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Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)
Encyclopedia
The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) (CPC-ML) is a Canadian
federal
Marxist–Leninist political party
.
The party is registered with Elections Canada
as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada. Elections Canada, the agency which oversees elections and political parties, claimed that, in order to avoid confusion among voters, it could not allow political parties to register with similar names. In this case, Elections Canada argues that allowing the party to use its preferred name could cause confusion with the Communist Party of Canada — a decision opposed by the CPC-ML.
founded the Internationalists at the University of British Columbia
on March 13, 1963. Bains had sided with the People's Republic of China
in the emerging Sino-Soviet split
, a view contrary to that of the Communist Party of Canada
, and on that basis decided to work towards the formation of an anti-revisionist
Party in Canada.
The Internationalists were initially a Maoist student group but, as a result of their growth, they declared themselves a formal political party on March 31, 1970, and adopted the name "Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)".
The party first ran candidates for the Canadian House of Commons
during the 1974 federal election
but has had to run them as candidates of the "Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada" after Elections Canada
ruled that the party's preferred name was too close to that of the Communist Party of Canada. However, the party continues to call itself the CPC-ML outside of its federal electoral activities.
The ideological trajectory of CPC-ML changed from Maoism and support for the People's Republic of China
against what it saw as the revisionist (or Khrushchev
ite) Soviet Union
, to later siding with Albania during the Sino-Albanian split
that came two years after the death of Mao Zedong
. CPC-ML reoriented itself as an anti-revisionist party upholding the legacy of Enver Hoxha
and the Party of Labour of Albania until the collapse of the Communist Albania in 1992.
During the 1980s, the CPC-ML adopted a slogan of "We are our own models" and began to seek a new ideological approach. Because of differences in theory, the CPC and CPC-ML have never united as one party.
, although it does not promote Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il
or Juche
in the manner that it promoted Hoxha and Mao in previous years. The CPC-ML has developed a more independent line since the collapse of the Soviet bloc, prior to which it had a very stridently anti-revisionist
position, viewing the Soviet bloc as state capitalist
. Bains visited Cuba
several times in the 1990s which led him (and the CPC-ML) to revise his earlier views of Cuba as revisionist. The CPC-ML has become strongly supportive of Cuba and the Cuban Revolution
and now has close relations with the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa
and prints the English language edition of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper, Granma
, for Canadian distribution.
The CPC-ML was closely aligned with the Canadian Party for Renewal
in 1993.
On January 1, 1995, the party put forward a broad program of work for the current period, which it has named the Historic Initiative. This was further elaborated during its Seventh Congress.
From 1997 to 2008, the party's leader was Bains' widow, Sandra L. Smith. Smith has never run as a candidate in a general election despite being the leader. In 2008, Anna Di Carlo became the leader of the party's electoral arm, the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada while Smith remains First Secretary of the CPC-ML itself and president of the MLPC.
CPC-ML members are active in several trade union
s, particularly the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
and the United Steelworkers of America whose important Stelco
local (Local 1005) in Hamilton, Ontario
is led by Rolf Gerstenberger
who is vice-president of the MLPC. Local 1005 is one of several USWA locals at Stelco. USWA officials rely on other Stelco local officials to act as official spokespeople for the union in its dealings with the company and the courts, effectively isolating Gerstenberger. However, Gerstenberger has received support from Carolyn Egan president of USWA Local 8300, based in Toronto, and of the Steelworkers Toronto Area Council. CPC-ML has also been active in the movement against the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan
.
In recent years the party has adopted its own "Contemporary Marxist–Leninist Thought." Its Eighth Party Congress was to be held in 2005 with the theme ""Laying the Foundations for the Mass Communist Party," but the congress was delayed due to the Federal Election. The congress was held in September 2008.
The CPC-ML has a news-sheet, The Marxist–Leninist Daily, a youth wing, the Communist Youth Union of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) and also operates the "Workers Centre" which helps educate and organize trade unionists through discussion groups, and a magazine, Worker's Forum. The party often conducts broader political activity under the name "People's Front" and uses that name for the British Columbia
provincial wing of the party. (see People's Front (British Columbia)). In Ontario
provincial elections, CPC-ML supporters have most recently run as Independent Renewal candidates
.
. It was most prominent in the 1979 federal election
and 1980 federal election
, running under the slogan "Make the rich pay."
Its slogan in the 2004 federal election
was "Annexation no! Sovereignty yes!"
The party also nominated candidates in several by-election
s:
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...
federal
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
Marxist–Leninist political party
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...
.
