The Communist Party of Canada: A Century of Struggle for Socialism
The Communist Party of Canada was founded in 1921. We have a proud, 100-year history of fighting for a socialist future in Canada. We are a small party with big ideas. The Communist Party is a registered federal political party, and we have successfully campaigned for that democratic right, helping to shape and advance the legal framework governing political parties in Canada. But the Communist Party is a very different kind of organization from other political parties—it is active far beyond the realm of elections.
For Socialism and Democracy
The Communist Party is dedicated to the cause of socialism. As we state in our program—agreement with which is the basis of Party membership—the achievement of socialism, based on working-class power in Canada and internationally, will mark a real step forward toward genuine democracy: the rule of the people, by the people, and for the people.
For the Working Class and the People
Our constituency is the working class and all people exploited and oppressed by big business. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, women, students, social and environmental activists, seniors, farmers, and many others engaged in progressive struggles across Canada.
As our programme states: “The Communist Party of Canada is a party of the working class—all who labour by hand and brain. In our policies, campaigns, and broad struggle, the Communist Party has no interests separate and apart from those of the working class as a whole.”
A Revolutionary Outlook
In all its work, the Communist Party is guided by the revolutionary perspective of Marxism-Leninism. These principles are expressed in our programme and reflected in our constitution. We seek to unite, within a single party, all those who fight for socialism on this revolutionary basis.
Workers and Oppressed Peoples of All Countries, Unite!
The Communist Party of Canada upholds the time-honoured and proven principle of working-class internationalism. We build fraternal ties with Communist and Workers’ Parties around the world in pursuit of the shared goals of the working class.
The organizational principles and daily work of the Communist Party of Canada flow from our political aims.
We are a voluntary organization. The Party brings together like-minded individuals and seeks to unite the most politically conscious and active members of the people—those who are committed to building working-class political power and a socialist Canada.
To guide the working class toward these goals and lead the people’s struggle, strong ideological, political, and organizational unity is essential. This also requires the ongoing, organized activity of members in close connection with the struggles of the people.
Our guiding organizational principle is called democratic centralism.
As our Constitution explains:
“Democratic centralism combines the maximum of democratic discussion and participation of the membership in Party life, with the self-imposed obligation to carry out majority decisions and the execution of these decisions by an elected centralized leadership capable of leading the entire Party. It includes full discussion by the entire membership of the policies necessary to advance the aims of the Party’s programme. Decisions as to what these policies must be are made by majority vote, and are then binding on all members. This enables the Party to act as a united whole under all conditions of struggle.”
The Parti communiste du Québec (PCQ–PCC) is a distinct entity within the Communist Party of Canada, with full control over its own policies and structures in Quebec.
These principles of unity and democracy are outlined in more detail in our constitution.
In fighting for fundamental change, Communists express the aspirations of millions of Canadians who desire a new, humane social order—one free from exploitation and oppression.
In this sense, we cherish and promote one of the highest qualities of the working class: devotion to the liberating cause of socialism—the cause of human freedom, equality, and dignity. We work to cultivate this humanist ethic among working people.
Since our founding in 1921, the Communist Party of Canada has proudly raised the banners of peace, Canadian independence, democracy, and socialism. We have always stood alongside workers, farmers, and oppressed people in the fight for a better life—often providing leadership in those struggles.
Today, more than a century later, we are stronger, more active, and more relevant than ever.
Join the Communist Party of Canada
We invite you to apply to join our party today!
Workers and oppressed peoples of all countries, unite!
Contact us
Email: info@cpc-pcc.ca
Instagram: @communist.party.canada
X/Twitter: @ComPartyCanada
Facebook: CommunistPartyOfCanada
More information
We also invite you to visit the websites for People’s Voice, Canada’s leading socialist newspaper, and the Young Communist League of Canada.