(The following article is from the November 16-30, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

By Darrell Rankin

The Canadian Peace Congress convention, held Oct. 25 in Winnipeg, marked another strengthening of the anti-imperialist peace movement in Canada. Delegates approved a well-prepared resolution assessing the world situation and the tasks before the peace movement.

     Although he was unable to attend, Dr. John Hanly Morgan, the past and current honourary president of the Peace Congress, sent warm greetings to the delegates. "You are to be commended for the efforts... in making this historic meeting possible and for coming together at this time of world economic crisis and burgeoning militarism. The World Peace Council and the Canadian Peace Congress should be at the forefront of opposition. The great need is for unity of action among the world peace forces."

     The Canadian Peace Congress is a member of the World Peace Council, the largest peace organization consisting of 120 organizations from 81 countries and five continents. The WPC was established as an anti-imperialist movement in 1949, playing an important role for many decades in ending colonialism and opposing the arms race. It has been growing rapidly again in recent years.

     Delegates also launched a campaign for Canada to withdraw from NATO and organized hosting the second trilateral meeting of the peace movements of North America. It will be held in Toronto, Oct. 2-4, 2009. They also elected a new executive, approved a new constitution, and elected delegates and ratified a resolution on military spending for the Canadian Peace Alliance convention in December (the Congress is a founding member of the CPA). Quite a bit of work in one day!

     The new president of the Canadian Peace Congress is David McKee of the Toronto Association for Peace and Solidarity. Cheryl-Anne Carr, Manitoba Peace Council, was elected as the Aboriginal representative on the executive. The executive will also consist of members elected by local Peace Councils.

     Since the 2005 Edmonton convention, when Regina and Edmonton had Peace Councils, three new Councils have been established or renewed, in Toronto, Fraser Valley and Manitoba. These local Councils are the Congress' basic organization. Other groups are eligible to join.

     The further strengthening of the Canadian Peace Congress will help build support for the WPC, the most active and dedicated anti-imperialist global movement for peace, helping unite the peace movements in imperialist countries and the neo-colonial and socialist countries where the vast majority of humanity lives.

     The convention and campaign documents will be posted soon at http://www.canadianpeacecongress.ca or write for a copy to: Canadian Peace Congress, Box 168, Slocan BC, V0G 2C0.