The party is registered with 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...
as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada. Elections Canada, the agency which oversees elections and political parties, claimed that, in order to avoid confusion among voters, it could not allow political parties to register with similar names. In this case, Elections Canada argues that allowing the party to use its preferred name could cause confusion with the Communist Party of Canada — a decision opposed by the CPC-ML.
History and ideology
Hardial BainsHardial Bains
Hardial Bains was the founder of the Communist Party of Canada and its leader until his death...
founded the Internationalists at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
on March 13, 1963. Bains had sided with the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in the emerging Sino-Soviet split
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
, a view contrary to that 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...
, and on that basis decided to work towards the formation of an anti-revisionist
Anti-Revisionist
In the Marxist–Leninist movement, anti-revisionism refers to a doctrine which upholds the line of theory and practice associated with Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, and usually either Mao Zedong or Enver Hoxha as well...
Party in Canada.
The Internationalists were initially a Maoist student group but, as a result of their growth, they declared themselves a formal political party on March 31, 1970, and adopted the name "Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)".
The party first ran candidates for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
during the 1974 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1974
The Canadian federal election of 1974 was held on July 8, 1974 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 30th Parliament of Canada. The governing Liberal Party won its first majority government since 1968, and gave Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau his third term...
but has had to run them as candidates of the "Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada" after 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...
ruled that the party's preferred name was too close to that of the Communist Party of Canada. However, the party continues to call itself the CPC-ML outside of its federal electoral activities.
The ideological trajectory of CPC-ML changed from Maoism and support for the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
against what it saw as the revisionist (or Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
ite) Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, to later siding with Albania during the Sino-Albanian split
Sino-Albanian split
The Sino-Albanian split in 1978 saw the parting of the People's Republic of China and People's Socialist Republic of Albania, which was the only Eastern European nation to side with the PRC in the Sino–Soviet split of the early 1960s.-History:...
that came two years after the death of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. CPC-ML reoriented itself as an anti-revisionist party upholding the legacy of Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
and the Party of Labour of Albania until the collapse of the Communist Albania in 1992.
During the 1980s, the CPC-ML adopted a slogan of "We are our own models" and began to seek a new ideological approach. Because of differences in theory, the CPC and CPC-ML have never united as one party.
Current position
Today, the CPC-ML tends to be supportive of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's right to self-determinationSelf-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
, although it does not promote Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
or Juche
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
in the manner that it promoted Hoxha and Mao in previous years. The CPC-ML has developed a more independent line since the collapse of the Soviet bloc, prior to which it had a very stridently anti-revisionist
Anti-Revisionist
In the Marxist–Leninist movement, anti-revisionism refers to a doctrine which upholds the line of theory and practice associated with Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, and usually either Mao Zedong or Enver Hoxha as well...
position, viewing the Soviet bloc as state capitalist
State capitalism
The term State capitalism has various meanings, but is usually described as commercial economic activity undertaken by the state with management of the productive forces in a capitalist manner, even if the state is nominally socialist. State capitalism is usually characterized by the dominance or...
. Bains visited Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
several times in the 1990s which led him (and the CPC-ML) to revise his earlier views of Cuba as revisionist. The CPC-ML has become strongly supportive of Cuba and the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
and now has close relations with the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and prints the English language edition of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper, Granma
Granma (newspaper)
Granma is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party.Its name comes from the yacht Granma that carried Fidel Castro and 81 other rebels to Cuba's shores in 1956 launching the Cuban Revolution.-Editions:...
, for Canadian distribution.
The CPC-ML was closely aligned with the Canadian Party for Renewal
Canadian Party for Renewal
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 ....
in 1993.
On January 1, 1995, the party put forward a broad program of work for the current period, which it has named the Historic Initiative. This was further elaborated during its Seventh Congress.
From 1997 to 2008, the party's leader was Bains' widow, Sandra L. Smith. Smith has never run as a candidate in a general election despite being the leader. In 2008, Anna Di Carlo became the leader of the party's electoral arm, the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada while Smith remains First Secretary of the CPC-ML itself and president of the MLPC.
