After a bit of browsing through minor-party candidates in Canadian elections and reading Stephen Harper saying he could still be Conservative leader if he wanted, I put together this mess.
M. Mercier se rend à Ottawa
The final blow for the Liberals was a leaked audio recording of Michael Ignatieff admitting that he was planning to go back to Harvard if Canadians did not vote the Liberals into power. The Liberals were down to just 27 seats, with stars like Ignatieff himself, Martha Hall Findlay, Gerard Kennedy, Scott Brison, Joe Volpe, and Justin Trudeau losing reelection. In Quebec, the NDP swept the province as part of resentment against the major political parties. Proof of this resentment was the election of comedian Jean-François Mercier to Parliament. Upon arriving in Parliament, Mercier quickly acted in a more serious fashion, being an effective and funny attack dog against the Tory government.
Bob Rae, while the best candidate to rebuild the federal Liberals, was unwilling to lead the party into a general election. Few candidates were willing to come forward with the has-been Martin Cauchon and Martin Hall Findlay facing off against the unknown Joyce Murray. In the end, Mark Carney, an economist who was almost picked as Governor-General of the Bank of England won the leadership election.
By 2014, Harper knew that Mulcair would likely be Prime Minister by 2015. Knowing the writing was on the wall, he stepped down. Facing between the "unelectable" Jason Kenney, former PC leader and long-time cabinet minister Peter MacKay won the leadership of the Conservative Party. While MacKay was popular with many, he was still seen as an insider (with his father having been an MP in Pierre Trudeau's first elected term). Mulcair capitalized on this to win a minority government.
However, Mulcair's centrist "New Labour" direction for the NDP caused problems with the left of the party. His history with the QLP and reliance on the federal Liberals to support his government was viewed with suspicion. Charlie Angus, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, launched a leadership challenge upon Muclair refusing to restrict trade with Trump's America (despite Mulcair calling Trump a fascist). The NDP membership turned out in low numbers, leaving Angus to leave Muclair on well less than the 67% normally needed to stay on as leader. Mulcair announced he would step down, with Angus winning over Megan Leslie and Nathan Cullen (with the three battling to have the most Canadian name).
With a general election looking to be on the horizon, the Tories scrambled to select a candidate to lead them upon Peter MacKay's resignation. Quickly, Stephen Harper reentered the field. Believing himself to be the founder of the party (to the anger of MacKay), he won the leadership in an election similar to that of Ignatieff in 2008. Despite a minor split from Michael Chong, the left vote was split more ways than imaginable; resulting in Harper returning to power in a majority. Harper quickly established a close relationship with Trump and the United States, supporting him on his most controversial decisions.
Mark Carney was one of the few high-profile figures that walked away from 2017 positively. As Leader of the Opposition, he formed a broad tent coalition to take on Harper in 2021. This coalition, called "Movement Canada" (this joke hasn't been funny in months), contained the Liberals, modernist New Democrats, Moderates, Strength in Democracy, Radicals, and Louis Plamondon. Harperism remained stronger than ever, with greater privatizations and tax cuts. Carney still wanted a liberal economic policy, but without the "social intolerance" of Harper. This message proved popular with Canadians, and Carney's coalition won a majority.
From day one, there were issues. Nathan Cullen had to force his way to become Deputy PM (even giving up a higher ranked cabinet post for the behind-the-scenes power). The former Dippers had issues with the conservative economics of the Moderates. There were objections to Fortin and Mercier being given cabinet posts for their colorful pasts. By 2023, the coalition had collapsed. Carney returned to lead the Liberals (with a few NDP defections to his side), Jean-François Fortin led the hastily put together "Democratic Party of Canada" (which had support from about everyone), and many Moderates rejoined the Tories (where they were quickly treated like bastard children). Elizabeth May also gained some followers to her merry band of environmentalists. Of course, their efforts were meaningless, for Harper returned to government again.
Quickly, it seemed like Jean-François Mercier was the only man who could reunite the opposition. The Democrats received defection after defection, to the point where the Liberals had to take Elizabeth May as their leader. Mercier's Democrats quickly gained more seats than The Leap, making them the Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Quickly, Mercier took the edge in polling, and Harper was out by the 2026 election. Despite Harper planning for the "coalition of chaos" to fall apart and publically feud, the "eternal Prime Minister" was simply too poisonous to win another election. After 2028, Harper suffered a heart attack, retired, and moved to America.
Rachel Notley, who briefly served as the NDP Premier of Alberta and a cabinet minister under the Carney government, was brought in to unite the opposition (but to Mercier). Despite an MP from New Brunswick leading several Tories to the Progressive Canadian Party, the merger went better than expected.
