The Union des forces progressistes (UFP) is a left wing political party in Quebec, Canada. Four leftist parties merged to form the UFP in 2002 out of desire to unite Quebec's left:

• the Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste (RAP),
• the Parti de la démocratie socialiste (PDS, formerly the Quebec wing of the New Democratic Party),
• the Parti communiste du Québec (PCQ), and
• the Quebec-based membership of the International Socialists.

The aim of the UFP is to bring together progressive forces across the broad left wing of the political spectrum, including social democrats, socialists and communists. The UFP also advocates 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, has 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 has not merged with the UFP.

The UFP presents itself as an alternative to the main three parties in Quebec: the social democratic Parti Québécois, the centrist 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 opposes globalization, privatization, and deregulation, and calls 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-operatives and non-profit organizations.

The UFP supports Quebec sovereignty. It considers 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 suggests 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 is led by a council instead of a single leader. The UFP promises to be a party of the ballot box and of the streets, meaning that it will 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 is still a marginal party. Only time will tell if it will be able to make a breakthrough in Quebec's political scene.

UFP position on the National Question

From the Preamble of the UFP political platform, Building a world that reflects our ideals! [1]:

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)

UFP Representatives

• Pierre Dostie and Molly Alexander (2002-2004)
• Amir Khadir and Denise Veilleux (current)

Election results

See also

• Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste
• Parti de la démocratie socialiste
• Parti communiste du Québec
• Politics of Quebec
• List of Quebec leaders of the Opposition
• National Assembly of Quebec
• Political parties in Quebec

External links

• Union de Forces Progressistes Website
• English texts of the UFP
• National Assembly historical information
• La Politique québécoise sur le Web