the 37th central convention of the communist party of canada april 5-7, 2013, toronto canada – a...

7/28/2019 The 37th Central Convention of the Communist Party of Canada April 5-7, 2013, Toronto Canada A Contribution

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www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

The37th

Central

Convention

of

the

CommunistPartyofCanadaApril57,2013,

TorontoCanadaAContributiontothe

Discussion

DonCurrie,EditorFocusOnSocialism,ChairCPS

March29,2013


2/19

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca CPSAContributiontoDiscussionCPC37thConvention Page2of19

CanadiansforPeace&Socialism

The37

th

Central

Convention

of

the

Communist

Party

of

Canada

April

5

7,

2013,

TorontoCanadaAContributiontotheDiscussion

www.FocusOnSocialism.caBox168SlocanBCV0G2C0Canada12503552669

ADecisive

Turn

to

the

Working

Class

The37thConventionof theCommunistPartyofCanada (CPC)will fulfill theexpectationsof itsMain

Resolutionifdelegatesresolve,astheconcentrationtaskofthepartyswork,tomakeadecisiveturnto

theworkingclass,rapidly,andbyallmeansavailable.

TheworkingclassneedstheliberatingideasofMarxism.Thecountryneedstheliberatingpowerofthe

workingclass.

The150AnniversaryofConfederationandthe100th

AnniversaryoftheRussianRevolution

AsCanadians

move

towards

marking

the

150th

anniversary

of

Confederation

July

1st

2017

the

international working class will at the same time bemarking the 100th anniversary of the Russian

RevolutionNovember7th2017.The formereventdenotesthepoliticaltriumphofprivatecapitalover

theCanadianDominionfromcoasttocoasttocoast.The lattereventdenotesthepoliticaltriumphof

theworkingclassovercapitalistfeudalrelationsinRussiademonstratingforallworkersinallcountries

thatonly theoverthrowofcapitalismand thebuildingof real socialismcan stop imperialistwar,end

wageslaveryandallformsofhumanexploitationandsavetheplanetfromenvironmentaldisaster.

These two historic events provide the 37th Convention of the Communist Party of Canadawith an

opportunitythatmustnotbemissed.Itisimperativethatthepartybecomeseizedwiththeurgencyof

doingeverything

necessary

to

move

to

the

forefront

of

what

is

certain

to

become

in

the

next

four

years

acountrywidestruggleofcontendingvisionsaboutCanadasfuture.

The 37th

Conventionmust adopt a resolution that tasks the incoming Central Committeewith the

responsibilityofpreparinganationalconferencemarkingthesehistoricmilestonesthatwouldinclude

thelaunching,asitsfirstpriority,thepublishingofanewrevisedCommunistPartyProgram.


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ACommunistVisionforCanada

Thepolitical tensionsnowevidenteverywhere, federally,provinciallyandmunicipallyhavebecomea

veritablestorm,waveafterwaveofunresolvedcrisis issuesofchronicunemployment,homelessness,

betrayalofthehopesoftheyouth,impossiblyhigh levelsoffamilyindebtedness,growthofurbanand

ruralpoverty,despairover thedestructionof viable communitybasedproductive industries and the

poisonofdrugsandinternetviolencetolistjustafew.

Sucheconomicandsocialproblemshavebeenmademoreacutebytheeffectsoftheglobaldepression

of2008anditsruinouseffectsontheworkingclassandourcountry. Thecrisiswilldeepenandwillnot

be solvedby thenext federalelection. A countrywidepolitical strugglewill continue in searchof a

program thatwillprovide an alternative toPrimeMinisterHarpers vision forCanadaofunrelenting

IMF federalgovernmentausterity,unbridledbanktyranny,gamblingthefuture oftheentireeconomy

onthe

marketing

of

energy

resource

commodities,

militarization

of

the

economy

and

participation

in

futureNATOwars

TheCommunistPartymusthaveabetterplan.ThePartymustrefinetheplan,articulateitandaboveall

fightforit.

Thereisnootherpartytodoit.

TheCrisisofCapitalistPartiesandTheirPrograms

Allcapitalistpartiesinconcertwithacorruptmediafedbyasteadystreamofbigbusinesspropaganda,

suppliedby

corporate

funded

think

tanks

and

apedantic

academe

remote

from

the

realities

of

working

class life,perpetuatethemassivebourgeoishistoricalrevisionistfraudthatallthewealthcreationand

civilizingachievementsofourpeoplewouldceasewithoutcapitalists.

OnlytheCommunistPartyisequipped,theoreticallyandorganizationally,toexposethatfraud. Onlyby

thePartysmassworkwillproperlyaccordthecivilizingachievementsofourcountry inthepast,now

andinthefuturetowhomitrightfullybelongs;theworkingclassandtothelabouringmassesofurban

andruralCanada,QuebecandFirstNationsCanada,takinginspirationfromtheprogressivecommunity

ofscienceandculture.Andmostimportantly,toexplainthatifthatgreatcivilizingprojectistocontinue

intheinterestsofourpeopleandthesovereigntyandindependenceofourcountry,astrugglemustbe

waged

for

an

entirely

new

political

power

without

financial

oligarchies.

1

1Therewasatimewhenfeudalismprevailedandfeudalmonarchialdespotismwasadeadhandoverallprogress.

Feudalreactionnotonlybroughtmiserytotheserfsandpeasants,itpreventedthefurtherdevelopmentof

productiveforcesandtheriseofanewclass,thebourgeoisierepresentinganewsystem,capitalism.Forashort

historicaltimethenascentbourgeoisiewagedastrugglewiththesupportofagrowingworkingclassagainstfeudal

despotism.Forthatbrieftime,capitalismcouldbedefinedasprogressive.Havingachievedpowerthecapitalist


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StateMonopolyCapitalism,ImperialismTheFinalStageofCapitalism

The developmentof capitalism to thepower it is today in Canada encompasses about 400 yearsof

history.

Forapproximately last100yearscapitalism inCanadahasbeen in the final stageof itsdevelopment,

state monopoly capitalism, imperialism. State monopoly capitalism is incapable of any progressive

development in the interestsof the vastmajoritywhomust labour to live. Theproductive forcesof

societyarepentupandinconflictwithoutmodedrelationsofproduction.Statemonopolycapitalismis

theobstacletosolvinganyofthecriticaleconomicandsocialproblemsofourtimeandbyitsanarchic

andunevendevelopmentand interimperialist rivalries threatens thevery survivalof theplanetwith

conventionalandnuclearwarandenvironmentalcatastrophe.

