British Columbia Liberal Party

The British Columbia Liberal Party (usually called the BC Liberal Party) is a right-of-centre provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada, differing from some other right-of-centre parties in being fiscally conservative and socially moderate (or neoliberal). The party has often remained separate from the federal Liberal Party of Canada, and is currently not formally linked to the federal party. The party is probably best described as a coalition of many ideological groups, united by an opposition to the New Democratic Party (NDP), and in favour of bringing more free market reforms to the province.

Early history

From 1871 to 1903, British Columbia operated with a non partisan government. Party politics were only introduced in 1903 election with the formation of the British Columbia Conservative Party. The Conservatives ruled the province until the Liberals were able to win the election of 1916 and form a government under Harlan Carey Brewster.

Related Topics:
Non partisan government - 1903 election - British Columbia Conservative Party - Harlan Carey Brewster

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The best known of the BC Liberal premiers was Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, who was premier from 1933 to 1941. He advocated the annexation of Yukon by BC, and the construction of the Alaska highway.

Related Topics:
Thomas Dufferin Pattullo - Yukon - Alaska highway

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This two-party system was challenged with the rise of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in western Canada in the 1940s, and its successor, the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP).

Related Topics:
Cooperative Commonwealth Federation - New Democratic Party of Canada

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The CCF first took power in Saskatchewan under Premier Tommy Douglas, and made major inroads in British Columbia. In order to block the rise of the socialist CCF, the Liberals and Conservatives formed a coalition government in 1941 when neither party had enough seats to form a majority government on its own.

Related Topics:
Saskatchewan - Tommy Douglas - Coalition government - Majority government

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John Hart was the Liberal leader and premier from 1941 to 1947. He became leader after Patullo refused to go into coalition with the Conservatives.

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Hart was followed by Byron Ingemar Johnson, normally know as Boss Johnson, who served as premier until tensions arose in the coalition due to the dominance of Liberals. The coalition collapsed in 1951 when the Conservatives withdrew from the coalition. The Liberals held onto a minority government until 1952.

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