPolitical Parties in Canada Electoral SuccessElectoral Success How to influence the Creation of PoliciesHow to influence the Creation of Policies How to become involved in politics.How to become involved in politics. Future DirectionsFuture Directions