Canada Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) / Parti communiste du Canada

The Canada Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) / Parti communiste du Canada (marxiste-léniniste), founded in 1970, was registered with Elections Canada as the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada / Parti marxiste-léniniste du Canada for the federal election of 2004.

In 1999, the party celebrated the 60th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Hardial Bains (1939-1997) and erected the party's commemorative monument in the national cemetary of Beechwood, in Ottawa.

The monument shows the red flag of modern communism, in 8' x 5'6" size. The red flag is charged with the hammer and sickle and star of the party. The flag is made of granite from Jhansi, in India. In 1853, Queen Lakhsmi Bai led an army of 14,000 volunteers in order to denfend Jhansi against the British invaders; she was captured in 1858 and escaped to the fortress of Kalpi, where she built up anohter rebeld' army and was eventually killed during the assault of the fortress. The party flag shall represent the banner of sacrifice and progress, as well as the emblem of the overthrowing of the exploiters and everything behind the times and oppressive. The red colour represents the blood shed by the world martyres, the working masses and the democratic and progressive forces all over the world. Red is the colour of scientific socialism and communism.

Source: Party websites

Ivan Sache, 12 September 2005