Youth fights for Canada’s future ‘Act! Organize! Educate!’ Abridged text of the report delivered by Chuck McFadden to the founding convention of the Young Communist League. We have called this Conven- tion the Lenin Congress. Lenin was the architect of the first Young Communist Organization — the Soviet Komsomol. Lenin’s guidance to the youth has been a principal source of inspiration and assistance in winning young people to the side of the work- ing class, in the winning and building of sociailsm. Our Convention takes place at a time of greater political activ- ity by young people in Canada than’ at any -period since the 1930’s. The sixties was the dec- oe ene * financial institutions. ade of revolt. The seventies can be the decade of the fight for and the winning of socialism in Canada. Favoring and encouraging the forces of peace, democracy and socialism in Canada is a new balance of forces in the world. Today, the three main currents of the revolutionary movement, the peoples of the socialist coun- tries, the working class of the imperialist heartland and the na- tional liberation movements, have the decisive edge over im- perialism. The success of socialist con- struction provides example: for all the other peoples of the world that a powerful alternative to the rule of capitalists exists: To- day, no sane person doubts that the power of the working class is permanent; history will not be turned back. The peoples of the socialist countries are a bulwark in favor of peace, against the outbreak of a nuclear holocaust. They are rendering unprecedent- ed support to the embattled working peoples of the oppress- ed countries fighting for their na- tional liberation. They are the major ally of the working peo- ples fighting the capitalist class in the countries of the imperial- ist heartland. Since the victory of the Great October Revolution over 50 years ago, the national libera- tion movement, as Lenin predict- ed, has gained tremendous mo- mentum. The working class of the advanced capitalist countries which is everywhere sharpening its battle against the imperialist bourgeoisie is the third main re- volutionary current. The new ba- lance of forces is most clearly seen in Vietnam where U.S. im- perialism is unable to win its objectives. Working class international- ism is the theory of unity of the working class and progressive forces of the imperialist coun- tries, the peoples of the socialist countries and the peoples fight- ing for their national liberation. The Young Communist League can play a decisive role in plac- ing peace, democracy and social- ism on the agenda for Canada in the 70’s. Capitalism offers the youth of Canada only the prospect of re- current and deepening crisis. Un- employment among youth has. currently reached crisis propor- tions — approaching the condi- tions of the 1930’s in many parts of the country, notably the Ma- ritimes, Quebec and the Prairies. Total, unemployment is a delib- erate policy of the ruling mono- poly bourgeoisie. © The capitalist government of Canada, where over 30 per cent of the people live in poverty, where Indian children — whose life expectancy is half, that of non-Indian children — starve, PACIFIC TRIBUNE—APRIL 3, 1970—Page 10 where there is a serious housing shortage, where there are over half a million people unemploy- ed, is pursuing a policy of aus- terity, of economic slowdown. . The monopolies have heightened their attack on the living stan- dards of the people. Price-fixing is a principal means to increas- ing monopoly profiteering. Mo- nopoly profits have increased well over 20 percent in each of the last two years. High interest rates have brought billions of dollars in added profits into the coffers of the big banks and By their control of the state the monopolies have engineered a decreasing living standard for the working people of Canada in ~ a period of expanding monopoly profits. The combined increases of prices and taxes, according to government figures, was 9 per- cent in 1968, whereas wages in- creased only 6 percent. Thus, by government figures, the working people suffered a real set-back of 3 percent in 1968. The truth is that this loss has been greater than 5 percent for each of the past three years. No wonder that the class struggle has heighten- ed. While the monopolies rake in billions in profits from the work- ing class, there is no money for schools, for teachers, for low rent housing, for an adequate and inexpensive transportation — system, for parks, playgrounds, supervisors, public sports and recreation programs, and no money for day care centres for the children of working mothers. Even more malicious is the danger that Canadian imperial- ism will embroil Canadian youth in a policeman’s role in the Western Hemisphere. Manoeuv- ers of Canadian armed forces in the West Indies is cause for alarm. They are the police arm of Canada’s big banks who fear a popular uprising of the people of the West Indies. The youth have no real] future under capitalism. Capitalism and_ By ELIZABETH HILL What we have learned at this founding convention has not just been how procedings of a con- vention are run and take place. We have grown and will go away stronger. Either you are part of the solution, or you are part of the problem, I have heard it said. That really means, in Our terms, either you are for the working class or you are against it. The same idea is expressed in the words of that song: “which side are you on?” We see what the problem is. We are not trying to solve the problem for capitalism; we are trying to change the capitalist- system to socialism; we are find- ing a way here of how to fight it. Wearing lapel buttons and shouting revolutionary slogans is not enough. It is what we do that will decide what we really are and where we really stand. That is the side on which we — war are bedfellows. The youth demand the right to an educa- tion, to a full development. In- stead, the monopolies provide only the education that serves their profit making. A truly edu- cated working class is dangerous to the rulers of Canada. The youth are patriotic and desire the fullest development of their country in the interests of its people. Instead, the Canadian monopolies sell anything that brings them a quick buck. They have no patriotism and no regard for the long term interests of the country. The. youth demand Chuck McFadden, leader of the Young Communist ‘League, ad- dressing the convention. the right to live