< dence and socialism.” “e ine siti William Kashtan inspecting the more than 40 paintings con- tributed by artists to decorate the convention hall. The rostrum also was decorated with a beautifully painted emblem of the Party. Dele- gates were presented with a souvenir card from the Cultural Com- mittee of the Central Committee, its cover showing a clenched fist on a red maple leaf background, and inside a 1972 calendar and a message in both English and French: “Culture in the hands of the working people is a weapon in their struggle for Canadian indepen- Tribute to founders, welcome to youth Four hundred Torontonians joined with over 100 delegates from all parts of Canada Satur- day evening to pack the Masonic Temple banquet hall in a happy celebration of the 50th anniver- sary of the founding of the Communist Party of Canada. The hall, vividly decorated with the flag of Canada and the red flag of labor, the beaming faces of the oldtimers and fresh voices of youth, the mingling of the nationalities that make up the Canadian working class, and the excitement of participating in an event of historic meaning gave the evening a truly festive air. When the chairman, union leader George Harris, introduced the guests from France. Italy and the U.S., there was an ova- tion. When at the close of the concert program the Young Communist League chorus led the whole assembly in singing the Internationale—the words in French and English swelling in unison—there were tears in the eyes of many as they stood and sang the rousing hymn of the workers of the world. The origins of the party were recalled—at the head table sat John Boychuk, one of the origi- nals who gathered in that farm building near Guelph half a cen- tury ago to establish the Com- munist Party—meeting clandes- tinely because of the War Mea- sures Act then in use. In the hall were two more of the dwindling number of those that participated in that historic gathering who live in Toronto, Tom Burpee and Max Dolgoy, while a number of other Toronto and out-of-town founding mem- bers were also present. John Boychuk spoke with hu- mor and insight about the found- ing itself and the 50 years since. He called on the youth to join the party’s ranks and lead its work forward, recalling that Tim Buck and other founders were young when they launched the party in 1921. When he was presented with a scroll of honor by the Metro-Toronto Commit- tee the applause was thunder- ous. A long list of members in Toronto who have been in the party 35 years and more was read and later they all received scrolls of honor. William Kashtan made a brief, moving speech in proposing the toast to the party, honoring those courageous and devoted Communists who paved the way, Tim Buck and the others who guided the party’s steps, the many thousands who are proud- ly carrying its banners today. Then came the entertainment. The Hahilka Ensemble of the Ukrainian progressive organiza- tion in Toronto began with the traditional presentation of bread and salt. The beautiful melodies of the Ukraine were followed by a spirited folk dance that “brought the house” down. Two Quebec delegates —Claire De- mers and her sister Michele — sang songs of the French Cana- dian people, the YCL-ers mo- dern songs of youth and struggle for peace and progress. The reading of two poems by J. S. Wallace—‘“The Five-Point Star” written in 1922, describing the conditions in which the Com- munist Party was born, and a very recent one “On, On and Up!” looking forward to the vic- tory of a way of life ‘where peace and brotherhood abides.” The tables were then cleared and the memorable evening end- ed in a ball with young and old dancing to the music of Mike Lukach’s dance band. WHAT PILL? PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1971—PAGE 4 In enthusiastic unanimity the 50th Anniversary (21st) Convention of the Communist Party of Canada adopted the redraft of its program, The Road to Socialism in Canada, and a policy re- solution swinging the party into re- newed efforts in the great struggles today of the Canadian people against monopoly. From British Columbia to i? S31 , * Se ” b suc e Carl Bloice, Margrit Pittman, Helen Winter, fraternal delegates of the CPUSA. ‘Blows at imperialists help American people’ (Greeting delivered by Helen Winter) On behalf of the delegation of the Communist Party of the United States, in the name of its National Committee, of our Na- tional Chairman Henry Winston and our General Secretary Gus Hall—I am happy to extend warm fraternal greetings and express the esteem of all our comrades for the party of our revolutionary brothers and sis- ters of Canada. We especially greet you on this 50th anniver- sary of your party, which rep- resents 50 years of