Cecil-Ross Society
Encyclopedia
The Cecil-Ross Society was a revisionist
educational foundation operated by some former members of the Communist Party of Canada
after they were forced to terminate their association with the party in 1992 in a political and legal dispute following the fall of the Soviet Union. The society had been founded by the Communist Party some years before in order to hold various party assets.
The society was chartered under the Societies Act by George Hewison
and other leaders of the Communist Party of Canada. The name came from the intersection of Cecil Street and Ross Street in Toronto which was for many years the location of the Communist Party's headquarters.
The Communist Party had split as the result of a new programme adopted in 1992 which marked the abandonment of Marxism-Leninism
as the party's ideology. An orthodox left minority in the CC, led by Miguel Figueroa
, Elizabeth Rowley
and former leader William Kashtan
, resisted this effort and, after being defeated at the party's 1992 convention, several members of the opposition were expelled by the Central Executive. They, in turn, sued the party and, as the result of a court settlement, the Hewison group relinquished the name Communist Party of Canada, but retained the Cecil-Ross Society and were permitted by the settlement to transfer to it roughly half of the party's assets and the rights to the party's weekly paper Canadian Tribune which ceased publication.
The Cecil-Ross Society was not a political party and was restrained by the strictures of the Societies Act only being allowed to utilize its resources for educational and research purposes rather than for party political activity.
The society attempted two publishing endeavors, the magazines New Times and Ginger, both of which were short-lived. The society also created an oral history archive by recording the memoirs of veteran Communists.
After several years, the Cecil Ross Society disbanded its central organization and divided its remaining funds amongst its local branches throughout the country. Most of these branches no longer exist though one reportedly remains in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
.
Revisionism (Marxism)
Within the Marxist movement, the word revisionism is used to refer to various ideas, principles and theories that are based on a significant revision of fundamental Marxist premises. The term is most often used by those Marxists who believe that such revisions are unwarranted and represent a...
educational foundation operated by some former members of the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
after they were forced to terminate their association with the party in 1992 in a political and legal dispute following the fall of the Soviet Union. The society had been founded by the Communist Party some years before in order to hold various party assets.
The society was chartered under the Societies Act by George Hewison
George Hewison
George Hewison is a former long-time member of the Communist Party of Canada and trade unionist. A second-generation member of the party, Hewison grew up selling the party press and joined the party at the age of 17...
and other leaders of the Communist Party of Canada. The name came from the intersection of Cecil Street and Ross Street in Toronto which was for many years the location of the Communist Party's headquarters.
The Communist Party had split as the result of a new programme adopted in 1992 which marked the abandonment of Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
as the party's ideology. An orthodox left minority in the CC, led by Miguel Figueroa
Miguel Figueroa
Miguel Figueroa has been the leader of the Communist Party of Canada since 1992.- Early political career :Figueroa was born in Montreal, and has been a member of the CPC since 1977. He has held many positions within the CPC, including party organizer in Vancouver from 1978 to 1985, and leader of...
, Elizabeth Rowley
Elizabeth Rowley
Elizabeth Rowley is a politician, writer, and political activist in Ontario, Canada. Current leader of the Communist Party of Ontario, and a leading member of the Communist Party of Canada, Rowley has campaigned for office many times at both the municipal, federal and provincial levels.-Political...
and former leader William Kashtan
William Kashtan
William Kashtan became general secretary of the Communist Party of Canada in January 1965, several months following the death of Leslie Morris. The delay in his assuming the position was due to the opposition of Tim Buck to his appointment....
, resisted this effort and, after being defeated at the party's 1992 convention, several members of the opposition were expelled by the Central Executive. They, in turn, sued the party and, as the result of a court settlement, the Hewison group relinquished the name Communist Party of Canada, but retained the Cecil-Ross Society and were permitted by the settlement to transfer to it roughly half of the party's assets and the rights to the party's weekly paper Canadian Tribune which ceased publication.
The Cecil-Ross Society was not a political party and was restrained by the strictures of the Societies Act only being allowed to utilize its resources for educational and research purposes rather than for party political activity.
The society attempted two publishing endeavors, the magazines New Times and Ginger, both of which were short-lived. The society also created an oral history archive by recording the memoirs of veteran Communists.
After several years, the Cecil Ross Society disbanded its central organization and divided its remaining funds amongst its local branches throughout the country. Most of these branches no longer exist though one reportedly remains in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.