Allparties

claiming

to

represent

labour,

except

the

Communist

Party,

describe

the

crisis

created

by

the

socialproductionofwealthanditsappropriationbytheprivateownersofthemeansofproductionasa

problemofsocialinequality.Theinternetoverflowswithexposuresanddenunciationsoftheinjusticeof

inequality. Ifthecritiqueofcapitalismcouldoverthrow it,Canadawouldhavebeenasocialistcountry

decadesago.

Capitalism in its imperialiststagecannotbeoverthrownbyexposurealone.Statemonopolycapitalism

placessomuchemphasisandenergyintothebattleofideas,becauseitsideologistsaresupersensitive

tothefact,thatmonopolycansuppressallresistancetoitssystemofexploitation,onlysolongassuch

resistanceremainsspontaneous,andasitwere,blindtoitsownpower.

TheCommunist

Party

solves

the

problem

of

blind

spontaneity

by

bringing

Marxism

to

the

struggle

of

the

workingclass.Thatisitsprimarytask.

TheLimitationsandFailuresofSocialDemocracy

Oneofthemainpoliticaldevicesandmeansusedbymonopolytopreventtheriseofrevolutionaryclass

consciousness is tobribe sectionsof theworkingclass.Lenindefined thissectionasanaristocracyof

labour. Sidebysidewithaprivilegedmiddleurbanandruralstratum,dependentontheparasitismof

the system, this labour aristocracy reject revolution creating bourgeois labour parties, groups and

formationsthatlimittheiractivitytoattemptstoreformstatemonopolycapitalism.

classatthesametimeunleashedthepentupnewproductiveforcesbroadlydefinedinhistoryastheindustrial

revolution.Atthesametime,capitalismfreedthepeasantryfromtheirfeudalservitudebyrenderingthem

landlessandpropertylessandexploitableinanewformofslavery,wageslavery.Theepochoffeudalismwas

goneandcapitalismbecamethenewstridentglobalpowerofexploitationwhichimposeditsruleeverywherewith

theutmostruthlessness.


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The illusion that the leadership of the NDP is honestly misguided in their parliamentary electoral

strategyandthatmasspressurefromamoreactiveleftcancorrecttheshuffletothecentre,servesonly

to

cover

up

the

fact

that

the

NDP

leadership

and

its

leader

Thomas

Mulcair

is

conscious

of

the

fact

that

theyaredoingtheworkofmonopolycapitalismbyothermeans.

There is no direct correlation between the existence of reform administrations and the big decisive

strugglesof labourandfarmersfortheirvitalclassneeds.Infactthebiggestadvances inrealgainsfor

the Canadian working class have been made irrespective of the government in power and are

attributableto independentmasspoliticalworkingclassactionwithinwhichtheCommunistsplayeda

decisiverole.2

TheClassStruggleOriginsofReformsofCapitalismandtheNewTasksofLabour

Majorsocial

reforms

in

our

country

won

by

the

people,

sometimes

by

resorting

to

revolutionary

uprisingsdatingfromtheRebellionsinUpperandLowerCanadainthe1830stotheMtisRebellionin

Manitobaof1867andtheNorthwestRebellionof1885,throughtheperiodofConfederation,themass

labour resistance to WW1, the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, the On To Ottawa march of the

unemployed in theDirtyThirties, themobilizationofpopular support todefeat fascism in Spain and

WW2 to todaywere the political precursors to the enacting of formal legislation providing limited

guaranteesofpeoplesrights:(apartiallistonlyandmentionedtoillustrateapoint):

decriminalizingtherightofworkerstoorganizeunions,bargaincollectivelyandstrikeboth intheprivateandpublicsectors;

compulsory

elementary

public

school

education;

publichealthcare; childlabourlaws; minimumwagelaws; oldagepensionsandtheCanadianPensionPlanlegislation; humanrightslegislation; votingrightsforwomen; freedomofchoiceandabortionrightsforwomen;

2Theoneinstancewhenasocialreformistgovernmentconvergedwithmasspopularelectoralsupportarounda

reformof

lasting

importance

was

the

enacting

of

Medicare

in

Saskatchewan

under

the

CCF

led

by

Tommy

Douglas.

ThatbreakthroughinpostWW2Canadawasacontinuationindifferentconditionsofthetheoriesofafreepublic

healthcaresystempioneeredbyDr.NormanBethuneinthe1930s,aCommunist,andtheexamplefrom1917of

theestablishedandoperatingfreepublichealthcaresysteminthesocialistSovietUnion.Todaytheexamplein

NorthAmerica,oftheabilityofevenasmallandbeleagueredsocialiststatetoprovidethehigheststandardsof

healthcaretoitspeopleisdemonstratedbysocialistCuba.


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propertyrightsforwomen; protectingwomenandracialminoritiesfromviolenceandabuse; repealofSection98oftheCriminalcode; riddingQuebecofthe DuplessisimposedPadlockLaw; massresistancethataroseagainsttheimpositionoftheWarMeasuresActin1970; enactmentoftheCharterofRightsandFreedoms; thestruggle ledby theCPC to removestate restrictionsonsmallparties fromparticipating infederalelections;

formallegalrecognitionofthelandclaimrightsofFirstNations; legalrecognitionoftherightsoftheMtistopursuelandclaimsarisingfromtheRielRebellionof1867.

Otherformal

laws

redressing

economic,

social

and

democratic

inequities

can

be

listed.

TheAttemptofMonopolytoRollBackPopularDemocraticPeoplesGains

ThepointinrecallingtheseachievementsisthateverysingleoneofthesegainsisunderattackbyPrime

MinisterHarperandhisgovernment.Thefederalgovernmentbythedeceitfulmeansofintroducingnew

legislation that neutralize such gains or by refusing to enforce laws with which they disagree is

unrelenting.Most egregious, is a form of right wing political engineering that orchestrates bogus

hearingstogivetheattackonprogressivelegislationaveneerofformaldemocracywhichisthenspread

byacompliantmediaasthoughitwerediscussedandinaccordwithmajoritypublicopinion.

