Blue Grit Explained

A Blue Grit,^{[1] [2] [3]} also known as a blue Liberal or a business Liberal,^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} is a member or supporter of the Liberal Party of Canada or of one of the nation's provincial and territorial Liberal parties who is generally considered to be right-of-centre. The term has also been applied to former Progressive Conservative Party of Canada members who are now Liberals, such as Scott Brison.^[8]

The loose 'faction' of Blue Grits can generally be described as liberal conservative in ideological terms, typically advocating for policies that combine fiscal caution with cultural liberalism. Additionally, Blue Grits are often seen as more inclined toward monarchist, conservative and nationalist sentiments than the more progressive elements of the Liberal movement. Unlike the federal Conservative Party and many of its provincial and territorial counterparts, the Liberal movement in Canada has not historically exhibited a clearly identifiable ideological factional divide. This is partly due to the federal Liberal Party's historically high level of party discipline in Parliament.^[9] While quite similar to Red Tories, Blue Grits tend to be less inclined toward paternalism and traditionalism, instead focusing more on economic liberalism — hence their alternative name, business Liberals.

Prominent current leaders who have been identified as Blue Grits include Mark Carney, the current Prime Minister of Canada, and Bonnie Crombie, the former leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Notable adherents

Notable Blue Grits include:

• Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada (2025–present), governor of the Bank of England (2013–2020) and governor of the Bank of Canada (2007–2013)^[10]
• John Turner, Prime Minister of Canada (1984) and minister of finance (1972–1975)^{[11] [12]}
• Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada (2003–2006) and minister of finance (1993–2002)
• John Manley, Deputy Prime Minister (2002–2003), minister of finance (2003–2003) and minister of industry (1995–2000)^[13]
• Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal leadership candidate in 2006 and 2013^[14]
• Frank McKenna, Premier of New Brunswick (1987–1997)
• Roy MacLaren, minister of state for finance (1983–1984), minister of national revenue (1984) and minister for international trade (1993–1996)
• Bonnie Crombie, 6th Mayor of Mississauga (2014–2024), leader of the Ontario Liberal Party (2023–2026)^[15]

See also

• Red Tory and Blue Tory, similar factionalism in the Conservative Party of Canada
• Moderates (Liberal Party of Australia)
• New Democrats (United States)
• Rockefeller Republican
• Third Way
• Classical liberalism
• Conservative liberalism

References

1. News: Greg Weston . June 13, 2010 . Tories win in Grit-NDP merger . QMI Agency . Toronto Sun.
2. News: Ken Gray . April 7, 2010 . Red Tory, Blue Grit . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141113063114/http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=b15a20ba-1b5f-449b-a1a7-d155e996e2f6&p=2 . November 13, 2014 . November 13, 2014 . The Ottawa Citizen.
3. News: Ron Graham . October 2013 . Born in the Burbs . The Walrus.
4. News: Jessy Brunette . January 14, 2011 . 'I was a very blue Liberal,' Reynolds says . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141113053608/http://www.thesudburystar.com/2011/01/14/i-was-a-very-blue-liberal-reynolds-says . November 13, 2014 . November 13, 2014 . The Sudbury Star.
5. News: Steven Chase . April 13, 2013 . As leadership race winds down, Liberals still divided on an economic plan . The Globe and Mail.
6. News: Patrick Brethour . August 24, 2012 . Canada's new electoral divide: It's about the money . The Globe and Mail.
7. News: Daniel Leblanc . Steven Chase . Jane Taber . amp . December 15, 2012 . How the Liberal Party lost Mark Carney . The Globe and Mail.
8. Web site: Opinion Trudeau's Cabinet Has Diversity, But Conservative White Men Will Keep the Purse Strings Common Dreams . 2024-06-23 . www.commondreams.org . en.
9. Web site: Marland . Alex . March 21, 2019 . The stifling conformity of party discipline . 2025-05-27 . Policy Options . en.
10. Web site: Liberals, Conservatives gripped in a tie, next election will be 'like a knife fight in a telephone booth,' with Trump as disruptor: Nanos . 2025-04-30 . The Hill Times . en-CA.
11. Web site: Tuns . Paul . 30 years of Liberal infighting . Ottawa Citizen . August 9, 2019 . June 16, 2014.
12. Web site: Five stories we're watching . Maclean's . August 9, 2019 . October 1, 2012.
13. News: Is Justin Trudeau's honeymoon over?. Michael Den Tandt. canada.com. May 1, 2014.
14. News: No longer hyphenated, Liberals cast aside the business faction. Ian Lee. Ottawa Citizen. April 16, 2013. November 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129124944/http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/archives/story.html?id=10397d17-27cc-4708-be3c-3b47aeaa007b. November 29, 2014. dead.
15. News: McGrath . John Michael . May 23, 2023 . 'We govern from right of centre': Bonnie Crombie on how she'd lead the Ontario Liberals . TVO . July 9, 2023.