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Communist Party of Canada

Updated: 12/30/2025, 12:46:53 PM Wikipedia source

The Communist Party of Canada (CPC; French: Parti communiste du Canada, PCC) is a federal political party in Canada. Founded in 1921 under conditions of illegality, it is the second oldest active political party in Canada, after the Liberal Party of Canada. Although it does not currently have any parliamentary representation, the party's candidates have previously been elected to the House of Commons, the Ontario legislature, the Manitoba legislature, and various municipal governments across the country. The Communist Party of Canada focuses on contributing to the "labour and people's movements" through extra-parliamentary activity. Throughout its history, the party has made significant contributions to Canada's trade union, labour, and peace movements. The Communist Party of Canada participates in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties. In 1993, Elections Canada deregistered the party and seized its assets in accordance with changes to the Canada Elections Act introduced by the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney. Then party leader Miguel Figueroa subsequently began what would become a successful thirteen-year-long legal battle against the changes, which were struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada in Figueroa v. Canada (AG).

Infobox

Abbreviation
mw- CPCPCC
Leader
Drew Garvie
Founded
May 28, 1921; 104 years ago (1921-05-28)
Headquarters
290A Danforth AvenueToronto, OntarioM4K 1N6
Newspaper
People's Voice
Youth wing
Young Communist League of Canada[a]
Ideology
CommunismMarxism–Leninism
Political position
Far-left
International affiliation
Comintern (1921–1943)IMCWP (since 1998)
Colours
mw- Red
Senate
0 / 105
House of Commons
0 / 343

