What's wrong with the NDP?

I am not a Canadian, but I’m watching from the British Isles with more interest these days, along with many others, about the Canadian political structure.

I’ve recently learned about the NDP party, and I’m confused. They’ve been around for a long time but don’t seem to have won much of anything despite their policies seeming more in line with the stereotypical Canadian image. From what I’ve always assumed about Canadian values, the NDP policies seem a better fit than the other two parties, yet they be always losing to them. There’s got to be something I’m missing.....