List of political parties in British Columbia

Prior to 1903, there was no strong party discipline in the province, and governments rarely lasted more than two years as independent-minded members changed allegiances. MLAs were elected under a myriad of party labels many as Independents, and no one party held strong majorities.

The first party government, in 1903, was Conservative. And disciplined party caucuses have been the backbone of BC provincial politics ever since.

A list of political parties currently registered with Elections BC can be found at the Elections BC website.

Parties represented in the current Legislative Assembly

See also: 43rd Parliament of British Columbia and 2024 British Columbia general election

Name		Founded	Ideology	Leader	MLAs	In Legislature	In Government
	British Columbia New Democratic Party (known as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation until 1961)	1933	Social democracy, left-wing populism	David Eby	47	1933–present	1972–1975, 1991–2001, 2017–present
	Conservative Party of British Columbia (known as the Progressive Conservative Party from 1942 to 1991)	1903	Conservatism, right-wing populism, Social conservatism	John Rustad	44	1903–1933, 1937–1956, 1971–1979, 1986, 2012, 2023–present	1903–1916, 1928–1933, 1941–1952
	Green Party of British Columbia	1985	Green politics	Sonia Furstenau	2	2013–present	none

Current parties outside the legislature

Political parties currently registered to Elections BC as of April 17, 2024.

Name		Founded	Ideology	Leader
	British Columbia Action Party	2013	Fiscal conservatism	Vacant
	BC Cascadia Party	2016	Cascadian separatism	Troy Gibbons
	Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia	2010	Christian right, Constitutionalism, Social conservatism	Rod Taylor
	Communist Party of British Columbia (known as the Labor-Progressive Party from 1943 until 1959)	1924	Communism, Marxism-Leninism	Kimball Cariou
	British Columbia Direct Democracy Party	2020	Direct democracy	John Walsh
	Freedom Party of British Columbia	2023		Amrit Birring
	British Columbia Libertarian Party	1986	Libertarianism	Alex Joehl
	Party of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Ourselves & Be Our Own Politicians	2001 election (original) 2023 (relaunch)		Gordon Watson
	B.C. Vision	2013	Fiscal conservatism, Green politics	Jagmohan Bhandari
	Your Political Party of British Columbia	2002	Open government	James Filipelli

Other parties that have formed governments

Name		Founded	Ideology	Leader	In legislature	In Government
	BC Liberal Party (known as BC United after 2023)	1903	Conservatism, Neoliberalism	Kevin Falcon	1903–1912, 1916–1975, 1991–2024	1916–1928, 1933–1952, 2001–2017
	British Columbia Social Credit Party	1935	Social credit, Conservatism, Right-wing populism	Vacant	1952–1996	1952–1972, 1975–1991

Historical parties that have been represented in the legislature

Name		Founded	Ideology	In Legislature
	Labour/Independent Labour/Federated Labour	N/A	Social democracy	1903–1907, 1920–1924, 1928–1960
	Socialist Party of British Columbia	1901	Socialism, Impossiblism	1905–1916
	Social Democratic Party of British Columbia	1907	Social democracy	1912–1916
	People's Party of British Columbia	N/A	Populism	1920–1924
	Provincial Party of British Columbia	1923	Agrarianism	1924–1928
	Non Partisan Independent Group	1933	Conservatism	1933–37
	Unionist Party of British Columbia	1933	Conservatism	1933–1937
	British Columbia Social Constructive Party	1936	Reformism, Social Democracy	1936–1937
	United Party of British Columbia			1986
	Progressive Democratic Alliance	1993	Centrism	1993–1997
	Reform Party of British Columbia	1983	Right-wing populism	1994–1997
	Democratic Reform British Columbia	2005	Centrism, Progressivism, Populism	2005