unflinching struggle towards socialism. At its recently concluded meeting our National Committee unanimously adopted a resolu- tion of thanks and appreciation to the Communist Party of Canada for the contributions it is making to the growing world- wide movement of solidarity and support to the movement for the freedom of Angela Davis—our comrade who is being held in prison as a hostage of U.S. im- perialism. Our government seeks to lynch Angela as an act of ter- ror against all of the forces of progress who oppose the racist, oppressive and aggressive course of U.S. imperialism in the world. As is known to you, the mono- poly ruling class in pursuit of its profit-lust, and the reaction- ary Nixon misleadership at the head of government, has run our country into the bog of deepen- ing general crisis. The deterior- ating economic situation in the United States is most graphically reflected in the statistics of stark human misery of the job- less workers in our country—the number of unemployed is esti- mated to be between eight and ten million. The response of the Nixon government has been to shift the burdens of the collap- sing economy onto the shoul- ders of the wage-earners and consumers. Wages have been frozen but profits are left free to escalate, inflation remains un- checked and prices on the vital consumption needs of the peo- ple soar skyward. Nixon has also sought to keep the sinking value of the dollar at the ex- pense of the stability of curren- cies of the western partners. The world monetary crisis bears its “made in the USA label.” With its surcharge on imports and other measures which penal- ize and put in jeopardy the eco- nomic life of the traditional trad- ing partners, especially those most penetrated by U.S. capi- talist holdings such as Canada, the monopolists of our country are also trying to find a way out of their crisis at the expense of other countries and is succeed- ing in exporting and extending its own economic miseries into a spreading world capitalist eco- nomic crisis. Accompanying the economic downturn in the United States is a rise in police repression and a new thrust of reaction in the political arena. The world is ap- palled at the horror of the Attica prison massacre and correctly understood it as a symbol of a rise in repressive brutality on the part of an increasingly des- e continued on page 9 Keynote address Communist Party Convention pages 5-6-7 Communist Party program | calls for unity of people for genuine independence Nova Scotia, 147 elected delegates cams together for the three-day convenuo™n in Toronto which commenced day, November 27. They heard William Kashtan, whom they re-elected as leader of the Com munist Party, in his keynote describe the redrafted program 48. significant contribution to the worlang Satur-s addres $8 class and democratic ment.” With the completion sunday afternoon of this first % ‘4 three major items on the ae vention agenda, the deeb?” turned to consideration ° line for the next period, — the specific t the party in today’s strug the working class and. a cratic forces — the poligy nh solution complements the Me vie range strategic aims to a¢ tity socialism in Canada set the program. policy resolution, t tion determined that munist Party in the nex elections will “run an campaign with a maximum ber of candidates.” (Theme. issue of the Canadiat th th will carry materials on bo solu program and the policy re tion.) : With 113 men and 34 delegates present, all com : a ists experienced in the "4, i le struggles of the peoP peace, for jobs, for dem rights and for Canadian in unl dence, the 21st onspirit | j wa t Party convention By discuss!Ona and searching in t «vate contributions of these weet fighters for the interests Canadian working clas® ays Their dedication = its was deeply enriche iri ey eetides beought in the Si of proletarian internate th by fraternal delegates fro USA Communist parties a the of Italy and of France. e First. of the fraternal a ates to -address the CcOnV™s as he brought greetings ty’ the Italian Communist “yj Central Committee ber cenzo Corghi, A meme j Corghi resented Communist leader Kashta’ ja a gold medallion ste g year to commemorate anniversary of the Italia” munist Party. 2 Ren Leading a delegation ity from’ the Communist af USA, Helen Winter, me™ its Political Committee tional Committee, convey party’s fraternal gree 1 Canadian Communists. with on the CP USA delegall®, Carl Bloice, member © Jor a tional Committee an People’s World, an Pittman of the staff 0 World. For the Communist Par net France, Marius Bertou, of its Central ee g brought solidarity gre€ ncludain the convention. He ntatio his address with pres¢ of CAM to the Communist Part . ada of a volume ° e continued ¢ the ??