Tables

Provincial sections of the Communist Party of Canada · Provincial sections
Communist Party – Alberta
Communist Party – Alberta
Province
Alberta
Section name
Communist Party – Alberta
Founded
1930(95 years ago)
Leader
Naomi Rankin
Best result
1944(4.26% of pop. vote)
Communist Party of British Columbia
Communist Party of British Columbia
Province
British Columbia
Section name
Communist Party of British Columbia
Founded
1945(80 years ago)
Leader
Robert Crooks
Best result
1945(3.52% of pop. vote)
Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba
Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba
Province
Manitoba
Section name
Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba
Founded
1921(104 years ago)
Leader
Andrew Taylor
Best result
1945(4.80% of pop. vote, 1 seat won)
Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)
Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)
Province
Ontario
Section name
Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)
Founded
1940(85 years ago)
Leader
Drew Garvie
Best result
1945(2.4% of pop. vote, 2 seats won)
Communist Party of Quebec
Communist Party of Quebec
Province
Quebec
Section name
Communist Party of Quebec
Founded
1965(60 years ago)
Leader
Adrien Welsh
Best result
1976(0.05% of pop. vote)
Communist Party of Canada (Saskatchewan)
Communist Party of Canada (Saskatchewan)
Province
Saskatchewan
Section name
Communist Party of Canada (Saskatchewan)
Founded
1938(87 years ago)
Leader
N/A
Best result
1938(4.17% of pop. vote)
Province
Section name
Founded
Leader
Best result
Alberta
Communist Party – Alberta
1930(95 years ago)
Naomi Rankin
of pop. vote)
British Columbia
Communist Party of British Columbia
1945(80 years ago)
Robert Crooks
of pop. vote)
Manitoba
Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba
1921(104 years ago)
Andrew Taylor
of pop. vote, 1 seat won)
Ontario
Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)
1940(85 years ago)
Drew Garvie
of pop. vote, 2 seats won)
Quebec
Communist Party of Quebec
1965(60 years ago)
Adrien Welsh
of pop. vote)
Saskatchewan
Communist Party of Canada (Saskatchewan)
1938(87 years ago)
N/A
of pop. vote)
· Leadership › Party leaders
2
2
No. → 1
2
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
William Moriarty(1890–1936)
Birthplace → Ontario
England
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
1921–1923(2 years)
3
3
No. → 1
3
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Jack MacDonald(1888–1941)
Birthplace → Ontario
Scotland
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
1923–1929(6 years)
4
4
No. → 1
4
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Tim Buck(1891–1973)
Birthplace → Ontario
England
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
1929–1962(33 years)
5
5
No. → 1
5
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Leslie Morris(1904–1964)
Birthplace → Ontario
England
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
1962–1964(2 years)
6
6
No. → 1
6
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
William Kashtan(1909–1993)
Birthplace → Ontario
Quebec
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
1965–1988(23 years)
7
7
No. → 1
7
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
George Hewison(b. 1944)
Birthplace → Ontario
British Columbia
Residence → Ontario
1988–1992(4 years)
8
8
No. → 1
8
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Miguel Figueroa(b. 1952)
Birthplace → Ontario
Quebec
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
1992–2015(23 years)
9
9
No. → 1
9
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Elizabeth Rowley(b. 1949)
Birthplace → Ontario
British Columbia
Residence → Ontario
Ontario
Time in office(duration) → 1921–1921(7 months)
2016–2025(9 years)
10
10
No. → 1
10
Leader(birth–death) → Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Drew Garvie(b. 1985)
Birthplace → Ontario
Ontario
Residence → Ontario
2025–present(23 days)
No.
Leader(birth–death)
Birthplace
Residence
Time in office(duration)
1
Tom Burpee(1885–1972)
Ontario
1921–1921(7 months)
2
William Moriarty(1890–1936)
England
Ontario
1921–1923(2 years)
3
Jack MacDonald(1888–1941)
Scotland
Ontario
1923–1929(6 years)
4
Tim Buck(1891–1973)
England
Ontario
1929–1962(33 years)
5
Leslie Morris(1904–1964)
England
Ontario
1962–1964(2 years)
6
William Kashtan(1909–1993)
Quebec
Ontario
1965–1988(23 years)
7
George Hewison(b. 1944)
British Columbia
1988–1992(4 years)
8
Miguel Figueroa(b. 1952)
Quebec
Ontario
1992–2015(23 years)
9
Elizabeth Rowley(b. 1949)
British Columbia
Ontario
2016–2025(9 years)
10
Drew Garvie(b. 1985)
Ontario
2025–present(23 days)
· Leadership › Chairmen
1
1
No.
1
Leader(birth–death)
Jack MacDonald(1888–1941)
Birthplace
Scotland
Residence
Ontario
Time in office(duration)
1921–1923(2 years)
2
2
No.
2
Leader(birth–death)
Maurice Spector(1898–1968)
Birthplace
Russia
Residence
Ontario
Time in office(duration)
19??–1928(Unknown)
3
3
No.
3
Leader(birth–death)
Bill Kardash(1912–1997)
Birthplace
Saskatchewan
Residence
Manitoba
Time in office(duration)
