Green, Hanuschak and Boyce were members of the provincial legislature in 1981, having been elected as NDP candidates.
The party was regarded as socialist, and promoted traditionally leftist policies such as full employment and increased profits taxation on resource industries.
The Progressives were the third-largest party in the provincial legislature (the Liberals having been reduced to one seat in 1977), and sought to run a full slate of candidates in 1981.
All Progressive candidates were defeated, including the three incumbents; Green placed a poor third in Inkster, which he had represented since 1966.
In 1990, its campaign literature emphasized balanced budgets, and rejected distinct status for minority groups.