CPC-ML members are active in several trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s, particularly the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers or CUPW is a public sector trade union representing postal workers employed at Canada Post as well as private sector workers outside Canada Post.-Activities:...
and the United Steelworkers of America whose important Stelco
Stelco
US Steel Canada is a steel company based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.-History:Several existing smaller steelworks combined and were incorporated as the Steel Company of Canada in 1910. Charles S...
local (Local 1005) in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
is led by Rolf Gerstenberger
Rolf Gerstenberger
Rolf Gerstenberger is president of the United Steelworkers, Local 1005 at the Hamilton Works of U.S. Steel Canada in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is also a prominent member of the Communist Party of Canada and vice-president of its electoral arm, the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada...
who is vice-president of the MLPC. Local 1005 is one of several USWA locals at Stelco. USWA officials rely on other Stelco local officials to act as official spokespeople for the union in its dealings with the company and the courts, effectively isolating Gerstenberger. However, Gerstenberger has received support from Carolyn Egan president of USWA Local 8300, based in Toronto, and of the Steelworkers Toronto Area Council. CPC-ML has also been active in the movement against the wars in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
In recent years the party has adopted its own "Contemporary Marxist–Leninist Thought." Its Eighth Party Congress was to be held in 2005 with the theme ""Laying the Foundations for the Mass Communist Party," but the congress was delayed due to the Federal Election. The congress was held in September 2008.
The CPC-ML has a news-sheet, The Marxist–Leninist Daily, a youth wing, the Communist Youth Union of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) and also operates the "Workers Centre" which helps educate and organize trade unionists through discussion groups, and a magazine, Worker's Forum. The party often conducts broader political activity under the name "People's Front" and uses that name for the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
provincial wing of the party. (see People's Front (British Columbia)). In Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
provincial elections, CPC-ML supporters have most recently run as Independent Renewal candidates
Independent Renewal candidates, 2003 Ontario provincial election
The Communist Party of Canada - Marxist-Leninist ran ten candidates in the 2003 Ontario provincial election. They did not use the CPC-ML name, but instead campaigned as "Independent Renewal" candidates...
.
Party leaders
- Hardial BainsHardial BainsHardial Bains was the founder of the Communist Party of Canada and its leader until his death...
(1970–1997) - Sandra L. Smith (1998–2008)
- Anna Di Carlo (2008–present)
Electoral results
The party has run candidates in Canadian federal elections since 1972, with the number of candidates in any one election ranging from as few as 51 and as many as 177. Most of its candidates have run in the provinces of Ontario and QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. It was most prominent in the 1979 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
and 1980 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
, running under the slogan "Make the rich pay."
Its slogan in the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
was "Annexation no! Sovereignty yes!"
| Election | # of candidates nominated | # of seats won | # of total votes | % of popular vote | % in ridings contested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 Canadian federal election, 1974 The Canadian federal election of 1974 was held on July 8, 1974 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 30th Parliament of Canada. The governing Liberal Party won its first majority government since 1968, and gave Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau his third term... |
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| 1979 Canadian federal election, 1979 The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive... |
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| 1980 Canadian federal election, 1980 The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada... |
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| 1993 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... |
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| 1997 Canadian federal election, 1997 The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government... |
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| 2000 Canadian federal election, 2000 The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada.... |
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| 2004 Canadian federal election, 2004 The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections... |
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| 2006 Canadian federal election, 2006 The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:... |
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| 2008 Canadian federal election, 2008 The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008... |
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The party also nominated candidates in several by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s:
- September 8, 1980 - 0 elected
- Hamilton West - 30 960 total votes - 120 votes received - 0.39%
- February 13, 1995 - 0 elected
- Ottawa—VanierOttawa—VanierOttawa—Vanier is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935...
- 19 843 total votes - 61 votes received - 0.3% - Saint-Henri—WestmountSaint-Henri—WestmountSaint-Henri—Westmount was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1997....
- 16 697 total votes - 47 votes received - 0.28%
- Ottawa—Vanier
- September 14, 1998 - 0 elected
- SherbrookeSherbrooke (electoral district)Sherbrooke is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1925.-Geography:This riding in the south of the province is located in the Quebec region of Estrie...
- 36 446 total votes - 72 votes received - 0.19%
- Sherbrooke
See also
- Parti marxiste-léniniste du QuébecParti marxiste-léniniste du QuébecThe Parti marxiste-léniniste du Québec or PMLQ is a Quebec communist political party. Its orientation is Marxism-Leninism. The PMLQ is the Quebec branch of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada...
- People's Front (British Columbia)People's Front (British Columbia)The People's Front is the British Columbia, Canada wing of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada.In the 2001 British Columbia election, it nominated 11 candidates, received a total of 720 votes...
- Independent Renewal candidates, 2003 Ontario provincial electionIndependent Renewal candidates, 2003 Ontario provincial electionThe Communist Party of Canada - Marxist-Leninist ran ten candidates in the 2003 Ontario provincial election. They did not use the CPC-ML name, but instead campaigned as "Independent Renewal" candidates...