1943–19??(Unknown)
4
4
No.
4
Leader(birth–death)
Tim Buck(1891–1973)
Birthplace
England
Residence
Ontario
Time in office(duration)
1962–1973(11 years)
No.
Leader(birth–death)
Birthplace
Residence
Time in office(duration)
1
Jack MacDonald(1888–1941)
Scotland
Ontario
1921–1923(2 years)
2
Maurice Spector(1898–1968)
Russia
Ontario
19??–1928(Unknown)
3
Bill Kardash(1912–1997)
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
1943–19??(Unknown)
4
Tim Buck(1891–1973)
England
Ontario
1962–1973(11 years)
· Election results
1930
1930
Election
1930
Leader
Tim Buck
Candidates
6 / 245
Seats won
0
Votes
4,557
Vote share
0.12%
Rank
10th
1935
1935
Election
1935
Leader
13 / 245
Candidates
0
Seats won
27,456
Votes
0.46%
Vote share
8th
1940
1940
Election
1940
Leader
9 / 245
Candidates
1
Seats won
14,005
Votes
0.36%
Vote share
10th
Changed name from Communist Party to Labor-Progressive Party in 1943.
Changed name from Communist Party to Labor-Progressive Party in 1943.
Election
Changed name from Communist Party to Labor-Progressive Party in 1943.
1945
1945
Election
1945
Leader
Tim Buck
Candidates
68 / 245
Seats won
1
Votes
111,892
Vote share
2.13%
Rank
6th
1949
1949
Election
1949
Leader
17 / 262
Candidates
0
Seats won
32,623
Votes
0.56%
Vote share
8th
1953
1953
Election
1953
Leader
100 / 265
Candidates
0
Seats won
59,622
Votes
1.06%
Vote share
7th
1957
1957
Election
1957
Leader
10 / 265
Candidates
0
Seats won
7,760
Votes
0.12%
Vote share
7th
1958
1958
Election
1958
Leader
18 / 265
Candidates
0
Seats won
9,769
Votes
0.13%
Vote share
6th
Changed name from Labor-Progressive Party to Communist Party in 1959.
Changed name from Labor-Progressive Party to Communist Party in 1959.
Election
Changed name from Labor-Progressive Party to Communist Party in 1959.
1962
1962
Election
1962
Leader
Leslie Morris
Candidates
12 / 265
Seats won
0
Votes
6,360
Vote share
0.08%
Rank
6th
1963
1963
Election
1963
Leader
12 / 265
Candidates
0
Seats won
4,234
Votes
0.05%
Vote share
6th
1965
1965
Election
1965
Leader
William Kashtan
Candidates
12 / 265
Seats won
0
Votes
4,285
Vote share
0.06%
Rank
6th
1968
1968
Election
1968
Leader
14 / 264
Candidates
0
Seats won
4,465
Votes
0.05%
Vote share
7th
1972
1972
Election
1972
Leader
31 / 264
Candidates
Candidates ran as independents
1974
1974
Election
1974
Leader
69 / 264
Candidates
0
Seats won
12,100
Votes
0.13%
Vote share
6th
1979
1979
Election
1979
Leader
71 / 282
Candidates
0
Seats won
9,141
Votes
0.08%
Vote share
9th
1980
1980
Election
1980
Leader
52 / 282
Candidates
0
Seats won
6,022
Votes
0.06%
Vote share
9th
1984
1984
Election
1984
Leader
52 / 282
Candidates
0
Seats won
7,551
Votes
0.06%
Vote share
10th
1988
1988
Election
1988
Leader
George Hewison
Candidates
51 / 295
Seats won
0
Votes
7,066
Vote share
0.05%
Rank
11th
1993
1993
Election
1993
Leader
Miguel Figueroa
Candidates
Unknown
Seats won
Candidates ran as independents
1997
1997
Election
1997
2000
2000
Election
2000
Leader
52 / 301
Candidates
0
Seats won
8,779
Votes
0.07%
Vote share
11th
2004
2004
Election
2004
Leader
35 / 308
Candidates
0
Seats won
4,564
Votes
0.03%
Vote share
11th
2006
2006
Election
2006
Leader
21 / 308
Candidates
0
Seats won
3,022
Votes
0.02%
Vote share
11th
2008
2008
Election
2008
Leader
24 / 308
Candidates
0
Seats won
3,639
Votes
0.03%
Vote share
10th
2011
2011
Election
2011
Leader
20 / 308
Candidates
0
Seats won
2,894
Votes
0.02%
Vote share
12th
2015
2015
Election
2015
Leader
26 / 338
Candidates
0
Seats won
4,382
Votes
0.02%
Vote share
12th
2019
2019
Election
2019
Leader
Elizabeth Rowley
Candidates
30 / 338
Seats won
0
Votes
3,905
Vote share
0.02%
Rank
12th
2021
2021
Election
2021
Leader
26 / 338
Candidates
0
Seats won
4,700
Votes
0.03%
Vote share
12th
2025
2025
Election
2025
Leader
24 / 343
Candidates
0
Seats won
4,685
Votes
0.02%
Vote share
12th
Election
Leader
Candidates
Seats won
Votes
Vote share
Rank
1930
Tim Buck
6 / 245
0
4,557
0.12%
10th
1935
13 / 245
0
27,456
0.46%
8th
1940
9 / 245
1
14,005
0.36%
10th
Changed name from Communist Party to Labor-Progressive Party in 1943.
1945
Tim Buck
68 / 245
1
111,892
2.13%
6th
1949
17 / 262
0
32,623
0.56%
8th
1953
100 / 265
0
59,622
1.06%
7th
1957
10 / 265
0
7,760
0.12%
7th
1958
18 / 265
0
9,769
0.13%
6th
Changed name from Labor-Progressive Party to Communist Party in 1959.
1962
Leslie Morris
12 / 265
0
6,360
0.08%
6th
1963
12 / 265
0
4,234
0.05%
6th
1965
William Kashtan
12 / 265
0
4,285
0.06%
6th
1968
14 / 264
0
4,465
0.05%
7th
1972
31 / 264
Candidates ran as independents
1974
69 / 264
0
12,100
0.13%
6th
1979
71 / 282
0
9,141
0.08%
9th
1980
52 / 282
0
6,022
0.06%
9th
1984
52 / 282
0
7,551
0.06%
10th
1988
George Hewison
51 / 295
0
7,066
0.05%
11th
1993
Miguel Figueroa
Unknown
Candidates ran as independents
1997
2000
52 / 301
0
8,779
0.07%
11th
2004
35 / 308
0
4,564
0.03%
11th
2006
21 / 308
0
3,022
0.02%
11th
2008
24 / 308
0
3,639
0.03%
10th
2011
20 / 308
0
2,894
0.02%
12th
2015
26 / 338
0
4,382
0.02%
12th
2019
Elizabeth Rowley
30 / 338
0
3,905
0.02%
12th
2021
26 / 338
0
4,700
0.03%
12th
2025
24 / 343
0
4,685
0.02%
12th

