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.

Recent rebirth

The Social Credit party began to collapse in the late 1980s under the leadership of William Vander Zalm, who took the party in a social conservative direction. Vander Zalm was forced to resign due to a conflict of interest scandal.

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During the 1991 provincial election, the ruling Social Credit Party disintegrated under Vander Zalm's successor, Premier Rita Johnston. Multiple Socred scandals had left many BC conservatives looking for another option.

Related Topics:
1991 provincial election - Rita Johnston

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At this time, Gordon Wilson was the leader of the BC Liberal Party, and although his party had been practically non-existent in the polls, he insisted he be included in the televised debate between Premier Johnston and NDP Leader Michael Harcourt. The networks eventually agreed, and Wilson impressed many with his performance. The Liberal campaign suddenly gained tremendous momentum, and syphoned off a lot of support from the Socred campaign. In the end, the NDP won the election, but the Liberals came in second with 17 seats to the Socreds' 7. The Social Credit Party effectively died at that point. Gordon Wilson pushed to have the formal link between the federal and provincial party ended. The intent of this separation was to reduce the influence on the provincial Liberals by the many members of the Liberal party who provincially supported the Social Credit and often worked to ensure that the provincial Liberals were not successful. This separation probably facilitated a later shift to the right by the party.

Related Topics:
Gordon Wilson - Michael Harcourt

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Gordon Wilson was very successful in getting 17 Liberal MLAs elected. However, Gordon Wilson's left leaning policies did not coincide with many other Liberals both in the legislature and behind the scenes that wanted a more free-enterprise approach and wanted to fill the vacuum left by the collapse of the Social Credit party. Gordon Wilson was damaged by his affair with fellow Liberal MLA Judi Tyabji, particularly within the party.

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By 1993, the caucus was in open revolt against his leadership. To save the party, a leadership race was announced and Gordon Wilson ran against former BC Liberal Leader Gordon Gibson and Vancouver Mayor Gordon Campbell for the leadership. Gordon Campbell was successful in his bid for leadership of the Liberals. Wilson and Tyabji left the Liberals and formed their own party, the Progressive Democratic Alliance. That party fought one election (in which Wilson was the only successful candidate) before he accepted a cabinet position in the NDP government.

Related Topics:
Gordon Gibson - Vancouver - Mayor - Gordon Campbell - Progressive Democratic Alliance

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Under Campbell's leadership, and the influence of supporters of the federal Canadian Alliance and former members of the BC Social Credit Party, the BC Liberal Party moved to the right of centre. Liberal Party of Canada supporters remained in the party and are still a major component of the party.

Related Topics:
Canadian Alliance - BC Social Credit Party - Liberal Party of Canada

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The Liberals won the popular vote but won less seats in the 1996 election. This loss was generally seen to be as a result of the uncomfort that some of the electorate had with the more conservative policies that had been adopted by the party.

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After a scandal filled second term for the NDP government, the Liberals won 77 of 79 seats in the 2001 election and Gordon Campbell became the seventh premier in ten years, and the first to win two terms in 22 years.

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