in brotherhood and cooperation. Instead, aliena- tion is the law of social relations - under capitalism. French Cana- dian youth demand equal pay for equal work, an end to discrimi- nation in jobs and full opportu- nities for development. Instead, the national oppression of the French Canadian people means billions in added profits to the monopolies. Young women demand equal- ity — the right to realize their full potential. Instead, oppression of women and their superexploi- tation is a law of capitalism. Native youth demand an oppor- tunity for growth and develop- ment in a manner of their own choosing, consistent with their own traditions and culture. In- stead genocide has been the practice of capitalism. The ruling bourgeoisie have no genuine program to meet the Elizabeth Hill, Executive Secre- tary of the YCL. really have to work hard. Lenin said that the youth would find its own way to so- cialism. That is what we have to do. The forces on the other: side — those who are, against us — find new ways and forms demands of young people, they have no real solution to the crisis afflicting the youth. The Trudeau government’s appeal to the youth is a sham, @ fraud, a deception. The youth need organization for struggle and the government of- fers the Company of Young Can- adians. The youth need jobs and the Trudeau government offers a Royal Commission to _ study youth problems. The youth con- front a growing crisis and the government provides harmless channels of dissent intended to divert the youth from indepen- dent struggle. We say no to Mr. Trudeau! We want jobs! We want cities that people can live in! We want a Canada that stands for peace and independence! We want an end to Canadian complicity in Vietnam! We want political and econo- mic independence for Canada! We demand the full national rights of the French Canadian | people be restored! Self-determi- nation for Quebec! ’ And we demand an end to ge- nocide against the Native Peo- ples! Restore their full treaty and other rights! - The 1960’s witnessed a grow- ing radicalization of youth, the emergence of a new generation of left-moving young people. Among working youth this ra- dicalization finds expression in the search for policies of‘ strug- gle versus the policies of class collaboration of right-wing trade union leadership... It. finds ex- pression in the militant strike -activity of working youth and in the leading role they have played in massive demonstrations around such questions as anti- labor legislation and medicare. Daminant, however, insofar as the attention of the mass media is concerned, in the peace move- ment and in the student move- ment, have been youth from the middle strata. These youth have brought with them much of the baggage of ideas from capitalist society, frequently racism, male- chauvinism, petit-bourgeois fem- inism, English Canadian chauv- inism, nationalism and élitism. for their struggle. But it is the class struggle which will gener- ate, bring about, and build so- cialism in Canada, It would be very fitting if we called this convention the 18th convention of the Young Com- munist League. The YCL was li- quidated after its 17th conven- tion. This would link us with the old YCL. We have much to learn from history and the Com- munist Party. Our ties are with the Party. But we have to do things for ourselves; we have to ‘find our own way.’ I ask you to think about this: how are you, in your own area, going to put YCL policy into action? I think there are three big problems for us: 1. Build the YCL among working youth; 2. the fight for jobs for youth and 3. peace. We should get behind the campaign to send a simple telegram to Nixon. It should just be:. “President Nixon, White House, Washington, D.C. STOP.” ‘ism will put an end to “ The forms that these prejudi@ take are different from thos?) their parents, but often n0 anti-communist and. anti-wol ing class in substance. - find particular expression 11" venturous tactics, in provocal! \ actions — expressing a lack confidence in the working P ple — in anarchism — the dem) of the need for organization ®) discipline — in virulent # Sovietism — the denial of working class that its class © tablished the first socialist s4 fifty years ago and is today ii decisive force in the world! peace, democracy and social™ We welcome the radicali2t of the youth from the ey strata. These youth are repél ; by the war of aggression waged against the people Vietnam by the U.S. imperial They reject a system of § i; that offers them the prosper continued crises and wal. ath rejection is healthy. We ™ and aim to win the best of a youth to working class positl to the side of the working on and into the ranks of the ¥°™ Communist League. We distinguish the new Al from the “ultra left.” Wé vl tinguish those who, on acne of ignorance, carry bout el ideas with them into the ial movements from those wh? af fixed anti-communist ant if working class positions. . ter, including the Maoists | Trotskyites, serve . the fe Class often — in the coe their leaders — consciously 4. deliberately. Consciously oe consciously they are enem! | the working class. It is true that capi system of crises and wal” i) law of capitalist product’); anarchy. But will capitalism \ . lapse of its own accor “of” Given the opportunity the moo polies will always find *, means of continuing the! iy always at the expense ger people and always in or : repeat once again the © si crises, recessions, depres and wars. Only the org! revolutionary activity % working class, together oci# allies, based on scientific spill ism. es off It is our responsibility Mogi nize ourselves, train Ours©! cf scientific communism, 10 Leninism,. and prepare ; gressive majority of our is : cf. Aion for the task. Then. rid? | topple this, rotten, crisiS™ | system! ak! 4 This Convention will apis turning point by the est clas iment of a militant working nL socialist youth organiZ@ "6 Canada. It is our task riety from the accumulated exP© mem of the working class m0 nation both in Canada and inte ef ally. That is why we are re nally related to the Coleg? ’ Party. It is our task to © the and raise to new height“ ihos! volutionary tradition Puilt th militant workers who in cay industrial trade unions pero” ada, those courageous tint who fought and died a fascism in Spain, It 18 Me ox to learn from and follow pel: ample of such revolution”, iy roes as Comrade Norma? une and Comrade Tim BU It is our task to act) © nize, to educate!