Manifesto of the Young Communist League of Canada
by YCLC
FOR A LIFE WITH A FUTURE!
MANIFESTO OF THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE OF CANADA
Peace! Jobs! Accessible education! Independence! Socialism! These are the
issues that unite youth across Canada unto a fighting organization -- the Young
Communist League of Canada (YCL).
The YCL says a defiant NO to poor education, dead end jobs, chronic
unemployment, imperialism and the constant threat of war, particularly nuclear
war.
We fight the control of our country by a capitalist monopoly. We don't think
that a handful of banks, corporations and multinationals should be allowed to
jeopardize our future through their ruthless drive for profits. We believe
that a socialist Canada, where the major means of producing and distributing
the wealth will be the common property of Canada's working people, holds the
real future for our generation. Under socialism, the fullest development of
individuals will occur because collective solutions will be found to problems
such as unemployment, poor education, and the constant threat of war.
As part of our goal for socialism, the YCL fights for the interests of young
Canadians today. We struggle for youth unity around a platform as we put
forward in our policy for a Charter of Youth Rights. This platform must have
an anti-monopoly orientation because monopoly capitalism is responsible for the
deterioration of living conditions.
The YCL struggles for a Canadian constitution that will guarantee the right to
self-determination for both nations in Canada -- Quebec and English-speaking
Canada. Our Constitution must also guarantee self-government and other
aboriginal and treaty rights to the Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples. The
social and economic rights of working people and youth should also be
guaranteed.
Jobs must be a right for Canadian youth. We need new economic policies to
process our natural resources and to develop the manufacturing industrial
sector to produce the goods Canadians need. Decent pay and working conditions
as well as the opportunity for furthur training must be guaranteed as well as
the development of the resorces in the interests of the people.
We want more and better -- instead of fewer and worse -- schools, colleges and
universities. Instead of enormous tuition fees, free education and a living
stipend should make education accessible to all.
Brutal, pornographic and alienating themes in mass culture, which are used by
big business to force our generation into a mold of quiet obedience must be
replaced by creative, human focuses for our leisure time which would include
adequate sports, recreation and cultural facilities and centres. We reject
abuse of drugs and alcohol to distract our generation from the problems of
daily life.
We fight against racism, sexism, and all forms of discrimination against native
and immigrant youth. We understand that these practises undermine the unity
needed to change society.
We pledge to fight for a world free of war. All of the other rights we fight
for depend on the survival of humankind.
The YCL works to build solidarity between the Canadian youth and youth and
students abroad who are fighting to dignity and national liberation. We think
that the future of Canada is tied to winning peace and the success of movements
to free underdeveloped countries from the domination of the multinationals and
imperialism. As a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) we
campaign for moral and material support for peoples fighting to get rid of
fascism, imperialism, and oppression. We also rally support and solidarity for
the youth of those countries where youth now have a future -- the socialist
countries. We put special emphasis on solidarity with the youth of the Soviet
Union, the first socialist country and the target of the most ferocious attacks
by imperialist propaganda.
The YCL provides hands-on experience in the class struggle for youth, we who
are just beginning to find out what life under capitalism is all about. We
realize that youth alone can't fundamentally change society; the vast majority
of Canadians will have to struggle against big business in order to do this.
We recognize the leading role of the working class in this struggle; because of
its place in the process of production it is the class that has everything to
do with revolutionary changes.
The YCL is an independant mass youth organization. We are united in the
revolutionary struggle under the political guidance and leadership of the
Communist Party of Canada, and its program "The Road to Socialism in Canada".
We study and apply the philosophy of Marxism-Leninism, the revolutionary theory
of the working class. The YCL is a school where young people can learn to
become communists.
The YCL has lofty goals, goals which can be won with struggle. It is our goal,
our Canada, lets fight for it!
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If you are interested in joining or want free information:
YCL of Canada
24 Cecil St.
Toronto, Ont. M5T 1N2 (416)
593-1154
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