Red Book (Liberal Party of Canada)

It was exceptional in how specific it was; while platforms before and since have contained few substantive promises and many vague statements of principle, the Red Book laid out a long list of changes that the Liberals would make if brought to power.

The Liberals, out of power since 1984, were widely expected to win the 1993 election based on the great pan-Canadian dislike for the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney.

The Liberals under Jean Chrétien were worried by a jump in Tory support with the selection of new leader Kim Campbell.

To attempt to break through the cynicism and distrust the Liberals felt that being more specific and making many promises would help ensure a victory, thus the Red Book was created.

The Conservatives were nearly eliminated from the political scene, falling to two seats in the worst defeat ever suffered for a governing party at the federal level.

Some of the most notable promises from the Red Book that were kept were the pledge to cancel the purchase of new naval helicopters,[5] canceling the sale of Toronto Pearson International Airport, reforming unemployment insurance, legislating more gun control,[6] and reducing the size of the armed forces with the end of the Cold War.