References

  1. Eight candidates ran as Communists; a ninth candidate, Dorise Nielsen, was a member of the Communist Party but ran and w
  2. Includes Dorise Nielsen who ran and was elected as a Progressive Unity candidate and later joined the Labor-Progressive
  3. 8,699 votes for candidates running as Communists plus 5,372 for Dorise Nielsen, a Progressive Unity candidate who belong
  4. Includes votes for Communist Dorise Nielsen running as a Progressive Unity.
  5. The Communist Party of Canada was banned in 1940 under the Defence of Canada Regulations of the War Measures Act. As a r
  6. In 1972, a new Elections Act came into effect which required a party to run at least 50 candidates in order to be consid
  7. The party failed to register at least 50 candidates in time for the 1993 election. As a result, the party was deregister
  8. The Young Communist League of Canada is nominally independent from the Communist Party of Canada.
  9. The Communist Party of Quebec is nominally independent from the Communist Party of Canada.
  10. Communist Party of Canada 2014, pp. 39–41.
  11. Finkel 2014.
  12. Easterbrook 1995, p. 20.
  13. Pender 2021.
  14. McKee 2021.
  15. Communist Party of Canada 1982, pp. 29, 33, 34.
  16. Goldsborough 2020.
  17. Busky 2002, p. 150.
  18. Endicott 2012, p. 159.
  19. Toronto Daily Star 1928.
  20. Beswick 2017, pp. 36–37.
  21. Buck 1952, pp. 76–81.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20040102205247/http://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/sections/canada/buck-tim/30years/ch05.htm
  22. Khouri 2007, p. 69.
  23. Khouri 2007, pp. 76–77.
  24. Khouri 2007, p. 79.
  25. Khouri 2007, p. 114.
  26. Khouri 2007, p. 73.
  27. Khouri 2007, p. 196.
  28. The Globe and Mail 1946, p. 8.
  29. Toronto Daily Star 1946, p. 6.
  30. The Globe and Mail 1962, p. 9.
  31. Benjamin & Kautsky 1968, p. 122.
  32. Beswick 2017, pp. 269–270.
  33. Rail 2010.
  34. Communist Party of Canada 2016.
  35. Communist Party of Canada 2022.
  36. Appel 2022.
  37. People's World
    https://peoplesworld.org/article/canadian-communists-strategize-resistance-as-economy-reels-from-trump-trade-war/
  38. CEC of the CPC & NEC of the PCQ 2005.
  39. Parizeau 2006.
  40. Communist Party of Canada 2019.
  41. Avakumovic 1975, pp. 175–176.
  42. Avakumovic 1975, p. 256.
  43. Avakumovic 1975, p. 248.
  44. Communist Party of Canada 1982.
  45. Thorn 2017, p. 185.
  46. Yang 2019.
  47. Avakumovic 1975, p. 221.
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