Quebec

PCQ endorses independence project

The Parti Communiste du Quebec recntly held an orientation confer-
ence, where members discussed questions of policy and organization for
new times. While the meeting had no decision-making power, its recommen-
dations will carry “considerable moral weight,” and form the basis for

of next year.

pA jk pa changes that the leadership will puttoa PCQ convention in May

A notable aspect of the conference, held April 28-29 and May 27, was the
extensive participation in the discussion by guests. Individuals from the
trade union movement, popular and Christian organizations, and other left
formations added their voices to the debate, and all participants commented

on the utility of this approach.

Several weeks before the conference was
held, the national executive of the Parti
Communiste du Quebec began a re-exam-
ination of its position on the national ques-
tion. The general content of this was publish-
ed in one of the party leader’s contributions
to the May issue of 1’ Alternative, devoted to
the conference.

Marianne Roy called into question the
form, traditionally defended by the party, of
the principle of working class unity in Eng-
lish Canada and Quebec. This opened the
door to the idea that real national equality
would only be attained by beginning a pro-
cess that would concretely define the con-
tents of the right to self-determination in a
Quebec constitution...

Taking account of the fact that there
hadn’t yet been a large discussion among the
membership on the question before the con-
ference, the following proposition, amended
and in two parts, was put forward.

¢ that the PCQ support the idea of an
independent Quebec reflecting the interests
of workers, First Nations, the anglophone
national minority and ethnic communities;

¢ that a discussion of this issue be or-
ganized throughout the party, preceding a
decision by the national committee.

This proposition was followed by atwen-
ty-minute discussion, and majority adop-
tion.

This orientation implies at least a sig-
nificant adjustment of links between the
PCQ and the Communist Party of Canada.
Presently, the PCQ is defined as a distinct
entity in the CPC having complete jurisdic-
tion over its policies and structures in Que-
bec.

It was decided to mandate the national
executive committee to meet the central
executive of the CPC and the provincial
leaders to establish the means by which the
decisions taken at the conference regarding
this matter would be applied. ‘The NEC
would submit a report to the national com-
mittee and the membership on the outcome
of this discussion.

The orientation adopted would attempt to
establish party structures corresponding to
its position on the national question. Com-
plete equality would exist between the CPC
and the PCQ while organic links would be
maintained. Also envisaged is the possibility
of creating other national sections corres-
ponding to the aboriginal nations. It was
proposed to eliminate the obligation for
members of the PCQ to be members of the
CPC and to support its program.

As well, the PCQ would have direct links
with other parties at the international level.

The conference criticized the PCQ for its
lack of critical vision regarding, for exam-
ple, its position on the invasion of Czechos-
lovakia. The party must reject the Stalinist
and bureaucratic model, supporting the pro-
cess of democratization in the countries of
Eastern Europe while denouncing tenden-
cies toward capitalism.

Generally, it’s necessary to develop a
new socialist alternative. According to the
majority at the conference, sooner or later
the people of East Europe will find the path
toward progress and an authentic socialism.

Regarding that which concerns the PCQ
specifically, it’s necessary to take concrete
measures to eliminate all Stalinist and bur-
eaucratic vestiges, to eliminate stagnation in
party practice and theory. The party must

6 « Pacific Tribune, July 2, 1990

begin to think for itself and stop once and for
all the practice of waiting for the analysis of
others before making decisions.

Four principal ideas came out of the dis-
cussion around the theme of the capitalist
world today. The most important, which also
found expression in the others, underlines
one of the major weaknesses bequeathed
from the past: the lack of theoretical dev-
elopment.

It was decided to undertake studies and
analyses in co-operation with other left and
progressive forces of the rapid transforma-
tions of the capitalist world and their impact.

The question of the effects of the scien-
tific and technological revolution on the
working class must be a specific question of
study linked to the struggle against the entre-
preneurial mentality it supports.

The genuine democratization of the
workplace is another subject considered to
have priority. It constitutes an important step
toward abolishing the alienation of work.

The conference emphasized the urgent
need for the democratic forces, our party
included, to seek to elaborate a “‘bio-eco-
nomic” alternative viable for the short term.

The vision of socialism developed at the
conference advances a certain number of
general lines able to help show the way
forward. Socialism equals the deep dem-
ocratization of all social domains, their radi-
cal transformations; a socialist society is
based on popular sovereignty, it seeks social
justice, democracy, the end of exploitation
of one person by another, and of racism and
sexism; a key step would be the assumption
of political power by the working class and
other popular strata.

...9O that our party can play a role in the
development and the formation of a dem-
ocratic political alternative, it was said that
it should be a party of action, in which
members are engaged in workers,’ people’s
and social struggles.

