New Democratic Party

New Democratic Party (NDP), Canadian political party that espouses a philosophy of social democracy.

The NDP began as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1933. Initially socialist, the CCF was popular during World War II (1939-1945), when it advocated an extensive social program. With postwar affluence and the rise of the Cold War, however, the party’s popularity waned considerably.

In 1961 the CCF was reconstituted as the New Democratic Party (NDP) and linked more closely to organized labor. Although influential in shaping Canadian social policies, the NDP has not managed to become a major national force in Canada. The party has had political success in some of the English-speaking provinces but has failed to attract much support in Québec.