List of federal political parties in Canada
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:11:23 PM Wikipedia source
Unlike other federal political systems, Canadian political parties at the federal level are often loosely or not at all connected to parties at the provincial level, despite having similar names and policy positions. One exception is the New Democratic Party, which is organizationally integrated with most of its provincial counterparts.
Tables
· Current parties › Represented parties
| Name | Founded | Leader | Ideology | Political position | Membership | MPs in April 2026 | Largest MP caucus | Most ridings contested | ||
| | Liberal Party of Canada Parti libéral du Canada | 1867 | Mark Carney | Liberalism Social liberalism | Centre to centre-left | ~400,000 (2025) | 174 / 343 | 179 / 245 (1940) | 338 / 338 2015–2021 elections | |
| | Conservative Party of Canada Parti conservateur du Canada | 2003 | Pierre Poilievre | Conservatism Social conservatism Economic liberalism | Centre-right to right-wing | 678,708 (2022) | 140 / 343 | 166 / 308 (2011) | 338 / 338 2015, 2019 elections | |
| | Bloc Québécois | 1991 | Yves-François Blanchet | Quebec sovereignty Social democracy Regionalism Republicanism | Centre-left | 23,000 (2014) | 22 / 343 | 54 / 295 (1993) | 75 / 295 1993 election | |
| | New Democratic Party Nouveau Parti démocratique | 1961 | Avi Lewis | Social democracy Democratic socialism | Centre-left to left-wing | 100,542 (2026) | 5 / 343 | 103 / 308 (2011) | 338 / 338 2015–2021 elections | |
| | Green Party of Canada Le Parti Vert du Canada | 1983 | Elizabeth May | Green politics | 9,877 (2025) | 1 / 343 | 3 / 338 (2019) | 338 / 338 2019 election | ||
· Current parties › Registered parties
| Name | Founded | Leader | Ideology | Political position | Largest MP caucus | Most ridings contested | |
| Animal Protection Party Le Parti pour la Protection des Animaux | 2005 | Liz White | Animal rights, environmentalism | —N/a | — | 17 / 338 (2019) | |
| Canadian Future Party Parti avenir canadien | 2024 | Dominic Cardy | Centrism | Centre | — | 19 / 343 (2025) | |
| Centrist Party of Canada Parti centriste du Canada | 2020 | A . Rana | Centrism | Centre | — | 19 / 343 (2025) | |
| Christian Heritage Party Parti de l'Héritage Chrétien | 1986 | Rodney L. Taylor | Social conservatism, Christian right | Right-wing | — | 63 / 295 (1988) | |
| Communist Party of Canada Parti communiste du Canada | 1921 | Drew Garvie | Communism, Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | 2 / 245 (1943) | 100 / 265 (1953) | |
| Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada Parti Marxiste–Léniniste du Canada | 1970 | Anna Di Carlo | Communism, Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | — | 177 / 282 (1980) | |
| People's Party of Canada Parti populaire du Canada | 2018 | Maxime Bernier | Conservatism, right-libertarianism, right-wing populism | Right-wing to far-right | 1 / 338 (2018) | 315 / 338 (2019) | |
| Rhinoceros Party Parti Rhinocéros | 2006 | Chinook B. Blais-Leduc | Satirical politics | — | 39 / 338 (2019) | ||
| Reforge Party | 2024 | Grant Abraham | Social conservatism, fiscal conservatism, right-wing populism | Right-wing to far-right | — | 16 / 343 (2025) | |
· Current parties › Senate caucuses
| Name | Founded | Facilitator / Leader | Ideology | Senators in April 2026 | Most senators | |
| Independent Senators Group Groupe des sénateurs indépendants | 2016 | Raymonde Saint-Germain | Non-partisan technical group | 41 / 105 | 59 / 105 (2019) | |
