lemme explain some on canadian politics:
first, the parties:
The Liberal Party
this is the dominant party in canadian politics. they are almost equal to the democrats. they are, today, Liberal-Centrist. the current leader is Jean Cretien, who is therefore the Prime Minister. they currentley have a majority of seats in our house of commens. they got 40% of the vote last time around. some former famous leaders (and prime ministeres) were Lester B Pearson, Peirre Trudeau, and Mekenzie King.
The Progressive Conservative Party
up uintill 1993, this was recogonized as the '2nd' party. it formed many governments itself, and is the only party other then the liberal party to do so. They are Moderate Conservative. the current leaer os Joe Clark, who was Prime Minister in the late 70's. he was the youngest Prime Minister Canada has ever had at 39. they currentley have 13 seats (sorta...) and got 10% of the vote last time round. some famous leaders (and PM's) were Brian Mulroonie, John A. Macdonald (national founder), and John Defenbaker.
The Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Party
this party has argubally existed wince the 1930's. during the great depression, 2 parties were formed in saskatchewan and alberta. the CCF (socalist) and the Socail Credit party (conservative) eventually, Socail Credit went on to many voictories in BC, Alberta, and Quebec. a famous leader was Ernest Manning. his son, in 1988, while Socail Credit was dieing, started the Reform Party, using alot of thier belifs. Reform went to to become powerful, and eventually formed the Canadian Alliance to try and unite the Reform and PC parties. about 1/3rd to 1/2 of all conservatives in 1992 eventually joined this new party. they are conservative, but more extreme then the PC party, they match up with the Republicans well. in the last election they got 72 seats, and 25% of the vote
The Bloc Quebecios
this party was started in quebec in the 70's as the Parti Quebecois. this aprty ran provincially, pushing Quebec's importance and independance. in the early 1990's when the PC party fell to bits, a famous cabinet minister, Lucien Bouchard broke off and formed the Bloc, a federal party. currentley, this party has 38 seats, and got 10% of the vote in the last election
The New Democratic Party
This party was founded in the west in the 30's as the Co-operative Commenwealth Federation (CCF) at the time, it was more democratic socailst then it is today. Tommy Douglas was elected, through the CCF, as primer of Sasketchewan. the first socailst to be elected to lead a state/province in north america. in 1962, the party became the NDP, and socail-democratic. in the last election they for 13 seats, and 8% of the vote. I am a member of this party.
and to focus on some provinces:
Newfoundland and PEI
in both these provinces, the Liberals and Conservatives operate a pretty well 2 party system. the NDP is present in both provinces. the leader of the PEI NDP party is Gary Robichaud, my teacher and personal friend. he got me into the NDP. currentley the PC party of PEI has all but 1 seat in our 27 seat legislature. the liberals have the other
Nova Scotia
this is really a 3 party system. the Liberals, PC, and NDP are all pretty well equal, with the NDP clearley bing the 3rd partner, having never formed a government themselvs.
New Brunswick
This province is mostley like PEI and newfoundland, only its half french, bi-lingual, and the NDP has a little more power
Quebec
This is our french province. they want a "soverginty association" with canada. too long to explain. there are only 2 real parties, the Liberals, and the Parti Quebecois. currentley, the Liberals populartiy is high
Ontario
the Progressive Conservatives have a strong history here, and currentley form the government, the Liberals are powerful here too, and the NDP also. the NDP has formed 1 ontario government
Manitoba
this province is mostley a 2 party system. the NDP and PC party here form the 2 parties. the Liberals are present, but form the clearley 3rd party, taking only a few seats each election.
Saskatchewan
This is the most extreme province politically. the liberals here are a clear 3rd again, but the 2 main parties are the NDP and the saskatchewan party, which is similar to the canadian alliance.
Alberta
this is the most right wing province in canada. it has had 4 different parties form the government, each in 20-40 year blocks of back-to-back-to-back election victories. currentley the PC party forms the government, and probably will continue to do so for the nest 8 years minimum. the liberals and NDP are present here
British Colombia
this is probably the most left wing province in canada. the Liberals and NDP have had huge swings in this province. in the most recent election, all but 3 seats went liberal.
territories
there are no parties in nunavut and the north west terrotires, but there are in the yukon. here, the liberals, NDP, and yukon party (similar to the PC's) share the power.
federally, BC, ALB, and SAS return alot for the CA
Ontario for Lib
Quebec for the Bloc and Lib
NB and NS for the PC's Liberals and NDP
Newf for the Lib and PC
and Manitoba for the NDP, PC, Lib, and CA
PEI has 4 members of parliament, all of whom are liberal
thats all the INFO I know...