Now, Canada has the choice between two parties with a message that is so incoherent, their only platform is being for or against the party in charge. Of course, that works well for their Southern neighbors.
2003-2006: Paul Martin (Liberal)
2004 (Minority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Jack Layton (NDP)
2006-2014: Stephen Harper (Conservative)
2006 (Minority) def. Paul Martin (Liberal), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Jack Layton (NDP)
2008 (Minority) def. Stéphane Dion (Liberal), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Jack Layton (NDP)
2011 (Majority) def. Jack Layton (NDP), Michael Ignatieff (Liberal), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Elizabeth May (Green), Jean-François Mercier (Parti pour la gloire)
2014-2015: Peter MacKay (Conservative majority)
2015-2017: Thomas Mulcair (New Democratic)
2015 (Minority) def. Peter MacKay (Conservative), Mark Carney (Liberal), Elizabeth May (Green), Jean-François Fortin (Strength In Democracy), Jean-François Mercier (Québec radical), Mario Beaulieu (Bloc Québécois)
2017-2017: Charlie Angus (New Democratic minority)
2017-2021: Stephen Harper (Conservative)
2017 (Majority) def. Mark Carney (Liberal), Charlie Angus ("Leap Manifesto" NDP), Thomas Muclair ("Modernist" NDP), Michael Chong (Moderate), Jean-François Fortin (Strength In Democracy), Jean-François Mercier (Québec radical), Elizabeth May (Green)
2021-2023: Mark Carney (Movement Canada)
2021 (Majority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Avi Lewis (The Leap), Elizabeth May (Green), Claude Patry (Bloc Québécois)
2023-2026: Stephen Harper (Conservative)
2023 (Minority) def. Avi Lewis (The Leap), Mark Carney (Liberal), Jean-François Fortin (interim) (Democratic), Elizabeth May (Green)
2026-2032: Jean-François Mercier (Democratic)
2026 (Minority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Avi Lewis (The Leap), Elizabeth May (Green-Liberal Alliance)
2028 (Majority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Elizabeth May (Green-Liberal Alliance), Niki Ashton (The Leap)
2032-Present: Rachel Notley (Conservative & Liberal)
2032 (Minority) def. Jean-François Mercier (Democratic), CanadianTory (Progressive Canadian), Gabriel Nadeau (Rally of Leftist Forces)
M. Mercier se rend à Ottawa
The final blow for the Liberals was a leaked audio recording of Michael Ignatieff admitting that he was planning to go back to Harvard if Canadians did not vote the Liberals into power. The Liberals were down to just 27 seats, with stars like Ignatieff himself, Martha Hall Findlay, Gerard Kennedy, Scott Brison, Joe Volpe, and Justin Trudeau losing reelection. In Quebec, the NDP swept the province as part of resentment against the major political parties. Proof of this resentment was the election of comedian Jean-François Mercier to Parliament. Upon arriving in Parliament, Mercier quickly acted in a more serious fashion, being an effective and funny attack dog against the Tory government.
Bob Rae, while the best candidate to rebuild the federal Liberals, was unwilling to lead the party into a general election. Few candidates were willing to come forward with the has-been Martin Cauchon and Martin Hall Findlay facing off against the unknown Joyce Murray. In the end, Mark Carney, an economist who was almost picked as Governor-General of the Bank of England won the leadership election.
By 2014, Harper knew that Mulcair would likely be Prime Minister by 2015. Knowing the writing was on the wall, he stepped down. Facing between the "unelectable" Jason Kenney, former PC leader and long-time cabinet minister Peter MacKay won the leadership of the Conservative Party. While MacKay was popular with many, he was still seen as an insider (with his father having been an MP in Pierre Trudeau's first elected term). Mulcair capitalized on this to win a minority government.
However, Mulcair's centrist "New Labour" direction for the NDP caused problems with the left of the party. His history with the QLP and reliance on the federal Liberals to support his government was viewed with suspicion. Charlie Angus, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, launched a leadership challenge upon Muclair refusing to restrict trade with Trump's America (despite Mulcair calling Trump a fascist). The NDP membership turned out in low numbers, leaving Angus to leave Muclair on well less than the 67% normally needed to stay on as leader. Mulcair announced he would step down, with Angus winning over Megan Leslie and Nathan Cullen (with the three battling to have the most Canadian name).
With a general election looking to be on the horizon, the Tories scrambled to select a candidate to lead them upon Peter MacKay's resignation. Quickly, Stephen Harper reentered the field. Believing himself to be the founder of the party (to the anger of MacKay), he won the leadership in an election similar to that of Ignatieff in 2008. Despite a minor split from Michael Chong, the left vote was split more ways than imaginable; resulting in Harper returning to power in a majority. Harper quickly established a close relationship with Trump and the United States, supporting him on his most controversial decisions.