| Canadian Senators Group Groupe des sénateurs Canadiens | 2019 | Scott Tannas | Non-partisan technical group | 19 / 105 | 21 / 105 (2025) | |
| Progressive Senate Group Groupe progressiste du sénat | 2019 | Pierre Dalphond | Progressivism, Non-partisan technical group | 17 / 105 | 18 / 105 (2025) | |
| Conservative Party of Canada Parti conservateur du Canada | 2003 | Leo Housakos | Conservatism, economic liberalism | 11 / 105 | 65 / 105 (2013) | |
| Government Representative's Office Bureau du représentant du gouvernement | 2025 | Pierre Moreau | 5 / 105 | 5 / 105 (2025) | ||
· Historical parties › Registered parties
| Name | Founded | Dissolved | Ideology | Largest MP caucus | Most ridings contested | |
| Abolitionist Party | 1993 | 1996 | Social credit, monetary reform, social liberalism | — | 80 / 295 (1993) | |
| Anti-Confederation Party | 1867 | 1867 | Opposition to Confederation (membership in Canada), Nova Scotia separatism | 18 / 181 (1867) | 20 / 181 (1867) | |
| Bloc populaire | 1943 | 1949 | Anti-conscription, Canadian nationalism, isolationism, French Canadian rights | 4 / 245 (1943) | 35 / 245 (1945) | |
| Canada Party (1993) | 1993 | 1996 | — | 56 / 295 (1993) | ||
| Canadian Action Party Parti action canadienne | 1997 | 2017 | Canadian nationalism, anti-globalization | — | 70 / 301 (2000) | |
| Canadian Nationalist Party Parti nationaliste canadien | 2017 | 2022 | White nationalism | — | 3 / 338 (2019) | |
| Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Alliance réformiste-conservatrice canadienne | 2000 | 2003 | Conservatism, right-wing populism, social conservatism | 66 / 301 (2001) | 298 / 301 (2000) | |
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Parti social démocratique | 1932 | 1961 | Social democracy, democratic socialism, agrarianism | 31 / 245 (1948) | 205 / 245 (1945) | |
| Confederation of Regions Party | 1984 | 1988 | Regionalism, conservatism | — | 55 / 282 (1984) | |
| Conservative Party (1867) Progressive Conservative Party | 1854 | 2003 | Canadian conservatism, British loyalism, Canadian nationalism (particularly under John Diefenbaker), Red Toryism, economic liberalism (under Brian Mulroney), moderation, occasional populism | 209 / 265 (1958) | 301 / 301 (1997) | |
| Democratic Party | 1945 | 1945 | — | 5 / 245 (1945) | ||
| Direct Democracy Party | 2019 | 2023 | Direct democracy | — | 7 / 338 (2019) | |
| Equal Rights | 1890 | 1891 | — | 2 / 215 (1891) | ||
| First Peoples National Party | 2005 | 2013 | Aboriginal rights advocacy | — | 6 / 308 (2008) | |
| Free Party Canada Parti Libre Canada | 2019 | 2024 | Direct democracy Vaccine hesitancy | — | 59 / 338 (2021) | |
| Labour Party | 1926 | 1968 | Trade unionism, socialism | 4 / 245 (1926) | 28 / 235 (1921) | |
| Libertarian Party of Canada Parti Libertarien du Canada | 1973 | 2026 | Libertarianism, laissez-faire | — | 88 / 295 (1988) | |
| Marijuana Party Parti Marijuana | 2000 | 2025 | Cannabis law reforms | — | 73 / 301 (2000) | |
| Maverick Party | 2020 | 2025 | Western separatism, conservatism, right-wing populism | — | 29 / 338 (2021) | |
| McCarthyite | 1896 | 1898 | Anti-Catholic, anti-French, British imperialism | 1 / 213 (1896) | 11 / 213 (1896) | |
| National Citizens Alliance Alliance Nationale des Citoyens | 2014 | 2023 | White nationalism | — | 4 / 338 (2015, 2019, 2021) | |
| National Party (1991) | 1991 | 1994 | Canadian nationalism, protectionism, progressivism | — | 170 / 295 (1993) | |
| Nationalist (1873) | 1873 | 1910 | Socialism, nationalization of industries | 2 / 215 (1889) | 6 / 215 (1887) | |
