The Reform Party of Canada was a political party founded in 1987, primarily to represent the interests of Western Canadians. It emerged in response to perceived neglect of the West by the federal government and aimed to promote fiscal conservatism, democratic reform, and a reduction in the size of government. In 1997, the party became the official opposition in the House of Commons but struggled to maintain its identity. In 2000, it merged with the Canadian Alliance, which later evolved into the Conservative Party of Canada, continuing many of the Reform Party's principles.