Thestruggle

to

restore

what

has

been

lost,

preserve

what

remains

and

expand

all

of

the

social

and

democratic gainsof thepeople is a frontof strugglemadenecessaryby the fact thatmonopolyhas

never reconciled itself to according to thepeople any share in socialwealth that reducesmonopoly

controlofthestate.

TheLimitationsofParliamentaryElectoralPolitics

The hopes the Canadian people place in parliamentary elections to bring about real change for the

working people arise from their steadfast support forwhat has beenwon in the belief that those

achievementsarepermanentandprotectedbyconstitutionalguaranteesandlegislation.Theillusionof

thepermanenceofexistingdemocraticfreedomsanduniversalsocialwelfaregainssuchastheCanada

HealthActisaseriousweaknessinpublicperceptionarisingfromillusionsabouttheimpartialityofthe

state.That isfarfromthetruthsincethestateand itsgovernmentare instrumentsofclassrule inthe

handsoffinancecapital.Evenifthefictionoftheimpartialityofthestateandgovernmenthadagrainof

truthin it,Canadiansarebeingforcedtoconfrontthefactthattheprinciplesofdemocracyarebarren

andwithoutforcewhentheybecomesubvertedinpracticebytheverygovernmentthatiselectedand

pledgedtoupholdthepopularwill.


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Thatisthegrimrealityofparliamentarydemocracytodaywhichisperpetuatedbysocialdemocracy.

TheConsequencesofFinanceCapitalistDominationoftheState

Financecapitalistdominationoverthestatehas renderedparliamentarydemocracy inallof its forms

andinitspracticepurelyformal. Parliamentarydemocracyispowerlesstopreventfinancecapitalfrom

destroyinganyachievementofthepeoplethatdoesnotgiveprimacytomaximumprofiteering.Thatis

amply clear to all in the adoption of omnibus budgets that dismantle existing social gains and

democraticguarantees.

In2013Canadian capitalism in itsmonopoly stagehasmortallyweakenedpeoples sovereigntyover

governmentandthestate.

TheMain Resolution has describedmany exampleswhere this is happening to the social programs

underminedbyIMFausterity,financecapitalist,monetary,fiscal,budgetaryandtaxationpoliciesofthe

government ledbyPrimeMinisterHarperengenderingoutsideParliamentapopularmassopposition

andresistancebyorganizedlabour,peace,environmentalist,studentsandFirstNationsmovements.

Theneedforanewpowerandanewstatewithnewformsofpeoplessovereigntyandconstitutional

guaranteestoreplacetheoutmodedstatemonopolysystemisontheagendaofCanadasfuture.

ResistanceNeedsDefinition.WhatForcesareinRetreat?

Workingclassresistanceismorethanadefensiveposturethatimpliesretreat.Themoodoftheworking

classtodayisnotoneofretreat.CPSbelievesthatgreatcaremustbetakenbytheConventiondelegates

inapprovinganyformulationsdefiningthenatureoftheresistanceoftheworkingclasstodayaspurely

defensive.Itisnotcorrecttoattributetotheworkingclasswhatiswithoutquestionaretreatbysocial

democracy,includingthehesitancyofthe leadershipoftheCLCandmostoftheprovincialfederations

toconfrontmonopoly. Thereadinessoftheworkingclasstofightbackandregain lostgroundiswhat

needstobegaugedandcorrectlysoastoraisethecorrectslogansofdefianceandtodistinguishitfrom

allformsofclasscollaboration.

VotingfortheNDPwhichwillcontinuetohappeninlargenumbersisapassivereactionnotindicativeof

thecapacityofthepeopletoriseupandhitbackinotherformsofstruggle.Moreoverthecomplicityof

NDPgovernmentsindefendingcapitalismisasourceofweaknessnotstrengthfororganizedlabourthat

requiresexposure.

TherecordtodateoftheNDPgovernmentsinNovaScotia,Manitobaandtheimpendingelectionofthe

NDP inBritishColumbia fall farshortof laboursexpectationsbecause suchgovernments shrink from

challengingthedominanceoffinancecapitaloverthestateandtheeconomy.InfactitisastapleofNDP

policytodaytodemandlaboursupportatthepolls,evenasitassuresfinancecapitalthatithasnothing

tofearfromasocialdemocraticgovernmentsinceitsonlymotivationistorunthesystemofcapitalism


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moreefficientlythantheLiberalsandConservatives.AstheNDPoppositioninParliamentmovestothe

centreandlabourrefusestomovewithit,theNDPleadershipnonethelessdemandsthatlabourvoters

stand

ready

to

elect

the

NDP

to

power.

ThemainreasonfortheCommuniststorun infederalandprovincialelectionsistopresentaprogram

thathelpsworkerstounderstandthenecessityofmovingthestrugglebeyondthestruggleforreforms

andtoprovideallworkersseekingarevolutionaryanswertoexploitationanelectoraloptionthatgive

expression to suchmilitancy. That iswhy a Communist electoral platform can never be limited to

reforms ingeneralbutmustalwayscontainthosedemandsthatasLeninadvisedcontainwithinthem

approachestotherevolution.

Today the Communist electoral program speaks to the necessity ofwithdrawal of the country from

NATO, fromNAFTA, from theNorthAmericanSecurityPerimeterAgreementand from the tyrannyof

theIMF

coupled

with

outlining

the

possibilities

for

peaceful

planned

economic

development

that

arises

frompeoplessovereigntyoverall leversofeconomicandpoliticalpower.One isnotpossiblewithout

theother.

Thepowerandappealof theCommunistpublicplatform isdiminishedunlessweelaboratewhatwe

mean when we call for the withdrawal of Canada from all imperialistmilitary and trade blocs as

indispensible to thecountryscontinued independenceand itsability towrest theeconomy from the

gripofmonopoly.ThatisimportantsoastodistinguishthefarreachingvisionoftheCommunistsabout

the futureofthecountry fromthe limitationsofdemocraticandpatrioticgroupswhoassertthat it is

possible towithdraw from US dominationwithout at the same time challenging the dominance of

Canadianfinance

capital

over

the

government

and

the

state.

This isnot anewquestion forus. It keeps recurring. In struggling forunitywedonot set asideour

socialist aims. Socialism is on the historic agenda because the development of state monopoly

capitalismputitthere.

FinanceCapital,ReactionatHomeandAbroad.