| Natural Law Party Parti de la loi naturelle | 1992 | 2004 | New age | — | 231 / 295 (1993) | |
| New Capitalist Party | 1965 | 1965 | — | 3 / 265 (1965) | ||
| Newfoundland and Labrador First Party | 2007 | 2011 | Newfoundland and Labrador advocacy | — | 3 / 308 (2008) | |
| Non-Partisan League | 1917 | 1917 | Agrarianism | — | 3 / 235 (1917) | |
| Parti de la Démocratisation Économique | 1968 | 1968 | — | 5 / 264 (1968) | ||
| Parti Nationaliste du Quebec | 1983 | 1987 | Quebec independence | — | 74 / 282 (1984) | |
| Party for the Commonwealth of Canada | 1984 | 1993 | LaRouchite | — | 66 / 282 (1984) | |
| Parti Patriote | 2019 | 2022 | Quebec nationalism, Quebec sovereignty, right-wing populism | — | 2 / 338 (2021) | |
| Patrons of Industry | 1890 | 1900 | Pro-labour | 2 / 213 (1896) | 31 / 213 (1896) | |
| People's Political Power Party Pouvoir Politique du Peuple | 2006 | 2011 | Feminist, centrist, populist | — | 2 / 308 (2008) | |
| Pirate Party Parti Pirate | 2010 | 2017 | Pirate politics | — | 10 / 308 (2011) | |
| Parti pour l'Indépendance du Québec | 2019 | 2022 | Québec independence | — | 13 / 338 (2019) | |
| Progressive Canadian Party Parti Progressiste Canadien | 2004 | 2019 | Red Toryism | — | 25 / 308 (2006) | |
| Progressive Party Parti progressiste United Farmers | 1921 | 1948 | Agrarian, free trade, progressivism | 58 / 235 (1921) | 137 / 235 (1921) | |
| Protestant Protective Association | 1892 | 1898 | Anti-Catholic, Anti-French | — | 5 / 213 (1896) | |
| Radical chrétien | 1958 | 1967 | — | 3 / 265 (1967 by-elections) | ||
| Ralliement créditiste Union des électeurs | 1963 | 1971 | Split from the Social Credit Party; see Social Credit Party of Canada split, 1963. | 14 / 264 (1968) | 77 / 265 (1965) | |
| Reconstruction Party | 1935 | 1938 | Keynesianism, national conservatism, isolationism | 1 / 245 (1935) | 172 / 245 (1935) | |
| Reform Party Parti réformiste | 1987 | 2000 | Fiscal conservatism, regionalism, social conservatism, democratic reform | 60 / 301 (1997) | 277 / 301 (1997) | |
| Republican Party (1967) Parti republicain | 1967 | 1968 | — | 2 / 264 (1968) | ||
| Republican Party (1971) Parti republicain | 1971 | 1971 | — | 2 / 264 (1971 by-elections) | ||
| Rhinoceros Party (1963) Parti Rhinocéros | 1968 | 1993 | Satirical | — | 121 / 282 (1980) | |
| Social Credit Party Parti Crédit social | 1935 | 1993 | Canadian social credit, Canadian conservatism, right-wing populism, social conservatism | 30 / 265 (1962) | 230 / 265 (1962) | |
| Socialist Labour Party | 1945 | 1968 | Socialism | — | 2 / 245 (1945) | |
| Socialist Party (1904) | 1904 | 1925 | Socialism, Classical Marxism, Anti-Leninism | — | 6 / 221 (1911) | |
| Socialist Party (1931) | 1931 | 1961 | Socialism, Classical Marxism, Anti-Leninism | — | 2 / 265 (1958) | |
· Historical parties › Non-party parliamentary groups
| Name | Founded | Dissolved | Description | Largest caucus | Most ridings contested | |
| Democratic Representative Caucus | 2001 | 2002 | Formed in the 37th Canadian Parliament by MPs who left the Canadian Alliance due to the leadership of Stockwell Day. The group was dissolved after Day lost the party leadership to Stephen Harper. | 13 / 301 (2002) | — | |
| Ginger Group | 1924 | 1932 | Split from the Progressive Party. Supported Progressivism and socialism. In 1932 formed the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation. | 15 / 245 (1926) | Likely some number of Labour candidates | |