Mark Carney was one of the few high-profile figures that walked away from 2017 positively. As Leader of the Opposition, he formed a broad tent coalition to take on Harper in 2021. This coalition, called "Movement Canada" (this joke hasn't been funny in months), contained the Liberals, modernist New Democrats, Moderates, Strength in Democracy, Radicals, and Louis Plamondon. Harperism remained stronger than ever, with greater privatizations and tax cuts. Carney still wanted a liberal economic policy, but without the "social intolerance" of Harper. This message proved popular with Canadians, and Carney's coalition won a majority.
From day one, there were issues. Nathan Cullen had to force his way to become Deputy PM (even giving up a higher ranked cabinet post for the behind-the-scenes power). The former Dippers had issues with the conservative economics of the Moderates. There were objections to Fortin and Mercier being given cabinet posts for their colorful pasts. By 2023, the coalition had collapsed. Carney returned to lead the Liberals (with a few NDP defections to his side), Jean-François Fortin led the hastily put together "Democratic Party of Canada" (which had support from about everyone), and many Moderates rejoined the Tories (where they were quickly treated like bastard children). Elizabeth May also gained some followers to her merry band of environmentalists. Of course, their efforts were meaningless, for Harper returned to government again.
Quickly, it seemed like Jean-François Mercier was the only man who could reunite the opposition. The Democrats received defection after defection, to the point where the Liberals had to take Elizabeth May as their leader. Mercier's Democrats quickly gained more seats than The Leap, making them the Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Quickly, Mercier took the edge in polling, and Harper was out by the 2026 election. Despite Harper planning for the "coalition of chaos" to fall apart and publically feud, the "eternal Prime Minister" was simply too poisonous to win another election. After 2028, Harper suffered a heart attack, retired, and moved to America.
Rachel Notley, who briefly served as the NDP Premier of Alberta and a cabinet minister under the Carney government, was brought in to unite the opposition (but to Mercier). Despite an MP from New Brunswick leading several Tories to the Progressive Canadian Party, the merger went better than expected.
Now, Canada has the choice between two parties with a message that is so incoherent, their only platform is being for or against the party in charge. Of course, that works well for their Southern neighbors.
2003-2006: Paul Martin (Liberal)
2004 (Minority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Jack Layton (NDP)
2006-2014: Stephen Harper (Conservative)
2006 (Minority) def. Paul Martin (Liberal), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Jack Layton (NDP)
2008 (Minority) def. Stéphane Dion (Liberal), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Jack Layton (NDP)
2011 (Majority) def. Jack Layton (NDP), Michael Ignatieff (Liberal), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Elizabeth May (Green), Jean-François Mercier (Parti pour la gloire)
2014-2015: Peter MacKay (Conservative majority)
2015-2017: Thomas Mulcair (New Democratic)
2015 (Minority) def. Peter MacKay (Conservative), Mark Carney (Liberal), Elizabeth May (Green), Jean-François Fortin (Strength In Democracy), Jean-François Mercier (Québec radical), Mario Beaulieu (Bloc Québécois)
2017-2017: Charlie Angus (New Democratic minority)
2017-2021: Stephen Harper (Conservative)
2017 (Majority) def. Mark Carney (Liberal), Charlie Angus ("Leap Manifesto" NDP), Thomas Muclair ("Modernist" NDP), Michael Chong (Moderate), Jean-François Fortin (Strength In Democracy), Jean-François Mercier (Québec radical), Elizabeth May (Green)
2021-2023: Mark Carney (Movement Canada)
2021 (Majority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Avi Lewis (The Leap), Elizabeth May (Green), Claude Patry (Bloc Québécois)
2023-2026: Stephen Harper (Conservative)
2023 (Minority) def. Avi Lewis (The Leap), Mark Carney (Liberal), Jean-François Fortin (interim) (Democratic), Elizabeth May (Green)
2026-2032: Jean-François Mercier (Democratic)
2026 (Minority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Avi Lewis (The Leap), Elizabeth May (Green-Liberal Alliance)
2028 (Majority) def. Stephen Harper (Conservative), Elizabeth May (Green-Liberal Alliance), Niki Ashton (The Leap)
2032-Present: Rachel Notley (Conservative & Liberal)
2032 (Minority) def. Jean-François Mercier (Democratic), CanadianTory (Progressive Canadian), Gabriel Nadeau (Rally of Leftist Forces)