The37thConventionmustimproveandrefineallofitsapproachestotheCanadianpeoplethatexplain

the fact that no government of finance capital today can have a progressive foreign policy and a

reactionarydomesticpolicyorviceversa.Financecapitalhasoneclassinterestathomeandabroad,to

promoteand

perpetuate

the

profit

system

and

any

political

party

seeking

working

class

support

must

makethatfactclear.

WhatisthedutyofCommuniststosaytoworkerswhowillvoteNDPandnotCommunist?Wemustsay

that ThomasMulcair isnot the solution to PrimeMinisterHarper sinceboth arepledged touphold

capitalismincludingwhenitleadsthecountryintoimperialistwars.ThedifferenceisthatPrimeMinister

HarperdoesitopenlyandThomasMulcairdoesitshamefacedly.PressuremountedontheNDPtocease


9/19


beingapartythatsupportscapitalismwillnotchangeit,becauseifsuchpressureweretodosotheNDP

wouldnotbeareformpartyandwouldbecomearevolutionarydemocraticparty.

TheSolution

to

the

Public

Social

Disaster

Created

by

the

Private

Profit

System

What social democracy upholdswhen all is said and done is the profit system.What it refuses to

confrontistheconsequencesforthepeopleinhelpingtopropuptheprofitsystem.

Theprivateprofitsystemhasresultedinapublicsocialdisaster.TheMainResolutiondescribesthatfact

insomedetail.Anewpowerthatwillruptureandendthedominanceoffinancecapitaloverthestateis

now imperative. Thatnewpower canonly ariseoutof the resistanceof theworking class through

independentpoliticalmassactionforitselfasaclassandbyitsownactionsonbehalfofallpeoplewho

mustlabourtolive.

ItisuptotheCommuniststogototheworkingclasswithitsprogramforasocialistfutureandexplain

thatifCanadaistoadvanceinaconsistentlyprogressivedirectionofpeaceandplannednationbuilding

labourmustleadthewholecountryagainstmonopolyasenvisagedintheCommunistprogram.

What the37thConventionmustrevisit in itstheoreticalunderstandingofCanadatoday,and task the

new incoming leadership toundertake as its first responsibility, is a restudyof the fullmeaning for

todayofLeninsgreatworkImperialism,theHighestStageofCapitalismand inallofhissubsequent

writings from thatpoint forward, that imperialism is the final stage in thedevelopmentofcapitalism

(andthisisthemainpoint)beyondwhichthereisonlysocialism.

TheMain

Slogan

of

the

CPC

Program

CPSproposed inthefirstfewparagraphsofthiscontributionthecallingofapartyconferencetomark

the150thAnniversaryofConfederationand the100thAnniversaryof theRussianRevolutionwith the

centrepieceofsuchaconferencethelaunchinganewrevisedprogram.

Towin the hearts andminds ofmilitantworkers engaged in struggles for their vital economic and

politicalrightsnow,thecurrentprogramoftheCPCmustberevisited,criticallydiscussedandbrought

into linewith thenewdemandsof the class struggle. The essenceof the change that is required is

revealedintheincompletesloganSocialismistheFuture. Toframecorrectlytheprogramdiscussion

thatisneededistoupdatetheCPCprogramslogantosay:

Socialismisthefuture,FIGHTFORITNOW!The integration of immediate demandsof theworking classwith thegoalof socialism is the new

challengeconfrontingtheparty leadership.Thattask ismademoreurgentbysignificantchanges in

thecompositionoftheworkingclassthatmakeitmorereceptivetotheideaofacompletechangein

theeconomicandpoliticalsystemofcapitalism.


10/19


TheCausesoftheAlteredMarketDemandforWageLabour

Changesinthecapitalisteconomyhavealteredthemarketdemandforwagelabour.Thechangesarise

fromextremecentralizationandconcentrationofcapital.Thelatterdoesnotmeantheendofpettyand

middlecapitalistenterprisewhicharisesconstantly.What itdoesmean is thatmoreandmoreofthe

work that is createdbynonmonopoly capitalistproduction isnonetheless completelydependenton

monopolyforsurvivalandcanbedestroyedquicklywithchangesintheinvestmentdecisionsoffinance

capital.Overandoveragaincommunitiesdependentononemajorcorporateemployeraredevastated

whenthemajoremployershutsdownandleaves.

These changes inmarketdemand for labourwhich requiredeep study account for thepsychological

moodand levelofpoliticalawarenessparticularlyamongyoungmenandwomenenteringproductive

labourinhighlycompetitivetechnologicallyadvancedworkplaceswhereunionprotectionisabsent.

Such a study is vital to understanding what must be done to counter the antiunion employer

propaganda that asserts modern workers have a shared responsibility with finance capital and its

governments to solve the problems of capitalism, falling under the employer demand for worker

flexibility.Flexibilityisemployercodeforsofteningworkerresistancetotheintensificationoflabour,

theacceptanceofparttimeemploymentwithoutbenefitsandthedisruptionstofamilylifeofirregular

shiftwork,withoutchildcareandwithouttraveltimecompensation.

The demandof employers for employee flexibility goes hand in handwith rightwing government

propagandathatworkersmustatthesametimebemoreindividuallyresponsibleforallcontingencies

andarriveforworkjobready. 3Theabandonmentoftheresponsibilityofemployerjobtrainingand

adherencetoapprenticeshipruleswillbeworsenedbytherecentbudgetarychangestoapprenticeship

andjobtraining.Onceagainassomanytimesinthepastthegovernmenthasengineeredthesystemto

provideawagesubsidy toemployerswithoutanyenforcementas to itsactualapplicationto training

Canadiansfornewoccupations.WhatshouldcausetheCPCandtheYCLtostudydeeplyandrespondto

isthatthechangesintheapprenticeshiptrainingprogramhavebeenundertakenbythegovernmentin

consultation with the employers not educators and the organized labourmovement that knows

intimatelywhatisrequired.

TheConventionmustadoptaresolutiondirectingtheincomingCCtoassisttheYCLtodevelopaJobs

ForYouthProgramthatincludesthedemandthatunemployedworkingclassandunemployedyouth

bethe

first

recipients

of

any

training

program

and

that

there

be

alegislated

requirement

by

employerstoacceptthemuponcompletionoftheir introductorytrainingandprovidethemwiththe

3Employerpressuresonworkerstoconformarecunning21

stcenturyadaptationsof20

thcenturyTaylorismand

otherdiscreditedtimestudytechniquesaccompaniedwithemployeerelationsexpertsandmanagement

theoriesbasedonantiunionbafflegabthatpromotemeritpayschemesresultinginanintensificationof

competitiononthejobasadevicetopreventunionismtogrow.