Historical parties that never had seats in the legislature

• 4BC (2017 election)
• Action Party (2001 iteration)
• Advocational International Democratic Party of British Columbia (2006–2014
• All Nations Party of British Columbia (2001 election–2005)
• Allegiance Party
• Alternative Party of British Columbia (?–2005)
• Annexation Party of British Columbia (2003–2009)
• BC Ecosocialists
• BC First Party (2010–2018)
• BC Independence Party (2021-2024)
• British Columbia Party
• Canadian Alliance Party of British Columbia (?–2005)
• Central Party (British Columbia) (2001 election)
• Centre Democratic Party (2000–2005)
• Christian Democratic Party (1952 and 1953 elections)
• Citizens Action Party (BC Grey Party) (2002–2009)
• Citizens First Party (2017)
• Citizens Alliance Now (?–2007) (2001 election)
• Citizens Commonwealth Federation (2001 election)
• Common Sense, Community, Family Party (1996 election)
• Council of British Columbians (2001 election)
• Confederation Party of British Columbia (2003–2009)
• Constructive Party (1937 election)
• British Columbia Cultural Action Party
• Democratic Alliance (2004–2005)
• Democratic Futures Party (2003–2009)
• Democratic Idealists Party (2002)
• Emancipation Party (1941 election)
• Emerged Democracy Party of British Columbia (2004–2009) (2005 election)
• Enterprise Party of British Columbia
• Excalibur Party
• Family Coalition Party of British Columbia (1991 and 1996 elections)
• Feminist Initiative of BC (2005–2008)
• For British Columbia (4BC)
• Free Canadian Party (2003–2008)
• Freedom Party of British Columbia (2001–2009) (2001 and 2005 elections)
• Gay Alliance Toward Equality (1979 election)
• Green Go (Green Wing/Rhino) (1991 election)
• Helping Hand Party (2011–2013)
• Human Race Party (1991 election)
• Idealists Party (2003–2008)
• Independent New Hope Party (1979 election)
• Individual Rights Party of British Columbia (2011–2013)
• Financial Justice Party (1937 election)
• Labour Party (2004–2009)
• Labour Representation Committee (1952 election)
• Land Air Water Party (2015–2018) (2017 election)
• League for Socialist Action (1975 election)
• Link BC (2002–2009)
• Marijuana Party (2000–2019) (2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013 elections)
• Millionaires Party (2002–2008)
• Moderate Democratic Movement (2003–2008) (2005 election)
• Nation Alliance Party (2007–2012) (2009 election)
• Natural Law Party of British Columbia (199?–2005)
• New Republican Party (2017–2019) (2017 election)
• New Wave Party (2011–2015)
• North American Labour Party (1975 and 1979 elections)
• Patriot Party (2001–2013)
• People's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1945 election)
• People's Front (Marxist–Leninist) (1986 election – 2017)
• People's Party (1945, 1953 and 1956 elections)
• Planting Seeds Party (2006–2008)
• Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness
• ProBC
• Progressive Nationalist Party (Bloc BC Party) (2004–2013)
• Refederation Party (formerly Western Refederation Party; Western Independence Party)
• Religious Political Brotherhood (1941 election)
• Renewal Party of British Columbia (2004–2008)
• Revolutionary Marxist Group (1975 election)
• Rural BC Party (2018–2023)
• Revolutionary Workers Party 1945–1953
• The Sex Party (2005–2012) (2005 and 2009 elections)
• Social Conservative Party (1969 election)
• Socialist Labour Party
• United Front (1933 election)
• United Peoples Action Party (2003–2006)
• Unparty: The Consensus-Building Party (formerly the People's Senate Party)
• Vancouver Island Party (2016–2020)
• Victory Without Debt Party (1941 election)
• Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia (1980–2013)
• Western Independence Party (1979 election)
• Western National Party (1983 election)
• Western Reform (2001 election)
• Wexit BC (2019–2022)
• Work Less Party of British Columbia (2003–2017)
• Unity Party (2001–2008) (2001 & 2005 election)
• Youth Coalition (2000–2009)

See also

• Elections BC
• BC Legislature Raids
• Municipal political parties in Vancouver