Canada's Third Party
Federal elections in Canada by no means always follow the same lines as those in the provinces, but the results of the Ontario elections are so striking that they can scarcely be without some significance for Canada as a whole. The Co-operative Common- wealth Federation hag followed up a number of successes in other provinces with a- still more striking success in Ontario, where it has now won the position of the official Opposition. The Liberals, on the other hand, have suffered disaster, their strength being reduced from 64 seats to 14. The Conservatives, a majority of whom are Progressive Conservatives, will be the largest group, but they have no independent majority over all parties. The eclipse of the Liberals is in part at least due to dissensions within the party—a fact calculated to awaken political memories in this country. The rise of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation IS more interesting. It has gathered to itself much of the ardour of young Canadians ,who have absorbed Socialist doctrines, is bent on sweeping away the abuses of monopoly and privilege, and eagerly accepts Left programmes of post-war social reform. It has built up a strong organisation during the war, and made head- way in many provinces. It will almost certainly make its influence powerfully felt in federal as well as provincial politics.
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