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; disciplined party caucuses have been the backbone of BC provincial politics ever since. A list of political parties currently registered with Elections BC, the non-partisan office responsible for conducting elections in the province, can be found on the Elections BC website.

Parties represented in the current Legislative Assembly

Party Founded Ideology Leader Membership MLAs In legislature In government New Democratic Party 1933 Social democracy David Eby ~11,000 (2022) 1933–present 1972–1975, 1991–2001, 2017–present Conservative Party 1903 Conservatism, right-wing populism Lorne Doerkson (interim) 41,718 (2026) 1903–1933, 1937–1956, 1971–1979, 1986, 2012, 2023–present 1903–1916, 1928–1933, 1941–1952 CentreBC 2025 Centre-right politics, conservative liberalism Elenore Sturko 2026–present Green Party 1985 Green politics Emily Lowan 8,641 (2025) 2013–present OneBC 2025 Right-wing populism, social conservatism Dallas Brodie (interim) 2025–present

Current parties outside the legislature Political parties currently registered to Elections BC as of October 6, 2026.Registered political Parties elections.bc.ca Name Founded Ideology Leader Membership In Legislature In Government British Columbia Party 2026 Peter Milobar CanWest Party 2026 Wei Ping Chen Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia 2010 Christian right, constitutionalism, social conservatism Christian McCay Communist Party of British Columbia 1924 Communism, Marxism-Leninism Robert Crooks Freedom Party of British Columbia 2023 Social conservatism Amrit Birring British Columbia Libertarian Party 1986 Libertarianism Alex Joehl 100 (2016) 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

Historical parties that have formed governments Name Founded Ideology In legislature In Government BC United 1903 Conservatism, neoliberalism 1903–1912, 1916–1975, 1991–2024 1916–1928, 1933–1952, 2001–2017 British Columbia Social Credit Party 1935 Social credit, conservatism, right-wing populism 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 1933–1937 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 (2001–2003, 2013–2024) 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 Cascadia Party (2016–2024) BC Ecosocialists BC First Party (2010–2018) BC Independence Party (2021–2024) BC Strong (2025) British Columbia Party Canadian Alliance Party of British Columbia (?–2005) Central Party (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) British Columbia Direct Democracy Party (2020–2024) 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) Your Political Party of British Columbia (2002–2024) Youth Coalition (2000–2009)

See also Municipal political parties in Vancouver

References