Canadian Party for Renewal
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Party for Renewal was an unregistered political party
in Canada
, established in 1993. It was closely aligned with the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)
.
When the Renewal Party was launched in early 1993, supporter Robert Cruise described it as "a strictly non-partisan organization without ideological bias," whose purpose was to seek "broad unity around a minimum program of changing the political process so as to empower Canadians." He said that the party would give citizens control over the selection of parliamentarians, who could be recalled by the electorate if they did not act in the interest of the people. The Renewal Party also favoured direct democracy
initiatives such as referendums and ballot propositions.
Cruise was himself a candidate of the Marxist-Leninist Party in 1993, and he launched his campaign in partnership with two Renewal candidates from neighbouring ridings (both of whom later officially registered as Marxist-Leninists). He denied that the Renewal Party was a front organization, however, and said that it was open for anyone to join. In the same period, Marxist-Leninist Party leader Hardial Bains
said that his organization was the only political organization in Canada to put all of its resources at the disposal of the Renewal Party.
There are conflicting reports as to the identity of the Renewal Party's leader. A Windsor Star
report from September 13, 1993, lists Jeffrey Goodman as having held this position. However, a more detailed report from the same newspaper later in the month indicates that Hardial Bains was the national leader of both parties. For the purposes of this article, it is assumed that the latter report is correct.
The Renewal Party used the slogan, "Accountability begins at home," for the 1993 federal election
. It did not run enough candidates to be recognized as an official party by Elections Canada
, and its candidates appeared on the ballot as "non-affiliated." The Renewal Party appears to have been dissolved after this time, and several Renewal candidates from 1993 later ran as official Marxist-Leninist Party candidates.
In Ontario, several candidates affiliated with the Marxist-Leninist Party ran for the Ontario Renewal Party in the 1995 provincial election
. The Marxist-Leninists also endorsed ten independent Renewal candidates in 2003
. It may be noted that the Marxist-Leninist Party is not registered provincially in Ontario.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, established in 1993. It was closely aligned with the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)
The Communist Party of Canada is a Canadian federal Marxist–Leninist political party.The party is registered with Elections Canada as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada...
.
When the Renewal Party was launched in early 1993, supporter Robert Cruise described it as "a strictly non-partisan organization without ideological bias," whose purpose was to seek "broad unity around a minimum program of changing the political process so as to empower Canadians." He said that the party would give citizens control over the selection of parliamentarians, who could be recalled by the electorate if they did not act in the interest of the people. The Renewal Party also favoured direct democracy
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
initiatives such as referendums and ballot propositions.
Cruise was himself a candidate of the Marxist-Leninist Party in 1993, and he launched his campaign in partnership with two Renewal candidates from neighbouring ridings (both of whom later officially registered as Marxist-Leninists). He denied that the Renewal Party was a front organization, however, and said that it was open for anyone to join. In the same period, Marxist-Leninist Party leader Hardial Bains
Hardial Bains
Hardial Bains was the founder of the Communist Party of Canada and its leader until his death...
said that his organization was the only political organization in Canada to put all of its resources at the disposal of the Renewal Party.
There are conflicting reports as to the identity of the Renewal Party's leader. A Windsor Star
Windsor Star
The Windsor Star is the regional newspaper of Windsor, Ontario , and is owned by the Postmedia Network Inc. Since 1923, the publication's main office is located at 167 Ferry Street in the downtown area...
report from September 13, 1993, lists Jeffrey Goodman as having held this position. However, a more detailed report from the same newspaper later in the month indicates that Hardial Bains was the national leader of both parties. For the purposes of this article, it is assumed that the latter report is correct.
The Renewal Party used the slogan, "Accountability begins at home," for the 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
. It did not run enough candidates to be recognized as an official party by Elections Canada
Elections Canada
Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency reporting directly to the Parliament of Canada. Its ongoing responsibility is to ensure that Canadians can exercise their choices in federal elections and referenda through an open and impartial process...
, and its candidates appeared on the ballot as "non-affiliated." The Renewal Party appears to have been dissolved after this time, and several Renewal candidates from 1993 later ran as official Marxist-Leninist Party candidates.
In Ontario, several candidates affiliated with the Marxist-Leninist Party ran for the Ontario Renewal Party in the 1995 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
. The Marxist-Leninists also endorsed ten independent Renewal candidates in 2003
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. It may be noted that the Marxist-Leninist Party is not registered provincially in Ontario.
Publications
- Hardial Bains, A Power to Share: A Modern Definition of the Political Process and a Case for its Democratic Renewal, Ottawa: 1993.