First Published: The Forge, Vol. 4, No. 30, September 7, 1979.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Malcolm and Paul Saba
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The historic founding Congress of the Workers Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) was held in Quebec September 1-2.
A great cheer went up from the delegates, who had gathered from across the country, when the decision to establish the vanguard party of the Canadian working class was adopted unanimously September 2.
The Congress decided to dissolve the Canadian Communist League (ML), the pre-party organization that had fought for four years to build the party.
In a spirit of unity the Congress unanimously adopted the Political Report of the out-going Central Committee, the Party’s Political Program and the Party’s Constitution.
The WCP(ML) is based firmly on Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and its founding Congress affirmed its support for the great revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and resolved never to abandon the weapon of Mao Zedong Thought.
The new Central Committee of the WCP was elected by secret ballot, following a lively debate around the criticisms and self-criticisms of the candidates.
In its first meeting the WCP’s First Central Committee elected a Political Bureau and elected Roger Rashi as Chairman and Ian Anderson as Vice-Chairman.
Messages from around the world greeted the Party’s founding. They reflected the strong links between the WCP and the growing world Marxist-Leninist movement.
As the Congress drew to a close, the delegates were very satisfied with their two days of hard work. They drew new strength as they stood to sing the anthem of the international working class, The Internationale.
As the shouts of Forge our Party rang through the meeting hall, delegates prepared to return to their cities and towns across the country to take up the struggle to root the party deeply among the working people.