DM

A win-win agreement for the peoples of Cuba, the United States and all the peoples of this hemisphere!

 Posted on December 17, 2014
Dec 172014
 

The simultaneous statements by U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruiz are of great historic significance. The comprehensive package of measures aimed at improving the economic, political and diplomatic relations between these two countries signals the beginning of the end to one of the darkest periods in the history of this hemisphere – the 50-plus years of U.S. aggression and blockade against socialist Cuba and her people.

The negotiated agreement calls for the immediate mutual release of Alan Gross (convicted and imprisoned on the charge of espionage by a Cuban court in 2011) and the three remaining imprisoned members of the Cuban Five – Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino and  Antonio Guerrero – who have been unjustly jailed in the U.S. since 1998. It also includes the release of another CIA spy held by Cuban authorities, and some other Cuban ‘political prisoners’ at the request of the U.S. Continue reading »

Unite against Harper’s politics of fear

 Posted on November 18, 2014
Nov 182014
 

In the wake of the violent events in Ottawa and Quebec last month, the Communist Party of Canada warned against attempts to use such incidents to impose new restriction on civil liberties and democratic freedoms. The Harper government is clearly adopting such a strategy, in an effort to intimidate Canadians against expressing criticism of Conservative policies, by expanding the frightening scale of mass surveillance of the activities and communications of the people of this country. We join with many others to warn that this trend towards police state tactics will have dangerous consequences for democracy and freedom.

Instead of adopting an “evidence based approach” to dealing with violent crime, the Harper government is engaged in a blatant attempt to frighten Canadians into silence. The Conservatives strategy is to use various hot-button issues to head off serious debates, such as their claim that terrorist threats pose a mortal danger to the entire country, or that “cyber-bullying” can only be stopped by giving police sweeping new powers to monitor virtually all online communications. Continue reading »

Solidarity with Communist Party and Communist Youth of Venezuela

 Posted on November 11, 2014
Nov 112014
 

The Communist Party of Canada condemns the criminal attack against the offices of the Communist Party and Communist Youth of Venezuela, that occurred in Caracas on October 21.

This attack is part of the ongoing campaign by reactionary forces in Venezuela – with support from foreign powers – to destabilize the country and turn back the clock on the past 15 years of progressive political and social change in Venezuela.

The CPC stands firmly and unconditionally in solidarity with the PCV and JCV, and with the people of Venezuela in their struggle for sovereignty, and social and economic justice.

Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada

11 November 2014

Solidarity with Sudanese Communists

 Posted on November 11, 2014
Nov 112014
 

The Communist Party of Canada joins progressive and democratic voices around the world in condemning the new wave of anti-Communist repression in Sudan. We demand the immediate end of this repression and the release of all political detainees.

The CPC is particularly concerned about the capture of Suliman Ali, the Political Secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party in the Blue Nile Province, who has been charged with crimes that carry the death penalty. In fact, his “crime” was distributing a Communist Party statement on the anniversary of the Sudanese 21st October Revolution. We understand that Comrade Suliman’s poor health has been deteriorating since his detention began on November 2, and we call for his immediate and unconditional release.

The attacks and arrests by the Sudanese Security and Intelligence Forces are timed to coincide with military action against the people of Southern Kordufan and other war zones in Sudan. It is part of an escalating campaign by the state to silence opposition and destroy organizations who defend the Sudanese people’s rights.

Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada

11 November 2014

Solidarity with Chilean Communists

 Posted on November 11, 2014
Nov 112014
 

The Communist Party of Canada condemns the recent attack against the Secretary General of the Chilean Communist Party, Juan Andres Lagos.

The political attack, which occurred on November 7, was committed by people who want to intimidate the Communist Party, its members and supporters, and is part of an escalating wave of anti-Communism in Chile and many other countries.

The CPC stands in solidarity with the Chilean Communist Party, and with the Chilean people in their struggle for sovereignty, and social and economic justice.

Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada

11 November 2014

Defend civil liberties and democratic freedoms

 Posted on October 23, 2014
Oct 232014
 

The Communist Party of Canada warns against the attempt by the federal Conservative government to use the recent events in Ottawa and St‑Jean‑sur‑Richelieu as justification to restrict civil liberties and democratic freedoms. Even before these unconnected incidents the government had been preparing new so‑called “anti‑terrorism” legislation to expand the legal scope for CSIS and other security agencies to spy on the activities and communications of Canadians, and to allow “disruption” tactics – a euphemism for the authority to arrest anyone considered a potential threat, even those who have not engaged in any illegal activity. This chilling legislation will be brought before Parliament shortly, perhaps in an even more draconian form.

