The (UFP) was a
Left Wing political party in
Quebec ,
Canada from 2002-2006. Four leftist parties merged to form the UFP in 2002 out of desire to unite Quebec's left:
In February 2006, UFP merged with
Option Citoyenne to form the new political party .
The aim of the UFP was to bring together progressive forces across the broad left wing of the political spectrum, including
Social Democrats ,
Socialists and
Communists . The UFP also advocated
Altermondialism ,
Feminism ,
Pacifism and
Environmentalism . Its platform does not specifically endorse social democracy, socialism or communism.
Quebec's
Green Party , the
Parti Vert Du Québec , pledged to try to avoid running candidates in ridings where there is a UFP candidate, although it reserves the right to run anywhere it wants to (even ridings with a UFP candidate), and did not merge with the UFP.
The UFP presented itself as an alternative to the main three parties in Quebec: the center-left
Parti Québécois , the center-right
Parti Libéral Du Québec , and the conservative
Action Démocratique Du Québec /Equipe
Mario Dumont , saying that all three are but different faces of the same
Right-wing ideology called
Neoliberalism .
The UFP opposed
Globalization ,
Privatization , and
Deregulation , and called for increased funding of social services, higher taxes on the rich and business,
Proportional Representation in Quebec's
National Assembly , and an alternative economy based upon
Co-operative s and
Non-profit organizations.
The UFP supported Quebec sovereignty. It considered this option not as an end in itself, but rather as a means to achieve the party's social ideal for the people of Quebec. To solve the national question, the UFP suggested the creation of a
Constituent Assembly , mandated to draw up and propose to the population, via referendum, a Constitution for a progressive, republican, secular and democratic Québec.
The UFP was led by a council instead of a single leader. The UFP promised to be a party of the ballot box and of the streets, meaning that it would work to increase awareness of social problems and for progressive social change even between elections, particularly with regards to the rights of workers and of the unemployed.
Considering its modest results in the 2003 elections (1.06% of the votes or 1.50% if Parti Vert du Québec's votes are included), the UFP was a marginal party.
On November 5 2005, delegates of the UFP voted unanimously in favor of a merger with the party of the
Option Citoyenne movement led by
Françoise David . The founding congress of the new party was held in early February 2006 and has resulted in the formation of a new party,
Québec Solidaire .
From the Preamble of the UFP political platform, ''Building a world that reflects our ideals!''
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UFP members share the view that the answer to the national question, and by extension social emancipation, is sovereignty for the Quebec people. The UFP believes that Quebec should become a country, free from the federalist yoke, and should acquire the essential tools it needs to develop as a nation.
See also:
National Question (Quebec)