11/19


assurance that theywill remainedemployed soas toprogress tofulljourneyperson statuswithout

interruption.

ACountry

Wide

Campaign

for

Higher

Wages

Sector by sector, the Communistsmust know intimately the changed working conditions, the new

methodsusedbyprivatecapital toextract surplusvalue.Regionaldisparities inwages levelsand the

reduction inpurchasingpowerofaftertaxtakehomepay isacentral issue.Theracetothebottom in

wagescanonlybestoppedbyanationwidecampaignforhigherwagesthatraisethenationalaverage

wageleveltowhatisrequiredtoprovidealltheneedsoftodaysfamiliesregardlessofwheretheylive.

Acountrywidewagemovement is theprimarymeans to reach theunorganizedand the lowestpaid

workersatatimewhenthereisjustifiableangeratexorbitantcorporateandbankingprofitsinthemidst

ofaglobal

recession

and

when

the

Prime

Minister

and

the

Finance

Minister

hector

workers

for

being

unwillingtoparticipateinequalityofsacrificebetweenemployersandworkers.

A resolution callinguponorganized labour tomountanationwidewagemovement isaminimum

taskforthe37th

Convention.

HigherProductivityForWhom?

Aspartof thatdiscussiononwagesdelegatesmust delve into employerdemands for higher labour

productivityandexpose itspurpose;afraudulentargumenttojustifythe importationofparttime low

wage contract labour, todrivedown current averagewages anddestroyunions, andbywithholding

unemploymentinsurance

benefits,

enforce

labour

mobility

demands.

4

4Labourproductivityisademandonlabourtoincreasetherateofprofitbywhatevermeansemployersdeem

necessary,whichcanincludeloweringthecostoftherenewaloflabour(theimportationofcheapgoods,junk

food,foodbanks,)increasingthehoursofwork,andintensificationoflabourbyspeedup.Theintroductionofnew

productionmethodsrequiringlargerinvestmentsofconstantcapitalresultsinaloweringoftherateofprofitsince

profitisderivedfromvariablecapital theamountcapitalistsallocatetothepurchaseoflabourpower.The

reluctanceofindustrytospendonresearchanddevelopmentisrelatedtoemployerpreferencetoderiveprofit

fromlongerhoursandintensificationoflabourandkeeptherateofprofithigh.Ahighrateofprofitalsomeansa

morerapid

accumulation

of

capital

in

the

hands

of

capitalists

since

all

new

capital

is

the

result

of

capitalists

taking

aportionofsurplusvalueandinvestingitinnewmeansofproduction.Intodaysglobalsystemofcapitalismnew

capitalisnotalwaysputbackintoexistingCanadianindustriesbutisincreasinglyexportedtolowwagecountries

withtheaimofderivingashighrateofprofitfromlowwagevariablecapital.Withmoderndaycorporatesupply

chains,commoditiesproducedinlowwagecountriescaneasilyfloodtheCanadianmarketanddestroyhome

grownindustry.Suchistheanarchyofthesystemthatdestroysitself.


12/19


PensionsandRisingRetirementAge

The takeback stanceof employers and government in collectivebargaininghas for the first time in

decadesraisedtheretirementageofworkerswhilesimultaneouslyloweringprivateandpublicpension

compensation imposingnew stress levelsand shortening the lifeexpectancyof long timeemployees.

The Convention is calledupon to reject the pension reform policies craftedby FinanceMinister Jim

FlahertyandMinistersClement,FinleyandMenzieswhowiththeapprovalofthePrimeMinisterand

withtheconnivanceofbigprivate insurancecompanieshaveenacted lawsthatwillhavetheeffectof

driving more retirement savings to private mutual fund and private insurance investors. This is

happeningwhenanindexeduniversalpubliclyfundedretirementpensionplanforallisaffordable.The

scandal of the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CCPIB)possessing $152 billionof Canadian

workerspensionfundstoinvestinsuchdubiousschemesasrealestategamblesinAustraliaandIsraeli

Apartheidwhenmillions of Canadians arewithout adequate retirement income is a travesty and a

crime. 5

TheConventioniscalledupontoexposeandrejectallofthecorporatesponsoredchangestopension

legislation,demandauniversalpensionplanforallasdemandedandasproposedandcampaigned

forbytheCLC,enhancedbytheCommunistdemandthatcorporationsnotreceiveonepennyofCCPIB

investments and its purpose be relegislated to serve the social needs of Canadians not foreign

corporations.

EndHomelessness!AffordableHousingforAllWhoNeedIt!

In

spite

of

nominally

low

down

payments

and

interest

rates,

wages

are

not

enough

for

most

aspiring

homeownerstomakemonthlypaymentsbecauseoftheinflatedpriceoffamilyhomesthathaverisen

127%since2000and50%since2006.Housesareestimated tobepricedataminimumof20to30%

above realvalue. The inflatedpriceofhouses isthevirtualpillarofsandproppingup therealestate

marketandaccountsformuchoftheenormousconsumerdebtofwageearnerscompelledtoborrow

against future earnings to pay for necessities and mortgages. Canadians now hold $1.2 trillion of

mortgagedebt andthefederalgovernment,withtaxpayersmoneynowistheguarantorof$800billion

ofthatamount,whichisalmostonehalfofCanadasannualeconomicoutput.

5TheworkandpublicationsofCanadasownCoalitiontoOpposetheArmsTrade(C.O.A.T)hasexposedthelink

betweentheCCPIBandthecorporationsinvolvedinthearmstrade.COATanditspublicationPressforConversion

shouldbewidelypromotedbytheCPCandtheCanadianPeaceCongress.


13/19


These facts are available from a rare and candid exposure of the collusion between the Harper

Governmentandthebanks,toartificiallykeephousepriceshighandatthesametimeshiftallofthe

bank

risk

for

mortgage

loans

to

the

Canada

Mortgage

and

Housing

Corporation

(CMHC).

