The Reform Party of Canada was created in 1987 with Preston Manning as its leader. The Reform party emerged from Western Canada's discontent with the Conservative Party and traditional federalist politics. It advocates free trade, direct democracy, an elected senate, and a reduced government. During the debates around the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords, Reform spoke out against Québec's demands for special status.
In the 1993 federal election, Reform won a majority of seats in BC and Alberta and aided in reducing the Progressive Conservative Party to two seats. Despite claims of being a national party, Reform won one seat in Ontario and narrowly missed becoming the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, a status which was awarded to the Bloc Québécois.
