First Published: People’s Canada Daily News Release, November 13, 1971
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Malcolm and Paul Saba
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Toronto, November 13th, (PCDN) The National Executive of the Provisional Committee of the Canadian People’s United Front Against U.S. Imperialism (CPUF) held an important meeting on Nov. 11th to COMMEMORATE NORMAN BETHUNE. In order-to COMMEMORATE NORMAN BETHUNE concretely, the National Executive decided to 1. Launch a nation-wide signature campaign entitled NATIONAL PETITION FOR A PEOPLE’S CANADA and 2. To begin a petition called CANADIAN PEOPLE’S PETITION FOR THE CONVENING OF THE FIRST CANADIAN PEOPLE’S CONGRESS TO DENOUNCE U.S. IMPERIALISM as a first step towards calling this congress at an appropriate time. The full text of both petitions follow:
We, the undersigned, firmly believe and solemnly declare that
1. Canada belongs to the people,
2. Canada and Canadian people are not for sale,
3. The Canadian people have every right to kick the U.S. imperialists out of Canada,
4. It has been clearly shown over the years that the U.S. imperialists do not care much about the Canadian people except to exploit their land and labour,
5. The U. S. imperialists are using Canada as the source of raw materials, a dumping ground for their manufactured products and a place to invest their capital,
6. The declaration of 10% surcharge on goods manufactured in Canada on August 15, 1971, their complete disregard of Canadian public opinion against the Amchitka nuclear bomb tested on Nov. 6th, 1971, their continous policies of war and aggression against other peoples and other countries, and their violent suppression and viscious exploitation of the black and other national minority Americans and the American working class in their own country, have opened the eyes of many Canadians to the evil nature of U.S. Imperialism,
7. The Canadian people have everything to gain and nothing to lose by a mass democratic anti-imperialist revolution,
8. The Canadian people have the sacred and inviolable right to fulfill their national aspirations of independence and the building of a prosperous Canada,
9. The Canadian people have no choice but to take their destiny into their own hands,
10. That this policy of ours concretely serves the real interests of the people of Quebec, the people of the U.S., the Indo-Chinese people and the people of the whole world, and, we call upon our people from all sections and classes of the society to:
A. Resolutely take up the task of preparing for National War against U. S. Imperialism, and
B. Join and build the PEOPLE’S REVOLUTIONARY AREA COMMITTEES.
Footnote to Petition:
The purpose of the PEOPLE’S REVOLUTIONARY AREA COMMITTEES is to:
1. Begin discussions and debates as to the nature of U.S. imperialism; its role in Canada and ’ how to defeat it,
2. Create a general atmosphere of confidence and optimism about the new era, without U.S. imperialist control, where people will have their destiny in their own hands,
3. Act as the centre of resistance to all attacks by the U.S. imperialists and their lackeys against the Canadian people, and
4. Prepare material conditions to launch offensive attacks against the U.S. imperialists and their agents.
* * *
We, the undersigned, fully agree that
1. Anti-imperialism is the main trend in Canada today,
2. The most urgent task of all anti-imperialist fighters is TO GET ORGANISED FOR A NATIONAL WAR AGAINST U.S. IMPERIALISM,
3. The first step towards that preparation is to convene a gathering of all genuinely anti-imperialist and patriotic Canadian people,
4. This gathering cannot be convened unless we work hard to approach and struggle with all anti-imperialist and patriotic groups and individuals and win them over to the proposal of convening the FIRST PEOPLE’S CONGRESS,
5. The date and place will be announced as soon as material conditions are ready, and
6. That we fully support the NATIONAL PETITION FOR PEOPLE’S CANADA and will work for its implementation.
Both petitions were released by C.P.U.F. at meetings held all across Canada to commemorate Norman Bethune.