Editing Party system (section)

==== Federal party systems ====
According to recent scholars, there have been four party systems in Canada at the federal level since Confederation, each with its own distinctive pattern of social support, [[patronage]] relationships, leadership styles, and electoral strategies.<ref>[[#Gag07|Gagnon and Tanguay, 2007]]: 1</ref> Political scientists disagree on the names and precise boundaries of the eras, however. Steve Patten identifies four party systems in Canada's political history.<ref>[[#Pat07|Patten, 2007]]: 57–58</ref>

Clarkson (2005) shows how the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] has dominated all the party systems, using different approaches. It began with a  "clientelistic approach" under [[Sir Wilfrid Laurier|Laurier]], which evolved into a "brokerage" system of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s under [[William Lyon Mackenzie King|Mackenzie King]]. The 1950s saw the emergence of a "pan-Canadian system", which lasted until the 1990s. The [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 election]] – described by Clarkson as an electoral "earthquake" which "fragmented" the party system — saw the emergence of regional politics within a four party-system, whereby various groups championed regional issues and concerns. Clarkson concludes that the inherent bias built into the first-past-the-post system has chiefly benefited the Liberals.<ref>Stephen Clarkson, ''The Big Red Machine: How the Liberal Party Dominates Canadian Politics'' (2005) {{ISBN?}}{{page?|date=January 2025}}</ref>
* The first party system emerged from pre-Confederation colonial politics, reached its zenith from 1896 to 1911, and lasted until the [[Conscription Crisis of 1917]]. It was characterized by local patronage administered by the two largest parties, the [[Liberals (Canada)|Liberals]] and the [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|Conservatives]].
* The second system emerged following the First World War, and reached its peak in the period between 1935 and 1957. It was characterized by regionalism and saw the emergence of several protest parties, such as the [[Progressives (Canada)|Progressives]], the [[Social Credit Party (Canada)|Social Credit Party]], and the [[Co-operative Commonwealth Federation]].
* The third system emerged in 1963 lasted until 1983, and began to unravel thereafter. This period saw the traditional two parries challenged by a strong third party, the [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]]. Campaigns during this era became more national in scope due to the advent of [[electronic media]], and involved a greater focus on leadership. The dominant policy of the era was [[Keynesian]] economics. The Election Act of 1974 was introduced during this period, allowing candidates party affiliation to appear on ballots, therefore an increased importance of party labels.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sevi |first1=Semra |last2=Yoshinaka |first2=Antoine |last3=Blais |first3=André |title=Legislative Party Switching and the Changing Nature of the Canadian Party System, 1867–2015 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-political-science-revue-canadienne-de-science-politique/article/abs/legislative-party-switching-and-the-changing-nature-of-the-canadian-party-system-18672015/32698D19C6CF4C3C297EEDC2E9020EE0 |journal=Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue Canadienne de Science Politique |year=2018 |language=en |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=665–695 |doi=10.1017/S0008423918000203 |s2cid=158947259 |issn=0008-4239|url-access=subscription }}</ref> This led to a shift from a candidate-centred system to a party-centred system, resulting in party leaders and the label of the candidate to play a major role in the deciding factor for voters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sevi |first1=Semra |last2=Yoshinaka |first2=Antoine |last3=Blais |first3=André |date=1867–2015 |title=Legislative Party Switching and the Changing Nature of the Canadian Party System, 1867–2015 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-political-science-revue-canadienne-de-science-politique/article/abs/legislative-party-switching-and-the-changing-nature-of-the-canadian-party-system-18672015/32698D19C6CF4C3C297EEDC2E9020EE0 |journal=Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue Canadienne de Science Politique |language=en |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=665–695 |doi=10.1017/S0008423918000203 |s2cid=158947259 |issn=0008-4239|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Leon Epstein characterized Canada as a "two-party plus" system, as only the Liberal and Conservative Party could form government, with the NDP present but not winning many seats.<ref name="ScottoStephenson2004">{{Cite journal |last1=Scotto |first1=Thomas J. |last2=Stephenson |first2=Laura B. |last3=Kornberg |first3=Allan |date=2004-09-01 |title=From a two-party-plus to a one-party-plus? Ideology, vote choice, and prospects for a competitive party system in Canada |journal=Electoral Studies |language=en |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=463–483 |doi=10.1016/S0261-3794(03)00054-4 |issn=0261-3794}}</ref>
* The fourth party system began with the 1993 election, which saw the decline of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservatives]] and NDP and rise of the [[Reform Party of Canada]] and the [[Bloc Québécois]], and eventually led to the PCs merging with the Reform-descended [[Canadian Alliance]]. It saw most parties move to one-member-one-vote leadership contests, and a major reform to campaign finance laws in 2004.  The fourth party system has been characterized by market-oriented policies that abandoned Keynesian policies, but maintained the welfare state. It was the elections of both 1997 and 2000 that showed that there was significant transformation in Canada's party system, showing they have undergone a transformation into a genuine [[Multi-party system|multiparty system]].<ref name="ScottoStephenson2004" />