More languages
More actions
Communist Party of Canada Parti communiste du Canada | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General Secretary | Elizabeth Rowley |
| Founded | May 28, 1921 |
| Newspaper | People's Voice |
| Youth wing | Young Communist League of Canada |
| International affiliation | IMCWP |
| Website | |
| https://communist-party.ca/ | |
| Part of a series on |
| Communist parties |
|---|
The Communist Party of Canada (CPC) is a Marxist–Leninist party in Canada.
History
Foundation
The Communist Party of Canada was founded in May 1921 near Guelph, Ontario. Its first congress was held illegally in a barn.[1]
Great Depression
During the Great Depression, the CPC founded the Trade Union Education League. Because the right-wing unions refused to strike, 90% of strikes in the 1930s were led by communists. In 1931, General Secretary Tim Buck was arrested. 1,200 Canadians fought in the Spanish Civil War as part of the Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion.[1]
Second World War
The CPC initially opposed Canadian involvement in the Second World War but changed its position in 1941 after the invasion of the Soviet Union. In 1940, Dorise Nielsen from Saskatchewan became the first communist in the Canadian parliament.[1]
1990s
After the fall of socialism in Eastern Europe and the overthrow of the Soviet Union, the CPC took a revisionist line under General Secretary George Hewison. The party briefly abandoned revolutionary socialism for social democracy but reaffirmed Marxism–Leninism at the 30th party congress in 1992.[1]
Political positions
The CPC stands for Canada's withdrawal from NATO and NORAD. It also supports self-determination for Quebec.[1]