In this sense, members must advance the
objectives and politics of the party for the
short, medium, and long term in order to win
activists to the political struggle for the for-
mation of this democratic political alterna-
tive and for socialism. Many times the im-
portance of pursuing and enlarging
discussions and exchanges with other for-
mations, left activists in Quebec, and with
independent socialists, was stressed.

The ideological bases of the party would
be extended: the PCQ is a party that seeks
the fundamental transformation of society. It

finds inspiration in Marxist analysis adval
ced in the classics and by contemporaly
authors, and also in humanist, ecologi
feminist analyses...

The definition of the PCQ as vangualé
was abandoned by unanimous decision.
conference tried to define the contents of
organizational principles that the party must
assume, and dropped the term “democrat¢
centralism.”

Thus it was said that the functioning
organization, and structures of the patty
must serve the means to achieve the greatest
unity of members in action and around
goals and objectives the party defends.

The positions and decisions of the patty
must be elaborated, then formulated, from@ |
democratic process of debate, exchang
and struggle of ideas among the member
ship. Once a position or majority decision § |
taken at the end of this process, each mem
ber retains the right to express themselves
and openly advance their ideas, even if they
express positions contrary to those of the
majority. There must also be the right ©
promote, inside the party, political altemé
tives...

Finally it was decided to begin a process
that could lead to a change of name at the
next congress. The party will invite mem
bers to make suggestions either for a neW
name or to retain the present one. The dee
ision will be taken by referendum before the
next congress.

In a Tribune interview that explored
some of the ideas coming out of the orien-
tation conference of the Parti Communiste
du Quebec, leader Marianne Roy was
reluctant to be specific over the form of
Quebec independence her party will
favour.

Does, for example, the PCQ like the
idea of some brand of sovereignty associa-
tion where currency union is maintained
and Quebec has a say in Bank of Canada
decisions?

“I don’t think we can say anything
detailed and concrete. What we’re doing
is putting the emphasis on the democratic
process.” She noted that by pushing wide
discussion, which would include the
greatest possible participation of repre-
sentatives from the popular strata (and
eventually perhaps a democratic constit-
uent assembly) Quebeckers would be able
to make progressive demands around the
content of a new constitution. They could
also head off the business community,
presently favourable to an independence
tailored to its needs.

“Recognition of the First Nations and
their full participation in this process” is
also essential, in her view. _

Should the federal government and its
allies pull the Meech Lake constitutional
accord out of the fire, will the indepen-
dence project be seriously affected?

While allowing that it might be
“slowed down a bit,” her answer is no. But
the final outcome, the specific form of the
Quebec-Canada relationship, “will dep-
end on what goes on in the rest of Canada
as well. It will depend on whether demo-
cratic change goes ahead (there) too.”

Indeed, attitudes in English Canada to
Quebec’s aspirations have already had a
substantial effect on opinion in Quebec.

Party emphasizes the democratic —
process in shaping Quebec future

MARIANNE ROY

Roy called the provincial premiers’ even-
tual agreement to Meech — a result of the
separation threat, and not a willingness to
meet Quebec’s needs — “a humiliating
process.”

Roy also discussed the changes of
orientation and organization proposed at
the party conference.

Regarding the latter, some of the sug-
gestions are obviously more than minor.
Not only the words “democratic central-
ism” but essential aspects of its practice
are gone (or might be by next year).

Does the formulation favoured by the
conference really mean that party mem-
bers would be able to dissent publicly
from policy?

Yes, says Roy, but she makes it clear
that the best approach to this issue is to see
the practice in context. She uses the anal-

ogy of unions and strikes to make the
point. In a strike, when times “aren’t so
relaxed,” people can’t “do things like |

cross picket lines without sanction.” |

In more relaxed times, unions are not
especially concemed with people express-
ing views not always consistent with
adopted policy.

It’s in that general spirit that the party
should approach things. But the terrain is
new, so exact guidelines won’t be drawn
now.

party’s more eclectic list of inspirational _
sources (see article on this page) to be
interpreted as a rejection of Lenin, but as
part of a general determination to study all
left sources. Study, even of the classics she
implied, is not something the party has
done well.

As for ideology, Roy doesn’t want the |

The PCQ is obviously a body intent on
examining all aspects of its theory and
practice with a critical eye. Will it engage
in that process not only on its own in the
coming months, but with the larger Can-
adian party of which it still is part?

It will, though Roy acknowledges that
the issue of voting on questions involving
an organization from which you are plan-
ning an exit, even a friendly one, may be
a bit problematic.

“But these are all uncharted waters,”
she says. Like with internal organization,
you won’t be able to help but do a bit of
feeling around to get through.