| Liberal–Progressive | 1925 | 1955 | Nominated jointly by or aligned with both the Liberal Party and Progressive Party. | 8 / 245 (1926) | 12 / 245 (1926) | |
| Liberal–Unionist | 1917 | 1921 | Members of the Liberal Party who supported Robert Borden's coalition government. | 11 / 235 (1917) | Likely some number of Unionist candidates | |
| Nationalist Conservative | 1878 | 1911 | Used by Quebec Members in order to distinguish themselves from what has been referred by the party as the "British imperialist" reputation of the Conservative Party. | 2 / 215 (1887) | 2 / 215 (1887) | |
| Nationalist Liberal | 1867 | 1921 | 1 / 215 (1891) | — | ||
| Parti canadien | 1942 | 1944 | Anti-conscription. In addition to the MP who adopted this label, two candidates ran in by-elections using this label. | 1 / 245 (1942) | — | |
| Progressive–Conservative | 1925 | 1935 | Probably indicates that these candidates were supporters of both the Progressive Party of Canada and the historical Conservative Party. | 1 / 245 (1930) | 2 / 245 (1926) | |
| Québec debout | 2018 | 2018 | Formed when several MPs left the Bloc Québécois due to the leadership of Martine Ouellet. The group was dissolved after Ouellet lost a leadership review vote and resigned. | 7 / 338 (2018) | — | |
References
- The Liberal Party of Canada does not have a paid membership, but instead offers the ability to "register" as a Liberal f
- In 2015, the Liberal Party held 184 seats; the most in its history. However, at that time there were 338 seats total, so
- In 2025, the Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP each ran 342 candidates; the most in their histories. However, there were
- The Bloc Québécois also won 54 seats in the 2004 election, but at the time there were 308 seats total, so the proportion
- In the 2015–2025 elections the Bloc Québécois ran 78 candidates, but the House had 338 seats total, so the proportion of
- Known at the time as the Labor-Progressive Party.
- Known at the time as the Labor-Progressive Party.
- Known as the United Party of Canada from 2024 to 2026.
- In 1984 the Progressive Conservative Party held 211 seats; the most in its history. However, at that time there were 282
- Dalton McCarthy won in two ridings, but could only accept one.
- The Canadian Encyclopediahttps://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/party-system
- liberalhttps://liberal.ca/liberal-party-of-canada-announces-nearly-400000-registered-liberals-ahead-of-leadership-vote/
- CTV Newshttps://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/conservative-party-says-nearly-679000-members-eligible-to-vote-for-new-leader/
- "Don Macpherson: Bloc Québécois's woes bode ill for sovereignty movement"https://web.archive.org/web/20140902095703/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Macpherson%2BBloc%2BQu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois%2Bwoes%2Bbode%2Bsovereignty%2Bmovement/10153845/story.html
- ndphttps://www.ndp.ca/news/avi-lewis-elected-leader-ndp
- Global Green Newshttps://globalgreen.news/en/leadership-review-elizabeth-mays-wins-mandate-to-resign/
- Elections Canadahttps://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?dir=par&document=index&lang=e§ion=pol
- Elections Canadahttps://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=pol&dir=pol/bck&document=index&lang=e
- National Posthttps://nationalpost.com/news/canada/new-senators-group-of-11-could-complicate-liberal-efforts-to-get-legislation-passed
- CBC Newshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-faction-progressive-senate-group-1.5358269