Are we a one party country? I've been asking myself this as of late. On the surface it appears that Canada offers a wide choice of party's to choose from. Aside from the major players smaller parties including the Green Party, Marijuana Party and the Communist Party of Canada have managed to play a role in Canadian politics. Though the preceding parties do not, most major parties have both a federal and provincial wing, yet for the last 13 years the Liberal Party of Canada has dominated federal politics. Why is this?

Historically Canada has been a two party system. For more than 100 years the Conservative Party of Canada (Tories) and the Liberal Party of Canada (Grits) have alternated between the role of Government and Offical Opposition The 1992 election of the Liberal Party changed all that. In what Limmony Snickets would refer to as a "Series of Unfortunate Events", the Conservative Party of Canada was reduced from a majority government to just two seats.

Since their election demise, the Tories have successfully alienated themselves as a legitimate federal party. Consecutive failed leaders have seen the Conservative Party move from a centrist federal party to an ultra-conservative regional force. Poorly planned strategic moves, including the merger between the Conservatives and the regional power Canadian Alliance, formed the current politically neutered version of the Tories. Though supported in the west, the party has not made a serious dent on the federal stage.

Why? It's a sheer numbers game. We are a representative democracy. The current parlimentary system has given the province of Ontario immense power. As the most populous and socially liberal province, Ontarians and specifically Torontonians look to the Conservative Party with a great deal of suspician. Their merger with the Canadian Alliance and former Reform Party has given the Tories an aura of "redneck politics" and "backwards thinking" that they can't seem to shake. Though no ammount of political math can total an election win without votes from Ontario, the current breed of Conservatives refuse to make a serious election bid in Ontario.

Without moving back to their historic role as a socially-centrist and fiscally conservative, the Conservative Party of Canada undermines any ability to convince the Ontario voter of their platform. The party has yet to open a local office in Toronto. How can Torontonians take the Conservative Party seriously, if Stephen Harper (the current leader) fails to recognize that not having their message in the largest city in Canada is a huge mistake. The Tories may not like Toronto, but this city accounts for a fairly large chunk of the seats in the House of Commons.

Mr. Harper may be comforted by the current wave of Conservative support, but he should understand its limits. The polls suggest that Canadians are not so much happy with the Conservative Party as they are UNHAPPY with Prime Minister Martin and the Liberals. Regardless of the findings of the Gomery comission, support for the Conservative Party in Ontario will decline. They have not put forth an agenda that appeals to Ontarians other than "Vote Conservative - we're not Liberal". Mr. Harper must understand that Canadians vote for change only when they feel that the change will be beneficial. Once Mr. Harper controls the more right-wing members of his party and offers a more centrist platform, he may be able to make gains in Ontario. Until that day, Canadians will always vote Liberal. After all, it's safer to go with the devil you know rather than the devil you don't.

http://www.lonelycanuck.com