Traditionally, Canadians have been socially liberal and fiscally conservative and fairly “centrist” overall. That has mostly described the Liberals with the Conservatives mostly coming in to power after periods where the Liberals have been less fiscally conservative.

The NDP struggles to create a national mandate as they are perceived as too fiscally left (what gets the Liberals in trouble). The Conservatives are sometimes seen as too socially right, opening the door for the Liberals.