6

Some of the salient facts are not surprising, such as home prices rising faster than incomes. The

objective of most working class families is to purchase a home to live in. The objective of the

government has been to keep home purchasing prices rising to stimulate the growth of a housing

marketbubblethatwillcontinuetoreturnwindfallprofitstorealestatespeculators, landdevelopers,

marketersandthebanks.

To perpetuate the housing bubble and encourage a steady rise in housing prices, FinanceMinister

Flaherty issuedanorder toCMHC to startbuying tensofbillions inmortgages fromCanadianbanks

givingthosebanksaninfluxofcashtoissuenewloansandofcoursemakemoremoneyoninterest,by

usingthe

Canadian

taxpayers

as

insurers.

The

initial

$69

billion

that

flowed

to

the

banks

from

CMHC

purchaseofbankdebtwentbackintothemarketatlowinteresttopropupsaggingsalesafterthe2008

depression.

Morealarming isthefactthatin2006theHarpergovernmentwasonthecuspof inviting intoCanada

USmortgageinsurersthatwouldhaveunleashedinCanadatheruinoussubprimescamthatruinedthe

livesofmillionsofUSfamilyhomeowners.OnlytheinterventionoflongtimeBankofCanadaGovernor

DavidDodgepreventedthegovernmentfromexposingthecountrytoarealestatedisasterbiggerthan

what itnow is.And the corruptmedia continues to characterizeHarper and Flahertyas outstandingfinancialmanagersoftheeconomy.ThehypocrisyofthePrimeMinisterandFinanceMinisterlecturingCanadianwageearnersaboutbeing

prudentand to reducedebtoccursat the same timeas theyboastof thecountryhaving the lowest

corporatetaxrateamongG7statesandimposeontheCanadianpeoplealowwageausteritybudgetary

policy.

Thescandalofhighcreditcard interestandnow, theepidemicofcellphonerates,thehighest in the

world, trapsworkersespeciallyyoungworkers intoa spiralofdebt thatdue to lowwages they can

neverescape.Suchacynicalsystem,that isgiven fullreignbygovernmentonbehalfofbigcorporate

communicationsprovidersandretailers,allinvolvedinthecommunicationstrinketeconomyprevents

youngworkers fromsavingtopurchasehomesandestablish families.Homelessnessamongtheyouth

andfood

bank

dependency

by

agrowing

number

of

workers,

pensioners

and

their

families

is

the

21st

centuryversionofthesoupkitchensoftheDirtyThirties.

The37th

Convention iscalledupontoadoptresolutionsonthehousinganddebtcrisisandrenew its

demandforagovernmentprogramof low costpublichousing.Any resolutionon themattermust

6ThefullarticlecanbefoundintheDecember27

th2012editionoftheGlobeandMail.


14/19


includeademandthatbankrollingbankswithfederalfundsmustendandallsuchfundsprovidedbe

returnedwithinterest,tothepeopleofCanada.Theresolutionmustdemandreductionsincreditcard

interest

and

cell

phone

rates.

WorkingClassWomenChangingtheWorkplaceandStrengtheningLabourStruggles

The influxofwomentothework forceoverthedecadesrising fromabout20% in thedecadesofthe

60s and 70s to 50% today and in regions where unemployment among male workers in the

manufacturing sector is high, towell over that number.Wage inequality forwomen prevails in all

sectors where unions do not exist. To escape second class wages, wherever possible women are

choosing togethighereducationandmanyarenowchoosing towork in industrieswherewagesare

equal and union protection is available. The numbers of women employed in the skilled trades is

growing.Thepresenceofwomenintheworkplacehasstrengthenedthesolidarityofmenandwomen

inraising

to

higher

levels

the

urgency

of

the

demand

for

universal

child

care,

maternity

leave

and

breakingdownvestigesofoutmodedpatriarchalbeliefsystemsaboutmodernfamilylife.

Ofparticularandurgentattentionbydelegatesistheplightofoldersingleorwidowedwomenbecause

of a lifetimeof low income are dependentonOAS and supplement.Many areunable to cope. The

federalandprovincialgovernmentsarecolludingwithdeveloperstoreduce theamountofaffordable

public retirement housing for seniors, and allowing developers to sell buildings for renovation or

destructionthatconvert lowcostapartment living intoupscalehighrentalorforsaleapartmentsand

condos.7

Aspecialandseparateresolutiononthedemandsofworkingwomenthatincludewageequality,free

universal child care, housing and special attention to the needs of single elderly women and the

extensionofunionrightsforwomentoallworkplacesisurgent.

WorkingClassLifeisCanada

Thesefewexamplesofworkingclasslifetodayservetounderlinethevitalimportanceofthedelegates

atthe37thConventiontostayfocusedonwhatisprimaryforthevanguardparty,theworkingclass.

7CPSreceivedthiscommentfromaseniorwoman,militantpeaceactivistlivinginMapleRidgeVancouverand

writes:

HelloDon:Greattohearfromyou.IdoubtMapleRidgeisanydifferentfrommostcitiesinB.C.orCanada.The

mayorandcouncilarealllanddevelopersandrealtorsandtheyarebusybuildingexpensiveapartmentbuildings,

orcondos.Theoneclosesttomeis$449,000.MeanwhilethebuildingIliveinhasbeensoldandwillnolongerbe

B.C.Housing.Itsashocktoallofus.Allaroundherearehomeless,manyoldpeopleliveonthestreet.Becauseof

myageInowusethisconditionasabarometerofthefuture.Trulyitisgoingtobeaboutstruggle.


15/19


Workingclass life isnotanabstractionhomogenized inaclasslessbourgeoisversionofsomemythical

equal opportunity society served up on TV. The position of theworking class in the 21st century in

relation

to

the

means

of

production

is

unaltered

from

what

it

has

always

been

the

class

of

creators

of

all

wealthwhichisappropriatedprivatelybytheownersofthemeansofproduction.

Whathaschangedand ischanging is the sectoraldistributionof theworking class. It requiresanew

study of all assumptions and approaches to introducing to workers the Communist program for

socialism.

Today theworkingclass isemployed in reducednumbers inbasic industryandmanufacturingand in

increasednumbers inwhat is looselydefinedastheservicesector.The interconnectionofworkersat

thepointofproductionandtheancillarysupportsectorarean integratedwageearningworkforceof

mutuallydependent18milliongainfullyemployedCanadians.Apersistentpermanentunemployment

rateof

about

8%

and

rising

to

16%

among

the

youth

means

that

1.5

million

Canadians

are

continuously

withoutworkandmanymoreareunderemployedandwithoutbenefits.

