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Private, collective and public property
Would co-exist in a socialist Canada.
Instead of serving the general interests of the
Capitalist class, the state in a socialist Can-
ada would be required to ensure that eco-
Nomic power is secured in adequate
Measure to implement the political and
€conomic policies supported by the major-
ity of Canadians.

Economic democracy requires effective
Public processes to allow citizens and local
communities, workers and their unions, the
decisive say over resource and economic
development, trade and investment policies
and social standards.

Socialization of economic life would be a

long term goal of a socialist Canada,
Implemented by state support for the social-
zed sector of the economy and by the col-
lective initiatives of Canadians to establish
Producer and consumer associations. True
conomic democracy will also provide the
pportunity and support for individual
Canadians to express themselves through
Individual effort and to protect their eco-
Nomic contribution.
. Economic democracy demands social
Justice and a redistribution of income from
the rich to the majority, and the elimination
Of poverty.

: Economic democracy requires the recog-
ition that the material basis must be
Created for the equality of women and the
Commitment of the social resources neces-
Sary to remove the obstacles to the full par-
Ucipation ‘of women in economic, political
and cultural life.

Economic democracy means that the
Necessary material and social resources will
€ allocated to eliminate discrimination
against all people of colour and to ensure
their full economic, political and cultural
equality,

_ Economic and social rights, including the
"ight to employment, housing, education
and social services, must be enshrined in law
and made a reality.

;

Environmental alternatives
_-—————_—— r

anadians must be
empowered with the
economic ability and
the social and envir-
onmental conscious-
ness to radically re-
structure industrial

OT a

enyj ic ‘
in onmentally sustainable economic pol-
les,

: Consumerism, waste and an industrial
Onomy based on the primacy of market
°tces and the limitless exploitation of non-
car Wable resources ultimately make the
Pitalist economy a prescription for envit-
MMental and social catastrophe.
rest anadians need the democratic ability to
Tucture economic life to save the envir-
Nment, manage resources and build the
a Of protecting the environment into the
Nomic model.
ar-reaching measures are required to
act the planet from an environmental dis-
T, and the scope of the necessary eco-
mic and cultural restructuring cannot be
m ‘ctestimated. A socialist Canada would
Ject alternative values to support new
PProaches to economic progress.

C

society in favour of

Social, individual rights _

ur view of a socialist
Canada will see the
blending and _ pro-
tection of the demo-
cratic rights of col-
lectives and of indi-
viduals.

The individual
rights of Canadians to political expression,
a free media, religious conscience, freedom
of speech and assembly, sexual orientation,
personal property, and to privacy will be
protected by law and given priority over the
rights of capital, government and social
institutions.

The collective rights of workers, espe-
cially the right to organize, bargain collec-
tively and to strike, will have priority over
the rights of capital.

The rights of farmers to own and work
the land will be secured.

The collective rights of women for equal-
ity in all spheres, and for affirmative action

_ to achieve this equality, will be accorded

priority over the rights of capital and social
institutions.

The collective rights of tenants and indi-
vidual home owners to quality, secure
affordable housing will be ensured.

The collective rights of national minori-
ties, new Canadians, and people of colour

_against all forms of discrimination will be

protected.

The collective rights of youth to life with
an enriched, secure future, and free devel-
opment of the personality, including wides-
pread and expanding opportunities for
education, training, culture, sports, decent
employment, and housing will be a matter
of right, as will the rights of Canada’s senior
citizens to live with full dignity and security.

A new word order

divided world, East/
West and North/
South, cannot pro-
vide the conditions
for social progress
in the world or any
one country. Over-
coming the envir-
onmental crisis, third world underdevelop-
ment and the danger of war all require glo-
bal co-operation which a socialist Canada
must strive for and contribute to.

A socialist Canada would be independ-
ent and non-aligned with any military bloc.
It would actively seek the disbanding of all
military alliances, and support disarma-
ment on the basis of maintaining military
forces of a strictly defensive character.

Canada would use its influence within the
United Nations and all other world bodies
to bring about the democratization of world
economic relations together with all neces-
sary economic support to end the underde-
velopment of the Southern hemisphere.

Self-determination of nations and the
respect of international law would guide a
socialist Canada’s relations with other
countries, and at the same time be the con-
ditions for independent Canadian devel-
opment free from all forms of interference
from U.S. imperialism and the transna-
tional corporations.

Party organization

party of socialism in
Canada spells out,
in concrete terms,
how the principle of
democratic central-
ism applies to Can-
adian conditions. As
a party of socialism
in Canada we must be a party of action,
with a principle of unity that ensures the
implementation of democratic decisions by
self-disciplined members who are fully
informed on party affairs and have the
opportunity to be heard and to participate
in decision-making and therefore truly to

influence party direction. Only such a party
can have the force to struggle with Cana-
dian and international capital and their pol-
itical parties.

The principle of party unity which
ensures unity in action is that the majority
decision is binding on all members, and that
the party is an organic whole in which
organized factions are prohibited. This
principle ensures that the party acts and
speaks as one in the implementation of deci-
sions and of a common strategic line.

