Political culture and institutions Politics of Newfoundland and Labrador

1 political culture , institutions

1.1 legislature
1.2 elections
1.3 parties , party system

political culture , institutions
the legislature

the house of assembly unicameral provincial legislature. situated in confederation building located in capital city of st. john s. newfoundland , labrador house of assembly unique because government sits left of speaker in parliament rather right, norm in westminster system. legislature has 40 seats, each seat representing 1 geographical district in province.

elections

number of seats won major parties @ each election

newfoundland , labrador s 48 electoral districts competed in first-past-the-post elections. elections must held every 4 years in october under fixed-date elections law brought in current progressive conservative government.

the chart on right provides summary of results province s general elections, recent elections on right. shows politics in newfoundland , labrador have been dominated 2 parties: liberal party (red) , progressive conservative party (blue). liberal party have won ten out of nineteen elections held.

parties , party system

elections newfoundland , labrador officially recognizes 3 political parties; progressive conservatives, liberals, , new democrats.

newfoundland , labrador traditionally had can described two-and-a-half party system, 2 parties capable of forming government (liberals , progressive conservatives) , 1 small party not (the new democratic party). in 2011, ndp had breakthrough in provincial election , placed second in popular vote behind progressive conservatives. 2 main parties share few ideological differences , presently there exist few divides along class or religious backgrounds more. progressive conservative party traditionally supported less government intervention in economy, more welcome home socially conservative attitudes, , has significant nationalist streak perhaps result of predecessor in rgl. liberal party has traditionally been seen being on centre-left of political spectrum. however, possible exception of contemporary nova scotia, newfoundland , labrador shares other atlantic provinces largely personality driven party system both parties tend hug centre. furthermore, province s progressive conservatives tend of red tory variety, , liberal party particularly under roger grimes has shown have of nationalist streak, although party seen more favorable canadian federalism in comparison historically more nationalist counterparts in progressive conservative party.

third parties have traditionally done poorly in newfoundland , labrador. left-wing, populist fisherman s protective union (fpu) under william coaker during 1920s , 1930s achieved breakthrough in politics. however, party never formed government , later disintegrated. federal cooperative commonwealth federation (or ccf, predecessor new democratic party) made overtures joey smallwood (who had history of union organizing , socialist activities) during referendums of 1948 failed shore mass support in province. until 2011, support new democratic party confined labrador west , eastern , downtown core of st. john s.

under former premier danny williams, traditional notions of left-right spectrum in newfoundland , labrador politics appeared deteriorate. progressive conservative party benefited williams personal popularity, , ideological orientation of party system, has been argued, has given way new 1 based on leadership personality , newfoundland nationalism.