For Immediate Release
Feb. 9, 2010
Communist Party Concludes Canada-wide Convention; Calls for Growing Fightback to Defeat Harper Tories
Delegates at the 36th Central Convention of the Communist Party of Canada
wrapped up three days of spirited debates on Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Steelworkers
Hall in Toronto. The Convention concluded with a rousing call for broad
political mobilizations to defeat the Harper Tory government, and to build
support for a People's Alternative to the capitalist crisis which continues
to devastate working people in Canada and around the world.
Earlier on the final day of the Convention, delegates
re-elected Miguel Figueroa as the leader of the Communist Party. They also
chose a new 20-member Central Committee from across Canada, including Communists
who are active in the trade union movement, anti-war campaigns, and a wide
range of struggles for Aboriginal rights, civil liberties, increased minimum
wages, social equality, municipal reform, defense of public education, and
many other issues.
The Convention followed four months of extensive discussion
at the local and provincial levels, based on a draft political resolution issued
by the outgoing leadership. The amended resolution will guide the Communist
Party's work over the three years, including plans to nominate 20-25 candidates
in the next federal election.
Delegates also adopted special resolutions on a wide
range of issues, from solidarity with victims of human rights abuses in Colombia
and the Philippines, to support for protests against the painful social spending
cuts being imposed on British Columbians during the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Several guest speakers addressed the 36th Central
Convention, including the Vietnamese ambassador to Canada, Nguyen Duc Hung;
prominent civil liberties lawyer Barbara Jackman; Cuban Consul-General Jorge
Soberon Luis; and Venezuelan Vice-Consul Scarlet Salazar Quiroz.
For more information on the 36th Convention, contact the central
office of the Communist Party, 416-469-2446,