Unity of the party is based on the fact that
it is composed of like-minded people who
share a common socialist ideology; that dif-
ferences are thoroughly aired, openly and
throughout the party; that differing situa-
tions find reflection in differing tactics while
pursuing a common strategic line; that criti-
cism and self-criticism are advanced and
accepted in a friendly, objective and prin-
cipled manner and with a view to learning
the lessons of our political practice so as to
project the correct path of advance.

A united party of action, in today’s Can-
adian conditions, must have a grass roots,
participatory and representative organiza-
tional structure. Such a structure develops
the principles of collectivity, and leadership
accountability; membership initiative and
development; and theoretical strengthening
of the entire party through the clash of
ideas. The development of democracy in the
party will help overcome problems of
regionalism characteristic of all parties
operating in Canada.

The party structure must ensure the
direct election of leadership by the largest
possible number of members.

This structure should ensure that the
basic units and the regional and provincial
components are represented in the various
decision-making bodies. Canada is made
up of its provinces, regions, and nations and
the party structure should reflect this Cana-
dian reality.

This structure must ensure an ongoing
dynamic process which gives the basic units
of the party the right to initiate policy and to
affirm policies and budgets between con-
ventions.

All members should be encouraged to
participate in carrying out the party’s collec-
tive decisions. Individuals or groups of indi-
viduals that disagree with existing policy
should use the processes of the party to air
these differences, criticize policy and pro-
mote alternative policies.

The principles of organization of the
party should promote a socialist culture
that brings the policies and organizational
practices of the movement into harmony.
The makeup of party bodies must reflect
our policies on national rights. The party
must continue to practice affirmative action
for women and minorities; it must continue
to practice social solidarity and assist its
members and supporters who are victims of
oppression and injustice; and it must make
education and debate central to the life of
the movement.

Socialist perspectives

he renewal of the
Communist Party
and the reconstruc-
tion of the socialist
movement in Can-
ada require a new
identity for the

Communist Party.

It requires that the Communist Party restate
its socialist goal, renew its organizational
structures in line with today’s conditions,
re-define its relations with the socialist left
and the New Democratic Party, and sym-
bolize these features of renewal through a
change of name.

A change of name is not to be construed
as a retreat from the revolutionary thread
which pre-dates our party’s formation seven
decades ago, or the proud accomplishments
of our party throughout our history, or the
outstanding contribution of generations of
communists. A change of name symbolizes
a break with the party’s negative association

with undemocratic, state socialism, under-
stood by millions of Canadians who link

“communism” to “authoritarianism.” The

name of the party should reflect and assert

the goal of the party.

A new identity for the Communist Party
as a party of socialism in Canada is essential
for further growth and development.

The renewal of the party is one step ina
larger process to rebuild the socialist
movement in Canada on a new basis. The
socialist movement must grow and develop
through many, as yet undefined, stages
related to the struggles of the people against
the political and economic domination of
capital. At each stage, people’s movements
around immediate issues and for social
reforms will bring new forces forward and
develop the character of Canada’s socialist
movement.

Today the struggle is sharpening and is
aimed against neo-conservatism and Cana-
da’s absorption into the United States. Left
and socialist unity is essential to achieve
broader, popular and working class unity in
this struggle and to link this with, and pro-
mote the ultimate goal of fundamental
social change in our country. Searching for
social progress goes far beyond the Com-
munist Party. Others are examining how
the left, including the socialist-minded left,
can commonly examine concepts and ideas,
and where possible, co-ordinate activities.

In the short term, the new international
situation and the renewal of our party create
new conditions for the development of var-
ious forms of socialist unity. The enhance-
ment of socialist unity will be based on
political and theoretical dialogue on current
problems and ideological perspectives,
including strategies for fundamental social
change, and practical co-operation in politi-
cal action, directed towards uniting the
people’s movements and for change. The
incoming leadership and all levels of the
party should be actively engaged in the
development of socialist unity through the

most effective forms.

Those socialists who embrace our imme-
diate goal of transforming our party into a
new party of socialism in Canada are wel-
come to join in this project, and we will take
all necessary steps to facilitate their mean-
ingful inclusion in the life of the party.

With its new identity, our party must
immediately turn its attention to the peo-
ple’s movements and to find expression
through its activists in the movements and
coalitions, and through its independent
campaigns and educational activity.

The party must extend its base among the
organized working class as a matter of
urgency, and at the same time embrace, ina
new way, work among women, among
youth and students, among the various eth-
nic communities, among aboriginal peo-
ples, and among people of colour, and in
the peace and environmental movements.

The election of an NDP federal govern-
ment and provincial governments would
constitute a significant advance for the
labour and social movements in our coun-
try. Because of this, and taking into account
the specific situation in Quebec, the party in
English Canada should express its solidarity
with this goal while reserving the right to

run its own candidates, or establish new __

electoral forms whenever the opportunity
arises for such a project based on an ade-
quate measure of support in the working
class and social movements.

Municipal politics at this time present. an
important opportunity to build broadly-
based, democratic coalitions arising from
community politics, and to elect socialists to
municipal and school board office across
Canada. Consistent work at this level of
electoral politics can provide an important

political base for labour and the social.

movements, and for the socialist movement
in Canadian politics.

The party faces a tremendous challenge
to engage in the battle of ideas and to coun-
ter the ideological offensive of international
capital with a new and detailed critique of
capitalism, and with a new approach to

see CP page 11

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‘Pacific Tribune, April 23, 1990 « 7