New Canadian
Constitution ~

One of the central topics for
discussion at the convention was
the two-nation fact of Canada,
and the need for a made-in-

Canada Constitution.

“The debates centering around
patriation of the British North
America Act show the different
Sectional interests of monopoly in

Canada,’’ Communist leader Wil-

liam Kashtan pointed out.

~ Communists do not support the.

Trudeau concept of bilingualism
as a substitute for an equal volun-
lary partnership of our two na-
tions in a bi-national state. They
See the cause of the present con-
Stitutional crisis in the . policies
under which the Liberals and To-
Ties speak of patriation of the
BNA Act from its resting place in
England, with all its built-in in-
€qualities and denial of French
Canada’s rights.

The Communist Party adopted
the: following as basic principles
Which should be incorporated in a
8enuine made-in-Canada Con-
Stitution:

e A bi-national state with lan-

guage and culture guaranteed to
the English and French Canadian

people;

e Redistribution of the na-
tional income in favor of the

working people;

e Resources to be under the
control of the people through
democratic public ownership;

e Fundamental human and
democratic rights to be guaran-
teed to all Canadians, these to in-
clude the right to a job, health,
education, the right to free
speech, to assembly, to organize,
to collective bargaining, to strike;
the right of national minority
groups to express themselves in
their mother tongues and cultural
forms? 2222

e New relations to be estab-
lished between federal, provincial
and municipal governments giv-
ing municipalities rights not pre-

- sently enjoyed;

e Full recognition of the na-
tional rights of the Native people
and development of their cul-
tures; 5

e Real equality and democratic
rights for all Canadians.

- Struggle against
shift to the right

- _ Taking its lead from the open-
Ing address of Party leader Wil-

Kashtan, the convention
Concluded that state monopoly
Capitalism’s proven inability to
Cope with the basic problems of
the people is behind the crisis of
Credibility, which is in fact, a
Crisis of capitalist policy.

The views of the convention
Were clear: _

__ There is a shift to the right in
Canadian politics today, similar
fo such tendencies in almost all
Capitalist countries. However, a
_ Shift to the right and the election
of'a Tory government would mul-
Uply the misfortunes facing the

anadian people and the country.

The federal government’s in-
- ability to deal with inflation, elimi-
- Nate poverty, check unemploy-

Ment and deal with the crisis of

Onfederation are reasons why

anadian people are turning away
from the Liberal government.

.,_ rhe Tory program, however, is

typically reactionary”. It is
aimed against the working class at

Ome. It supports a huge arms
Program and anti-Sovietism
abroad, calls for a pro-U.S. stand
that is a sell-out to United States
Mperialism. Such a program
Would be a betrayal of the best
IMterests of Canada.

An article in MacLean’s
Magazine of Sept. 20, outlining
the broad policy line of the Con-
Servatives, noted that were they
| power, the PCs would cut back
©n social welfare programs, seek
4 closer relationship with the

SA and ‘take a tough anti-

Ommunist, pro-NATO stance.”

Clark’s ideas are aimed to make
the bankers, the industrialists,

S. imperialism, all happy and
Sure of their Mr. Clark.

Despite the efforts of monopoly
and the media to shift politics to
the right, this can be defeated,
provided there ‘is unity of all

democratic forces around an al-.

ternative program to monopoly,

the convention emphasized. It

becomes necessary now to rally
all forces favoring ‘new
economic and social policies’’ in-
cluding nationalization of natural
resources, energy, key industries,
the banks and insurance com-

panies.
As well, the conference de-

clared, such a democratic alterna- -

tive for the Canadian people
would call for a new ‘‘made-in-
Canada’’ Constitution and adher-
ence to the policies of peace, de-
tente, disarmament and trade.
This is the key to the Communist
program worked out by the dele-

gates.

in China

~The 23rd convention of the
Communist Party of Canada
expressed hope, “that the re-
cent developments in China
will lead to a return to the posi-
tion of Marxism-Leninism and
proletarian internationalism,
and that divisions will be re-
placed by the restoration of the
unity of the international com-
munist movement.”

The convention agreed that
“the Communist Party of
Canada will continue to oppose
revisionism and opportunism in
all its forms, while extending
the hand of friendship and co-
operation to the great Chinese
people and the Chinese Com-
munists who strive to build
socialism.” ;

23rd Convention: delegates listen to the report.

