The party espouses the principles of liberalism, and generally sits at the centre to centre-left of the Canadian political spectrum, with the Conservative Party positioned to their right and the New Democratic Party (who at times aligned itself with the Liberals during minority governments), positioned to their left. Like their federal Conservative Party rivals, the party is often described as a "big tent", practicing "brokerage politics", attracting support from a broad spectrum of voters. In the late 1970s, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau claimed that his Liberal Party adhered to the "radical centre".