ManyOccupationsOneClass! TheChallengeoftheEnergySectorWorkers.

Solidarityandone forallandall foronearenotslogansselectivelyapplied.Communistsspeak in the

interestsofallworkersirrespectiveofwheretheyarecompelledtoselltheirlabourpower.

That iswhyCPScallsuponthe37thconventiontorevisitandrediscuss itsdemandtoclosedownthe

Albertatarsandsandreviewitsentirestanceontheproblemsconfrontingtheenergysectorworkers.

Theuse

of

the

dubious

and

sweeping

description

of

the

energy

sector

of

the

west

as

tar

sands

is

inaccurateonmanycounts.WhatishappeningacrosswesternCanadaintheextraction,processingand

transportofbitumen,heavyandlightcrude,naturalgassourandsweetandallofitsbyproductsandall

ofavarietyofmethodsthatareusedtoextractitneedcarefulstudyandanapproachthatislessheavy

onemotionandmorefocusedonclasspartisanship.

ThenumbersofCanadianworkers,menandwomen,nowemployed in theminingandprocessingof

bitumen, theextractionofoil inBakkenplay in southeastSaskatchewan and the frackingprocesses

underway to retrieveoilandgasdeposits inNorthernBCare largeandgrowing.Theentire sector is

expandingrapidlyandispoorlyunderstoodbytheCPC.

Thusfar,

the

CPC

has

limited

its

policies

to

raising

the

demand

of

nationalization

of

energy

resources,

which itwas late inplacingbeforetheworkingclassand isstillwithoutmuchelaborationofwhatthat

demand,inpracticeactuallymeans.Whatissodisappointingisthatofallofthepoliticalpartiesclaiming

tospeakforworkers,theCommunistPartyhistoricallyisthepartywithalegacyofhavingpioneeredand

publiclycampaignedforpeoplesenergypolicy.Thathistoryincludes:

Attentiontotheenergyneedsofthecountryforitsfutureplannedeconomicdevelopment;


16/19


Policiesthatlaiddowntheprincipleofenergyselfsufficiency; Policies that elaborated principles to ensure that the export of surpluses did notjeopardizeenergy

self

sufficiency;

Policiesthatpromotedeastwestdevelopmentofpipelinesandhydroelectricpowergrids; PoliciesthatensuredtheenergyneedsforeasternCanadaweresuppliedbywesternCanadianenergyresources;

Policiesthatassuredtheenergyneedsfornortherndevelopment; Policiesthatprotectedfreshwatersupplies; Policiesthatkeepenergyconsumerpricestoworkers,communities,publicinfrastructurelow; Policiesthatassuredlowcostenergyforfurtherindustrialandmanufacturingdevelopment; Policiesthatprotectedpubliccontroloverhydroelectricutilities; ProgramsfornonmonopolydevelopmentofwesternCanada; PoliciesthatprotectedCanadafromUScontinentalwaterdiversionplans; PoliciesfornationalizationandpublicownershipofallenergydevelopmentbasedontheneedsofCanadiansandbasedonadvancedscienceandtechnology.

TheConventionmustselfcriticallyconfrontthefactthattheCPChasabandoneditsindependentlineon

energy development for Canada and has accepted uncritically nonMarxist theories of energy

developmentandtheenvironment.

Thatabandonmentisrevealedinitssimplisticacceptanceandpromotionoftheslogantoshutdownthe

Albertatarsands.

Inall

of

its

reporting

on

the

matter,

the

party

tails

well

intentioned

environmentalists

to

evade

its

responsibilitytoconsidercarefullythefullimplicationoftheslogantoshutdownthetarsandsandthe

consequencesofthatsloganfortheworkerswhoselltheir labour intheenergysector.Moreoverthe

CPC is less than thorough in presenting the dilemma of FirstNations peoplewho on the one hand

justifiably demand respect for their land claims and traditionalway of life as pipelines threaten the

environment and on the other hand havejust as rightfully raised the demand in the IdleNoMore

Movementforabiggershareinthedevelopmentoftheresourcesunderwayonthoselands.TheCPCis

poorly informed about the numbers of Aboriginal youthwho now derive their living from resource

sectorjobs.

Communistsdo

not

join

in

the

petty

bourgeois

nihilism

that

in

acavalier

fashion

proposes

the

shutting

downofentiresectionsofthecapitalisteconomy.Nordowehandovertoanyotherclass,corporateor

petty bourgeoismovement, however earnest, the responsibilitywe have asMarxists towork out a

consistentlyprincipledworkingclassprogram foralland inparticulartodo it inconsultationwiththe

workersandcommunitiesdirectlyinvolved.


17/19


It is important to say that the energy sectorworkers ofwestern Canada are not indifferent to the

environmentalissuesandknowinsomedetailwhattheeffectsontheenvironmentareoftheanarchic

way

that

private

capital

destroys

nature.

As

an

example

and

we

have

mentioned

this

before,

the

Alberta

FederationofLabourincooperationwithenvironmentalistsattheUniversityofAlbertahavedonesome

credibleworkonproposals toprotectjobsandmitigateCO2andotherenvironmentaldamage.Their

proposalsincludebutarenotconfinedtothecompleteprocessingofbitumeninCanadatotherefined

stageofoilanditsbyproducts,eastwestextensionofpipelinestoservetheneedsofeasternCanada

and strict environmental standards to be imposed on corporate polluters. Likewise the soon to be

mergedCAW/CEPhavemadestatementsthat indicateaseriousattempttoupholdbothjobsandthe

social responsibility trade unionists have for the environment. The CPC will be negligent in its

responsibilities to theworking class if it fails toaccord at leastasmuchattention towhatorganized

labourissayingaboutenvironmentalissuesasmainstreamenvironmentalism.

ThereisnoindicationthatwecanseethattheCPCeitherknowsorstudiessuchworkindepth.

