Often, I wish I could speak better in English and let my wrath explode. Canadian communists, be they French or English, love their motherland. They are proud to defend wor
kers’ values. The young generation is not taught about the MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion's fight to save democracy in Spain before WWII against fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and totalitarian Franco hordes. Many Canadian fighters later on joined the Canadian armed Forces to battle against Hitler's onslaught against peaceful peoples in other European countries.Established in 1921 by young revolutionaries who met in Guelph (Ontario) to work for a socialist alternative to capitalism, the Communist Party of Canada (CPC) was still in the 1940s a young political party.
(Photo Internet: Tim Buck, general secretary of the Communist Party of Canada, 1929-1962)
At the outcome of the Second World War, the party benefited from the great victories of the Red Army over Hitler's Wehrmacht. In 1943, Montréal workers elected Fred Rose, the first communist Member of the Parliament in the federal capital (Ottawa). Actually, Dorise Nielsen was the CPC's first MP, elected from Saskatchewan in 1940. The CPC's popularity increased during WW2 and the party went on to elect provincial representatives in Manitoba and Ontario. Soon after Hitler's Germany was defeated in 1945, big Capital initiated the Cold War to undermine communist support and sympathy towards the Soviet Union. The media portrayed Stalin as a monster and red tyrant to scare the workers, to rid them of any aspirations for socialism and for a better world.
The History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union/Bolsheviks states: “during the years of reaction, the work in the Party organizations was far more difficult than during the preceding period of development of the revolution. The Party membership had sharply declined. Many of the petty-bourgeois fellow-travelers of the Party, especially the intellectuals, deserted its ranks from fear of persecution by the tsarist government”. Though referring to Soviet history, the same thing happened in Canada during the cold war.
At the outcome of the Second World War, the party benefited from the great victories of the Red Army over Hitler's Wehrmacht. In 1943, Montréal workers elected Fred Rose, the first communist Member of the Parliament in the federal capital (Ottawa). Actually, Dorise Nielsen was the CPC's first MP, elected from Saskatchewan in 1940. The CPC's popularity increased during WW2 and the party went on to elect provincial representatives in Manitoba and Ontario. Soon after Hitler's Germany was defeated in 1945, big Capital initiated the Cold War to undermine communist support and sympathy towards the Soviet Union. The media portrayed Stalin as a monster and red tyrant to scare the workers, to rid them of any aspirations for socialism and for a better world.
The History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union/Bolsheviks states: “during the years of reaction, the work in the Party organizations was far more difficult than during the preceding period of development of the revolution. The Party membership had sharply declined. Many of the petty-bourgeois fellow-travelers of the Party, especially the intellectuals, deserted its ranks from fear of persecution by the tsarist government”. Though referring to Soviet history, the same thing happened in Canada during the cold war.
In Québec, it was only in 1965, that courageous leaders such as Sam Walsh reorganized the provincial CPC into the Parti communiste du Québec (PCQ) to increase support for French-Canadian working class struggles and rising national consciousness. For the first time, the french wor
king class became proud of being Québécois.
king class became proud of being Québécois.The Federal Government attempted to shatter the new feelings of french national pride in 1970, using the pretext of an “insurrection” in Québec. It declared martial law after the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) kidnapped provincial cabinet Minister Pierre Laporte and a British Trade Representative James Richard Cross. The Canadian Army took control of cities and towns across Québec.
(Photo Internet: Fred Rose, first communist elected to the House of Commons in Ottawa, 1943-1947)
While the FLQ, founded by young leftists, initially enjoyed public support, it lost most of this support after the kidnappings. The government of Prime Minister Pierre-Elliot Trudeau and the big business community committed a big mistake declaring martial law. Even today 40 years later, the population remembers with a strange emotion how belittled they felt during the FLQ crisis.
While the FLQ, founded by young leftists, initially enjoyed public support, it lost most of this support after the kidnappings. The government of Prime Minister Pierre-Elliot Trudeau and the big business community committed a big mistake declaring martial law. Even today 40 years later, the population remembers with a strange emotion how belittled they felt during the FLQ crisis.
The so-called “Federalists” will never quench the Québec people's thirst for independence, which does not and will never mean the desire to live in a separate country. Even today, the majority of the population elects the Bloc québécois to Ottawa; it is out of bravado and unrest.
The PCQ has difficulties finding its place in this political restlessness. Some older comrades, who gave their last shirt for Canadian working class unity, feared that the national movement would take the road to fascism. In fact, it is the consequence of the Party's lack of political work among workers. Also constant anti-communist campaign isolated the Communists from their natural hotbed, the trade-union movement. However, the real influence of the Communist Party cannot be seen yet in its public meetings. It has influence over the people’s movements in Québec. Young people are interested in CPC history. The Cuban Revolution is very special to them and they care for other nation’s struggles, especially in South America.
Some 50 young Canadians took part in the World Youth and Students Festival in South Africa.
Maybe, naturally maybe, the most important move forward is this new interest for would-be, have-been or being communists towards unity. If we can create a Pole (not in opposition to the Communist Party of Canada), but a “meeting place” (by the way, we learned in secondary-level school that it is what “Toronto” means in one of the First Nations language) where Marxists-Leninists of Canada can initiate discussions, proposals for the working class of Québec and English-speaking Canada (both on a equal footing) and casting a
n eye on the future of Canada, it would be a radical change ahead.
Maybe, naturally maybe, the most important move forward is this new interest for would-be, have-been or being communists towards unity. If we can create a Pole (not in opposition to the Communist Party of Canada), but a “meeting place” (by the way, we learned in secondary-level school that it is what “Toronto” means in one of the First Nations language) where Marxists-Leninists of Canada can initiate discussions, proposals for the working class of Québec and English-speaking Canada (both on a equal footing) and casting a
n eye on the future of Canada, it would be a radical change ahead.La Vie Réelle came across new friends in 2010: Canadians for peace and socialism, Northstar Compass, The Regina Peace Council… There is room for dialogue. The Communist Party of Canada can attract all of these people; it is worthy to mention that, at least in Québec, several trade unionists reassess the role of the party in the working class struggles for peace, progress and democracy.
(Photo Internet: Johan Boyden, general secretary of the Young Communist League of Canada, reelected in fall 2010 at the 25th Central Convention)
(Photo Internet: Johan Boyden, general secretary of the Young Communist League of Canada, reelected in fall 2010 at the 25th Central Convention)
This dedication at home must never divert us from solidarity with peoples abroad, especially now with the Cuban Five who keep up fighting after 12 years of incarceration based on false charges while they were struggling against anti-Cuban terrorism. These young men's spirit is deeply rooted in our communist minds and hearts.
Probably, we also need a better paper. We need a militant, attractive and frequent paper available for the working families on a very regular basis; a new goal for Clarté and People’s Voice.
Would it not be nice that at the May Day Rallies in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, Halifax, Winnipeg and many more places, the communists and their so many friends will say to their co-workers: “Hey, buddy, it’s the new party paper, have a look; it just talks about us?”
danieleugpaquet@yahoo.ca
danieleugpaquet@yahoo.ca
La Vie Réelle in English: http://wwwlavienglish.blogspot.com/
Marxism-Leninism Today (USA): http://mltoday.com/
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