Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource." 
Email: Password:

  Progressive Democratic Alliance
POLITICAL PARTY DETAILS
Color    
AbbreviationPDA
Websitehttp://www.pdalliance.bc.ca/
CountryCanada
Established1993-12-05
Disbanded1997-01-00
ContributorUser 13
Last EditedCampari_007 - October 18, 2020 10:56pm
DescriptionThe Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) was a centrist political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Powell River—Sunshine Coast.

Wilson, previously the leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party, led that party through a breakthrough in the provincial election of 1991, in which they rose from no parliamentary representation to official opposition status. He was unable to hold his caucus together, however, and was forced to call a leadership convention following revelations about his personal relationship with another member of the small Liberal caucus, Judi Tyabji, MLA for Okanagan East. Tyabji and Wilson were both married to others at the time; they subsequently divorced and married each other. Many in the Liberal Party believed that their relationship created at least the potential for a serious conflict of interest.

After losing the leadership challenge to Gordon Campbell, who in turn led the party to victory in the 2001 provincial election, Wilson and Tyabji left the party to establish the Progressive Democratic Alliance on December 5, 1993.

In the subsequent June 26, 1996 general election, Wilson retained his seat, while all 65 other PDA candidates, including Tyabji, were defeated. The party won a total of 90,797 votes, or 5.74% of the popular vote.

The PDA was disbanded by Wilson in 1997 when he joined the ruling New Democratic Party of British Columbia to become a member of Cabinet. He later ran for the provincial NDP leadership, but dropped out a few days before the vote when it was obvious that he could not win. He lost his legislative seat in the 2001 provincial election.

In 2004, former party activists attempted to resuscitate the PDA. Finding financial obstacles, they instead formed the British Columbia Democratic Alliance, billing it as a successor organization.

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION
INFORMATION LINKS

USERS
None

MOST RECENT RACES
12/14/1998 BC Legislative Assembly - Parksville-Qualicum - By-election Bruce Hampson Lost 13.61% (-39.00%)
09/15/1997 BC Legislative Assembly - Surrey-White Rock - By-election Bill Gardner Lost 4.32% (-47.40%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Alberni Ingrid Rebar Lost 4.06% (-47.95%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Prince George-Omineca Carole Fraser Lost 6.84% (-30.04%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Vancouver-Burrard Laura McDiarmid Lost 4.73% (-44.97%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Bulkley Valley-Stikine Sharon Hartwell Lost 4.83% (-32.19%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Richmond Centre Rob Oey Lost 5.51% (-49.41%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Powell River-Sunshine Coast Gordon Wilson Won 49.05% (+21.49%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Burnaby North Richard A.Y. Lee Lost 4.97% (-40.50%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Richmond East Marc Schaper Lost 5.96% (-49.68%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Burnaby-Edmonds John Schwermer Lost 5.00% (-41.45%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Rossland-Trail Kathy Plummer Lost 3.88% (-46.86%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Richmond-Steveston Pat Young Lost 5.40% (-51.25%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Saanich South Cherie Dealey Lost 4.85% (-41.27%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Vancouver-Fraserview Andy Wong Lost 4.27% (-41.70%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Delta South Donna Tobias Lost 5.32% (-53.46%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Vancouver-Mount Pleasant John Spark Lost 3.51% (-63.46%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Shuswap Bev Torrens Lost 5.33% (-29.23%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Vancouver-Hastings Joe Cafariello Lost 4.50% (-49.51%)
05/28/1996 BC Legislative Assembly - Abbotsford Merilyn Anderson Lost 5.14% (-45.10%)