First Published: In Struggle! No. 153, April 10, 1979
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Malcolm and Paul Saba
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“The working class in our country finally has its communist program!” All the delegates to the Third Congress of the Group IN STRUGGLE!, now the Marxist-Leninist Organization of Canada IN STRUGGLE!, hailed its adoption with joy, enthusiasm and sustained applause. The delegates, men and women from all the major regions of the country – the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, and the West – also unanimously adopted the Constitution, the Political Report, the financial report and a special resolution calling for the unity of the international communist movement. As well, they elected a new Central Committee.
The Third Congress’s most important act was the adoption of the Program. For more than a year, a Draft Program was distributed across Canada. It was widely discussed in public meetings, including one in Montreal which brought together more than 1,500 people in June, 1978. The Program has been completed and improved by the criticisms and commentaries coming from workers and progressives. It is the product of the struggle undertaken to eradicate revisionism from the ranks of the working class movement in Canada.
All the Congress documents were distributed to all members and probationers two months before the Congress. They were thus able to study them and discuss them collectively in their cells. Participation was very active and led to more then 200 pages of amendments being sent in by militants across the country for consideration by the delegates.
During the Congress, the rules of order permitted the delegates to freely express their points of view on all questions and to vote on resolutions judiciously after being fully informed about all aspects of each question. The democratic election of a new Central Committee illustrated the high level of unity around our leadership. The Secretary-General was re-elected by acclamation by the newly formed Central Committee.
Coming issues of the newspaper will provide more substantial accounts of the main decisions made by the Congress. The new Program and Constitution will soon be available. It will be important to distribute these issues of the newspaper as widely as possible.
As well, a special conference is being organized for May 12, at the CEGEP Malsonneuve, in Montreal, where everybody will be able to find out about and discuss these decisions. This event should be widely publicized.
Long Live the Third Congress of the Marxist-Leninist Organization of Canada IN STRUGGLE!