Chapter 3 Left, Right or Just Plain Wrong

1
Chapter 3Left, Right or Just Plain Wrong?

• Our parties and their place on the spectrum
• Roles of parties
• Pressure groups and their roles

2
The Political Spectrum

• Based on role and size of government
• Left wing sees major role
• Right wing sees limited role, individual freedom
• Also based on law and order issues
• Left believes that social conditions must be
  improved to reduce cause of crime
• Right believes individuals must accept
  responsibility (and punishment) for actions

3
Canadas Political Parties

• Conservative (Progressive)
• http//www.conservative.ca/
• Liberal
• http//www.liberal.ca/
• CCF/NDP
• http//www.ndp.ca/
• The Bloc Québécois
• http//www.blocquebecois.org/
• Green Party
• http//www.greenparty.ca/
• Provincially Social Credit, Union Nationale,
  United Farmers, Progressives

4
Placing Parties on the Spectrum
5
Roles of Political Parties

• Provide Government and Opposition
• Provide clear focus of accountability
• Simplify election and transition of power
• Educate public about issues of day
• Mobilize support around issues
• http//www.greenparty.ca/
• May build coalitions and help to unify
• Gatekeepers to system and policy process

6
Negative Image of Politicians

• Emptying posturing
• Parties demanding rigid loyalty
• The Wendy Report
• Friday, April 2, 2004 http//www.airfarce.com/vide
  o/040402b.html

7
Distinguishing Pressure Groups

• Interest Groups
• bring together people with specific common
  interests
• E.g. school closure
• Pressure Groups
• pressure government to act, or not act
• http//www.ducks.ca/
• Lobbyist - specialist in pressure tactics
• http//strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/lr01044e.html
• Social movement - informal network
• Voluntary sector - includes interest groups
• United Way http//www.unitedway.ca/english/

8
Proliferation of Pressure Groups

• Partly reaction to generality of parties
• Federal system prompts multi-level action
• Government helps to form fund groups
• African Canadian Services http//www.gov.ns.ca/
• Diversity of Canadian society a factor
• Charter provides avenue for groups
• Business groups viewed as most influential

9
Proliferation of Pressure Groups

• Pross improve our governing institutions rather
  than restricting pressure groups.
• Fraser Institute http//www.fraserinstitute.ca
• Tax Freedom Day