If theCPCpersists incalling forshuttingdown theenergysector inAlberta itmustgoto theworking

classofwesternandeasternCanadaand theunions that represent theseworkersanddefendsucha

proposal.Thatmeansgoingtoalloftheworkers involved intheenergysectorwhich includenotonly

thoseinAlbertaSaskatchewanandBCbuttheeasternCanadianworkersfromThunderBaytotheeast

coastwhoaretheproducersofpipe,pumps, industrialmotors,thetransportationworkers involved in

transportinggoodsandservicestothewesternCanadianoilandgas industry,theskilledtradesandall

thosecompelledtomovewestfromtheMaritimestosurviveandexplainwhytheCPCcallsforshutting

downtheirlivelihood.

IftheCPChasawinningprogramitiscalledupontogototheworkersinFortMcMurray,refineryrowin

Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan, the piping and pressure vessel fabrication shops of Red Deer,

Calgary,ReginaandSaskatoonandseektheiropinionfirstaboutwhattheCPCproposestheydofora

livingwhenthetarsandsareshutdown.

Wehavesaidthisbeforeandwerepeatitagaintomakeapoint,whydoesnttheCPCadvocateshutting

downtheautosectorofeasternCanadasincecombustionenginesareoneoftheprincipalsourcesof

CO2emissions.

Clearlyamuchmorenuancedanddevelopedprogramisrequiredthatmobilizesalloftheproposalsthat

willgain

the

support

of

all

of

the

progressive

anti

monopoly

forces

involved

and

will

win

science

to

the

sideoftheworkingclassandtheworkingclasstosideofscience.Thatisnotdonebyraisingtheslogan

ofnationalizationandthenleavingitatthat.

Thedevelopmentoftheproductiveforcesofcapitalismtoday isanarchic,contradictoryandasEngels

warned longago inhisworkTheDialecticsofNaturethathumanactivitycansoaltertheenvironment

suchthatitmaybecomeuninhabitable.Engelsdidnotsayhowever,thatitwasinevitableanditwould


18/19


happenandthestruggleforsocialismshouldbesuspendedintheinterim.Quitetheopposite,Marxand

EngelsandLeninarguedstrenuouslythattobringhumansandnature intofullharmony it isuptothe

revolutionary

parties

of

the

working

class,

possessed

of

the

consciousness

provided

by

dialectical

and

historicalmaterialismtostruggleforthetriumphofscienceinallrealms,andinthefirstplacepolitics.

Capitalismcannotdothat.Thattruthregardlessofhowfewarticulateitdoesntceasetobethetruth.

Communistsarenotnihilistsandopposethedestructionoftheeconomyandfightfor itspreservation

so itmayexistandbeperfectedfurtherbysocialism. It isbeyondfurthercommentthatanyeconomy

today,capitalistorsocialistcanexistatthistimeinhistorywithoutalloftheprincipalformsofenergy,

fossilfuel,nuclear,hydroelectric,biomass,windandsolar.Theevolutionofthesesourcestowards its

combination that reduces fossil fuel carbon emissions, and creates the solutions that preserve the

planetisacapitalistcontradiction. Itcanbepointedtoandevenraisedtothehighestpossiblelevelof

politicalstruggle,

that

may

even

result

in

some

important

advances

even

as

capitalism

exists,

but

we

would be deceiving theworking class and ourselves ifwe failed to point out that it is a capitalist

contradictionthatcannotbefinallyresolvedwithoutoverthrowingthesystemthatcreatesit.

Science everyday provides us with elegant solutions to globalwarming and such solutions are not

implemented because the present relations of production and the underlying law of capitalism,

maximumprofitpreventsitsimplementationbecausescienceisintheserviceofmonopolyandnotthe

people.Only socialism places the people at the serviceof science and science at the service of the

people.

ThecontractionscreatedbytherelativedeclineoftheindustrialandmanufacturingsectorsofCanadian

capitalismaccompaniedbyanarchicdevelopmentofothersectors,theresourcesector inparticular, is

due to the fact that capital moves to where it generates maximum profit, without regard to the

consequences. Capitalism in its present stage is not only anarchic it is self destructive, deliberately

destroying and abandoning entire sectors of the economy that do not realize maximum profit.

Profiteershavediscovered that in some instancesmoreprofit canbemade from thedestructionof

productiveenterprisethaninvestinginitscreation.

Themethodof financialoligarchic takeoverofviableCanadian industryby foreigncapital incollusion

withCanadianbanksand investors,theensuingbreakupandselloffofassets,theftofpension funds

and failure to compensate for lostwages followed by brazen capital flightwithwindfall profits for

corporateexecutives

is

well

known

to

Canadian

workers.

The

threat

of

it

happening

again

and

again

is

a

majorintimidatingtoolinthehandsofinvestorsandemployerstodepresswagesandexactcompliance

fromworkerswhenhoursofworkare illegallyextendedandwhenviolationsofestablishedsafetyand

workstandardsoccur.

Energysectorworkers inwesternCanadaarefamiliarwithboomandbustdevelopment intheoiland

gas sector, of both suspension of capital investment, capital flight and capital influx. Energy sector


19/19


workers in increasing numbers expectwork to be a constant process of feast and famine.Now the

sector confronts an influx of foreign contract labour at all levels including engineering, scientific,

technological

and

skilled

trades

competition

for

jobs.

8

It isexasperatingtoenergysectorworkersconfrontingsuchrealitieswhenconcern forduckskilled in

tailing ponds is elevated by themedia to amatter of national attention but the ongoing deaths of

construction, rig workers,mining personnel and support staff goes unreported. In the past it was

enoughtosaythereisbloodonthecoaltoknowwhatwasmeant.Wellthereisalotofbloodinthe

bitumen and thehighwaybetween Edmonton and FortMac and theCPCof allparties should know

aboutit.

CPS inspiteofanycriticalcommentshereinextends itscomradelybestwishes toallofthedelegates

assembledandanyguestsfromfraternalpartiesthatmaybeinattendance.

TheConventioncanbearoutineeventoritcanmarkaturntotheworkingclassandfulfillthelegacyof

itsfoundersandallthosewhothroughtheyearsfoughtforcommunismasforlife.

ComradelyDonCurrie

8EnergysectorworkershavereportedtoCPSthatthereareplansafoottobuildbarrackslikeaccommodations on

siteforamassinfluxofforeignworkersaccompanyingbigforeigninvestmentsinAlberta.CPStakestheviewthat

thisexplainssomeofthechangesinthefederalgovernmentsimmigrationrulesregardingforeignparttime

contractlabourinCanada.

the 37th central convention of the communist party of canada april 5-7, 2013, toronto canada – a...

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