First Published: The Forge Vol 7, No 41, December 1982
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Malcolm and Paul Saba
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The resolution synthesizing a new basis of unity was proposed by a group of 80 members from various work sectors mainly from Montreal and the surrounding area.
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Given that the upcoming period for the party will be one of transition (redefinition of its ideological and political line, its functioning and its practice);
Given the necessity of remaining organized around a minimum platform in order to carry this out;
Given the necessity, of immeadiate transformation and rectification;
Given the necessity to remain involved in struggles;
Given that we are convinced the working class needs a revolutionary party in order to organize itself to overthrow the capitalist class and build socialism, and that we wish to work together to build such a party;
We resolve that during this period of transformation:
1) We base ourselves on Marxism as a science, that is, that we adopt a critical, dialectical materialist attitude towards Marxism and towards the present re-evaluation (democratic centralism, vanguard, etc.)
2) We undertake a summing up and a plan of debate and research with the goal of redefining our line on the national question, the woman question and the question of proletarians; that in our work we continue to base ourselves on those elements of our line on which we still agree; that we undertake debate, corrections and developments of our line on the questions of the party, the revolution and socialism;
3) We ensure the continuation of a collective practice among the masses, in order to rectify in practice our errors with the masses, while allowing party members a wide margin of manoeuvre and responsibility over this practice;
4) We maintain the regular publication of The Forge (to the extent that our means allow) as an essential tool for the debates and for analyses of the situation, the labour movement, the popular movement, the anti-imperialist movement, and so on.
5) That during this transitional period our methods of organization and functioning be as follows:
– there shall no longer be any delegation of power without a clear and limited mandate, and without an obligation for those to whom such power is delegated to account for their actions;
– mechanisms shall be put in place to ensure that any leaders can be removed from office at any time;
– the basis of the party shall remain the cell, in the workplace, the neighbourhood, in a given area or region;
– meetings allowing a wider exchange between party members will be encouraged (caucusses, general meetings);
– in the spirit of breaking with sectarianism, debates and coalitions with the left, along with groupings including both members and non-members will be favoured;
– debates and self-criticism will be presented openly to the public;
– intermediate structures will be elected by the cells. Their mandate shall become to ensure communications, collaboration, exchange and debate among members and between different groups, and to develop analyses and orientations that relate to the whole of the region concerned;
– members of work committees (eg. union committees, anti-imperialist, etc.) shall elect their own leadership and develop orientations collectively. On the central level, regional representation shall be assured;
– the Central Committee and the Political Bureau shall not be removed from office before the congress in order that they come to the congress to account for their actions;
– the leaders of the Quebec District are suspended from their functions.
6) The Quebec District must have full autonomy on all decisions that concern it along with the right to self-determination, including the right to, form a separate party. The District may immediately decide on organizational structures to manage its own affairs (eg. committees concerning union affairs, women, anti-imperialist work, finances, etc.);
– we support the principle of a Quebec edition of The Forge;
– establish a special commission to investigate the errors of great-nation chauvinism in the party and to propose methods and make recommendations for change;
7) Comrades of other nationalities must have the right to determine their own level of autonomy;
11) Autonomous women’s organizations should exist at all levels in the party, on a voluntary basis and/or elected by women, with decisional powers at the level concerned.
The central women’s committee should have decisional power on questions concerning the fight against women’s oppression and the right to examine (that is, an obligation that it be consulted) major decisions in the party. The committee should be elected by women.
9) Concrete resolutions should be adopted to fight chauvinism against proletarian members;
10) A commission of rights shall be formed to receive the complaints of members, sympathizers and non-members, investigate and make widely known the facts, and impose necessary sanctions at all levels of the party (that is, regardless of the leadership functions assumed by the persons concerned).