There are two types of opposition parties in the House of Commons: Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition (sometimes referred to simply as the Official Opposition), and third opposition parties. The Official Opposition is thought of as a "Government-in-waiting", providing an alternative government to take over should the existing Government resign or be dismissed, with the Leader of the Official Opposition being an alternative prime minister.
Third opposition parties are also responsible for holding the Government accountable, but are generally not thought of as a viable alternative government, and rarely have as much pre-eminence in Parliament as do the Official Opposition. (For example, the Official Opposition receives more time during question period than do the third opposition parties.)
Currently, the Liberal Party of Canada forms Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition for both the Senate, and the House of Commons. Some senators sit as Progressive Conservatives. In the House of Commons, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party of Canada are the other opposition parties.
In Canada, the parties that are not in power are referred to as "opposition parties." The primary opposition party is known as the "Official Opposition," which is typically the party with the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons. Other smaller parties that are not in government also contribute to the opposition, collectively holding the government accountable and providing alternative policies.
New Democratic party
It's not entirely clear what you mean. In the House of Commons, opposition parties occasionally coordinate their attack on the government.
As of October 2023, the main opposition party in the House of Commons is the Labour Party. The Labour Party holds this position as the largest party not in government, providing scrutiny and alternative policies to the ruling party, which is the Conservative Party. Other smaller parties, such as the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party, also contribute to the opposition but are not the primary opposition party.
In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister sits directly in front of the Speaker of the House. The Leader of the Opposition also sits opposite the Prime Minister, directly facing them. Other members of the government and opposition parties are seated in designated areas behind their respective leaders.
The four main standings in the House of Commons typically refer to the political parties that hold significant representation: the governing party, the official opposition, and the smaller parties, which often include regional parties and independents. The governing party is led by the Prime Minister, while the official opposition holds the government accountable and proposes alternative policies. These parties play crucial roles in shaping legislation and debate within the Commons. Additionally, party loyalty and alignment with various political ideologies often dictate members' stances on key issues.
The only parties currently represented in the House of Commons is the Conservative Party (Governing party), Liberal Party (official opposition), Bloc Quebecois, and New Democratic Party. The leaders of the opposition parties are Michael Ignatieff (Liberal), Jack Layton (NDP), and Gilles Duceppe (Bloc). However, although the Green Party of Canada is not represented in the House of Commons they are commonly viewed as an instrumental party. They are lead by Elizabeth May.
As of October 2023, the names of the provincial opposition parties and their leaders can vary by province in Canada. For instance, in Ontario, the main opposition party is the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Marit Stiles. In British Columbia, the opposition is the BC NDP, led by Sonia Furstenau. Please specify a particular province for more detailed information about its opposition parties and leaders.
The British Cabinet is responsible to Parliament, specifically to the House of Commons, where they must maintain the confidence of the majority of its members. This accountability ensures that the Cabinet can govern effectively while being subject to scrutiny, debate, and potential challenges from opposition parties and backbenchers. Ultimately, the Prime Minister and their Cabinet members must also answer to the electorate during general elections.
The house of commons
how many mps who work in the house of commons belong to each of the main political parties