Ever since taking office, the Harper Conservatives have directed state security agencies to profile and focus on those they consider “enemies”, such as environmentalists opposed to the expansion of the tarsands and hydraulic fracking, Aboriginal movements which resist the destruction of their traditional territories by governments and resource corporations, or groups CSIS vaguely labels “multi‑issue extremists”. CSIS already operates beyond the reach of Parliament and exists to suppress political dissent. The expansion of police state powers will accelerate this drive to label Canadians as “potential terrorists,” creating a basis for even more severe police spying and repression against, the labour and democratic movements and grassroots opposition forces. Continue reading »

The continuing attack on democratic and civil rights must be reversed

 Posted on September 24, 2014
Sep 242014
 

The Communist Party of Canada’s Central Committee calls for democratic‑minded people to join in the condemnation of Montréal municipal bylaw P‑6 and support the ongoing court challenge against this law. Montréal is on the front line of a much broader, reactionary attack on democratic and civil rights which must be reversed.

Bylaw P‑6 was created during, and in response to, the Québec student strike of 2012. Refusing to negotiate in good faith, and responding to the outpouring of public support, the provincial Charest Liberal government imposed draconian legislation under the title of Bill 78 which grossly violated civil and democratic rights by effectively outlawing all student protest and blocking any attempt of solidarity actions by the labour movement.

It is well known that this tactic further discredited the Charest Liberals. Public pressure helped trigger an election in which the Liberals were defeated, and the new minority Parti Québecois government struck Bill 78 from the books.

What is not well know is that on the municipal level, both Montréal and Québec City either adapted or adopted city bylaws mirroring Bill 78 ‑ and that these were never struck from the books. Continue reading »

Withdraw Bill 3 attack on Québec municipal pensions

 Posted on September 24, 2014
Sep 242014
 

The Communist Party of Canada supports the municipal employees of Québec and demands the withdrawal of Bill 3 which attacks their pension rights.

Citing the fear of pension fund deficits due to the improved life expectancy of workers, Bill 3 would tear up collective agreements, and force renegotiation by setting advance concessions that workers must accept. With good reason, the unions argue that such imposed negotiations will be artificial, and that the Bill is an attack on freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Bill 3 covers all Québec municipalities, affecting 170 retirement plans, 50,000 retirees and 122 000 participants, even though these plans are not actually in financial difficulty. Continue reading »

Canada out of NATO – For an independent foreign policy of peace

 Posted on September 24, 2014
Sep 242014
 

For all of its 65 years of existence, NATO has been an aggressive, imperialist alliance. It is the largest military organization in the world, committed to the doctrines of first strike and preemptive strike. NATO interventions regularly include the use of toxic weapons containing depleted uranium or white phosphor, and the alliance has repeatedly stated that nuclear weapons are a fundamental part of its military arsenal and strategy.

NATO is also an illegal alliance under international law. Article 52 of the United Nations Charter permits regional military organizations, but only if their activities are “consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.” The most important principle of the UN is the prohibition of the use of force. Since NATO’s membership has always been beyond any commonly identifiable region, and since its primary activity has always involved the use of military force, its foundation contravenes international law.

Firmly dominated by US-imperialism, NATO is also a pillar of the European Union’s military strategy. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has aggressively expanded both its membership and its theatre of operations. Currently, there are 28 NATO member states across North America and Europe, another 22 countries in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), and a further 19 countries engaged with NATO through programs such as the Mediterranean Dialogue, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and the Partners Across the Globe Initiative. This expansion reveals NATO’s fundamental character as the key military tool of Western imperialism. Continue reading »

Solidarity with the Palestinian people

 Posted on September 24, 2014
Sep 242014
 

The Communist Party of Canada’s Central Committee, meeting on the weekend of September 13-14th, repeats its condemnation of Israel’s murderous 51-day war on the people of Gaza. We call for the immediate lifting of the siege of Gaza and express our continued full support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for an independent sovereign state.

“Operation Protective Edge” was an act of genocide, killing over 2 200 Palestinians. More than 500 of the dead were children. To this date at least 450 000 people have been displaced. Direct deliberate bombing hit refugee centers, turned into rubble tens of thousands of homes, and destroyed schools, hospitals, clinics, factories, mosques, water and sewage infrastructure, and Gaza’s only power plant. Already, Gaza was effectively an open-air prison. Its population of 1.8 million people remain penned into an area about half the size of Toronto, now without electricity or even clean drinking water and running water. Continue reading »

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