I Militance, political unity mark CP convention By JAMES LEECH TORONTO — The political documents that will guide the Communist Party of Canada in its work over the next three years were approved unanimously by a high-spirited 26th Convention held at Downtown Holiday Inn on the Easter weekend. With the convention hall resounding to standing ovations for fraternal delegates and party veterans, with discussion on the draft political resolution — The Road Ahead, on the keynote ad- dress delivered by party leader William Kashtan, and on a num- ber of action resolutions, Cana- dian communists demonstrated not only a clear perspective but unbreakable party unity. They affirmed among other things, their determination to press for a $10-billion government investment program to create jobs, and to publish in the name of the party an initial 200,000 run ofa leaflet entitled: No to Star Wars — No Canadian Participation. It will be distributed in factories and neighborhoods. across the ‘country. The 151 delegates from eight provinces were joined by alter- nates, observers, fraternal dele- gates and guests to raise the number present to 450. Speakers hailed the mix of seasoned party members and the large number of youthful delegates; many of them women, as evidence of steady continuity spiced with an ongoing renewal taking place throughout the Communist Party. The youngest delegate was 23, with 58 per cent 45 years of age or under — an average age of 44. That included two delegates aged 80 and 82 who topped the age scale. Forty-seven per cent were trade unionists. Open to Media What happens at a Communist Party convention? First, it is open to the media — many of whom attended, with TV cameras, microphones, tape recorders, notebooks and cameras. The fact that not much appeared is not be- cause of any secrecy by the com- munists. Delegates, who have been part of a three-month discussion of the main resolution everywhere in — the party, were elected at provin- cial nominating conventions, and came prepared with amendments, speeches about developments in their localities, and arguments for or against specific proposals. As party leader William Kashtan said in his summation, it provided for ‘‘a rich discussion, involved a good portion of the delegates (90 spoke in the plenary sessions and.140 in. the work- shops), and exhibited a militant spirit, enthusiasm and _ opti- mism.”’ Discussion was heard on the main resolution, the keynote ad- dress by the party leader, and on about 25 action resolutions. The first two were adopted unanim- ously, taking into account points made for strengthening them; and the action resolutions were adopted with unanimity or near unanimity. If a “‘glittering’’ reception can be held in a vast hall that hosts a farmers’ market every Saturday, this was it. On April 5, in the dark of night, the St. Lawrence Market came alive with children, guests from far away places, food, refresh- ments, music and the enthu- siasm Canada’s Communists generate as they relax from reviewing increasing successes. In the vast hall, where many of us Torontonians buy our potatoes and apples, 1,000 guests gathered to toast the 26th Convention of the Communist Party of Canada. CP labor secretary George Hewison accompanies children’s choir. 1,000 celebrate congress Musical presentations in- cluded a children’s group sing- ing May There Always Be Sun- shine, and It’s a Small World After All. George Hewison led the children, and produced a strong bond with the peace sen- timent of the 26th Convention which opened that day. The children, individually, pres- ented a flower to each of the fraternal guests. Delegates, party leaders, fraternal delegates, party members, friends and well- wishers jammed the hall, which was decorated strikingly with streamers. In his toast, William Kashtan, leader of the Commu- nist Party of Canada, referred to tasks to be undertaken, and to the encouraging trend in to- day’s struggles for a working- class voice in Canadian affairs. He spoke warmly of the decision of fraternal Communists and Workers’ parties to send delegations and messages of greetings to the convention of Canadian Communists. Camaraderie in the lighter vein dominated the evening as comrades girded themselves for the serious work ahead. One of the responsibilities of the convention is to elect a Cent- ral Committee and a party leader. At this convention William Kash- tan, 75, was the unanimous choice for party leader. A Central Committee of 77 was elected by ‘secret ballot, as were alternate members. At a meeting between sessions the new Central Com- mittee elected its executive. In the chandeliered convention hall, slogans stretched the length and breadth: Build Canada’s party of socialism; Canada out of NATO and NORAD, and others. Displays filling one end of the hall depicted in photos, posters and artwork the many-sided struggles FOR AN INDI o TRIBUNE PHOTO — MIKE PHILLIPS in various parts of the country. And a treasure-trove of books was offered..This convention had the privilege of welcoming for the first time a delegation from New- foundland/Labrador. It was also the occasion for the launching of the book — Le Parti du socialisme: du Canada, L’histoire du Parti communiste du Canada 1921-1976 —the French language edition of Canada’s Party of Socialism, pub- lished by Progress Books in 1982. The Other USA Perhaps some of the greatest appreciation was bestowed on the fraternal delegates of whom there were 30 from 16 countries. Right at the start of his address on the -first day, party leader William Kashtan singled out the represen- tatives of the Communist Party of the USA — Henry Winston (its chairman) and Fern Winston — saying: ‘‘The USA is not only made up of Reagan and company. It is also made up of the other America, that of the American people, the America fighting for peace and social progress and for fundamental change.’’ He ad- dressed ‘‘a particular welcome” to the Winstons. The convention-was honored to hear greetings from a rep- resentative of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, P.A. Smolsky, and spokespersons from seven additional parties of socialist countries, along with those from parties and move- ments of capitalist and developing countries. Written messages were read from a number of Commu- nist and Workers’ parties, notably from the Workers’ Party of Korea, whose delegation was re- fused visas. The workshops were a new de- parture for the Communist Par- -ty’s convention, offering an opportunity to dig into more detail on a given topic, and offering a more intimate group in which delegates could make a contri- bution. Workshops were held on: Building the Party, the Press and the YCL; Development of Ideological; Educational and Lit- “erature Work; The Party and the Municipal Movement; The Party and the Peace Movement; The Party and the Trade Union Movement; The Party and the Women’s Movement; The Party and the YCL and the Youth and Student Movement. Samuel Walsh, a member of the Central Executive of the CPC, and head of the Particommuniste du Québec, an integral part of the CPC, made an interim report for the committee studying the par- ty’s program — The Road to Socialism in Canada — for pur- poses of updating at a future time. Action resolutions added considerable punch to the gather- ing, ranging from solidarity (in the hemisphere, on the trade union front, and father afield) to noting the 40th anniversary of the vic- tory over Hitler fascism, and on current issues confronting Cana- dians. Two resolutions in support of Canada’s Native movement were passed unanimously. The ‘*No to Star Wars” leafiet, around which provincial delega- tions competed to do record distributions, denounces the 60-day ultimatum given Canada and other NATO countries by the Reagan administration, demand- ing they declare their support for the ‘‘deadly escalation’’ of the arms build-up. The leafiet de- mands that Canada respond posi- tively to the April 7 unilateral moratorium on Soviet missile deployment announced by the USSR’s Mikhail Gorbachev. The convention closed with the singing of The Internationale. PACIFIC TRIBUNE, APRIL 24, 1985 e 7