Commentary Canada has had a long tradition of spawning new political parties. Some come and go before the public even know they existed. Some have been around for decades yet rarely field more than a handful of candidates. Others, such as the Reform Party or the Bloc Québécois, never came close to winning an election but have had strong influence on government policies. There are currently 20 registered federal political parties in Canada. Five of those parties had seats in the House of Commons when the 2021 election was called. New, alternative political parties are an intrinsic part of the Canadian political system. While it is relatively easy to form a federal political party, it is a tough task to create one that breaks out of the pack and endures. Established political parties jealously guard their turf while voters are hesitant to embrace a new entity. The mainstream media has …