New Democratic Party

The Canadian social democratic party, founded in 1961 from the CCF, of Douglas and Singh.

Overview

The NDP succeeded the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the 1932 prairie socialist movement of Tommy Douglas, medicare father, with union federation sponsorship in 1961. It has held third party status federally, supporting minority Liberal governments: Pearson medicare in the 1960s, the 2005-06 Martin budget deal, and the 2022-2025 supply and confidence agreement under Jagmeet Singh that delivered dental care and pandemic supports. Provincial NDP governments in Saskatchewan, BC, Manitoba, Ontario, and Alberta proved social democracy could govern provinces. The party anchors Canadian parliamentary socialism, now led by the first turbaned federal leader after Singh 2025 defeat.