TRIBUNE PHOTO

Day of Protest is an
historic day for Canada

The Communist Party’s full
backing for labor’s Day of Pro-
test, Oct. 14, was reaffirmed by
the 23rd Convention, which cal-
led it ‘‘an historic event for the

working class and the working’

people of Canada.”’

The ‘‘consistent and ever-
‘growing fightback of the working
class against the crisis policies of
monopoly”’ is the ‘‘most signifi-
cant development in Canada to-
day,’ the Convention agreed,
echoing the words of Party leader
William Kashtan.

Because the state, as the repre-
sentative of the big monopolies,
with its political parties, stands in
the way of democratic advance
and- progress, it is important to

-combine both aspects of the

struggle— economic and political
— to advance and extend real
democracy. ‘

Government and the
monopolies have combined to
undermine the Day of Protest and
to divide workers, to play one
group against another, the con-
vention charged. But again and
again delegates stressed that Oct.
14 ‘won't be the end of the line. It

will be the beginning of a new

stage of the struggle .. . ifone Day
of Protest isn’t enough, then two
or three could be considered.”

Picking up Kashtan’s reference
to the growing unity of French
and English Canadian workers
around the Oct. 14 Protest, the
convention underscored the fact
that all Canadian workers have
one enemy — monopoly — on
which they must concentrate
their attack. Not only French-
English unity, but left unity and
left-centre unity in the trade union
movement is needed in today’s
conditions, the convention
stressed.

Tribute was paid to the new,
important organizing role of labor
councils and provincial labor fed-
erations in the mobilizing being
conducted for the Protest. The
key role of the Canadian Labor
Congress, shows that the CLC
has become not only the legisla-
tive centre of the trade union

movement in Canada, but the
centre of a united, independent
and sovereign trade union
movement.

The convention noted that the
CLC memo to the federal gov-
ernment made three vital de-
mands: for a Day of Protest, for
economic and social planning,
and for machinery to deal with
investments, manpower and
equitable distribution of income.

However, the CLC memo fell
short by ignoring U.S. ownership
of decisive sectors of the Cana-
dian economy, which obstructs

the very planning called for. Plan-
ning in the circumstances would
be planning for corporation pro-
fits, the convention stated.

It recognized the need for the
working class to have a decisive
voice in all questions of concern
to it, along with the need for a
struggle for democratic nationali-
zation and democratic planning,
and for the election of a democra-
tic, anti-monopoly coalition gov-
ernment to implement such a pro-
gram and to open the door to
fundamental reorganization of
society on a socialist basis.

Warm solidarity

Greeting the 23rd Convention in
the name of the African National
Congress of South Africa, Shanti
Naidoo expressed appreciation
for the solidarity shown by Cana-
dians for the freedom struggle in
her country. :

She told the. delegates that
“thousands of political prisoners
are in jail under extreme duress
and torture — a reflection of the
determination, strength and con-
viction of the revolutionary people
of South Africa.”

Ms. Naidoo outlined the racist
policy of the apartheid regime, its
attack on people’s organizations
and the many laws used to smash
the resistance. She also told her
personal story:

“The notorious 90 Day Deten-
tion Law brought horror to
thousands of militants — this was
the beginning of detention and sol-
itary confinement without trial.
The racist regime continued to
display its determination to wipe
out all opposition with the Ter-

with South Africa ©

rorism Act under which | was de- ~
tained for 367 days in solitary con- |

finement.

“Political detention is very dis-
tinct from imprisonment,” she
said. “People can be taken away
without word to their families.
Once in detention, there is no out-
side contact or resource to legal
representation. :

“My Interrogation lasted five
days without sleep. Attempts were

f

SHANTI NAIDOO

made to dehumanize, humiliate
and remove me from the realities
of life. Apart from these five days,
the rest of my detention was spent
in solitary confinement.

“Lwas taken to court to give evi-
dence in the trial of Winnie Man-
dela and others. | was sentenced
to two months for refusing to give
evidence. Though now judicially a_
prisoner, | was not accorded the
normal privileges such as visits,
letters, etc. — in fact, my position
remained the same. After 367 days
I was released.”

Ms. Naidoo appealed to the

_ Party to continue and strengthen

its work for the liberation struggle
in South Africa and the release of
political prisoners. She urged the
isolation of South Africa in every
sphere and concluded her stirring ©
remarks: “Power to the people of
South Africa!”

\UNIST OF CANADA

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—OCTOBER 22, 1976—Page 7