1854
1854 was unique, seeing a new group rise. Some reformers were unhappy with the slow pace of reforms, and began to oppose the reformist government. They called themselves "Clear Grits" in Canada West, and gained the support of the Liberals and Rouges in Canada East. Also, around this time, the Tories began to refer to their group as the "Conservative Party".
| Movement | Canada West | Canada East | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status Quo Reform Centrist |
Reform - 19 | Ministeralists - 35 | 54 |
| Radical Reform Left-Wing |
Clear Grits - 14 Left-wing Reform - 6 |
Rouges & Liberals - 19 | 39 |
| Conservative Right-Wing |
Conservative - 25 | Conservative - 9 | 34 |
| Non-Aligned Independent |
Independent - 1 | None | 1 |
In order to stay in government, the moderate reformers formed a coalition with the Conservatives. The better-formed Conservative party took over the Reform Party, and the remaining Reformers left for the Clear Grits, renaming the party, the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party is still known as the 'Grits' in most of English speaking Canada today.
Read more about this topic: List Of Elections In The Province Of Canada