Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)

Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)

Parti communiste du Canada (Ontario)
Communist Party of Canada (Ontario) Parti communiste du Canada (Ontario)
Active provincial party
Leader	Drew Garvie
President	Dave McKee
Founded	1921,1959
Succeeded by	Labor-Progressive Party (1943-1959)
Headquarters	290A Danforth Ave; Toronto, Ontario; M4K 1N6
Ideology	Communism; Marxism–Leninism
Political position	Far-left
National affiliation	Communist Party of Canada
Colours	Red
Website
	communistpartyontario.ca
	Politics of Ontario; Political parties; Elections;

The Communist Party of Canada (Ontario) (French: Parti communiste du Canada (Ontario)) is the Ontario provincial wing of the Communist Party of Canada. Using the name Labor-Progressive Party from 1943 until 1959, the group won two seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: A.A. MacLeod and J.B. Salsberg were elected in the 1943 provincial election as "Labour" candidates but took their seats as members of the Labor-Progressive Party, which the banned Communist Party launched as its public face in a convention held on August 21 and 22, 1943, shortly after both the August 4 provincial election and the August 7 election of Communist Fred Rose to the House of Commons in a Montreal by-election.^[2]

MacLeod and Salsberg served as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) from 1943 until 1951 and 1955 respectively. A third LPP member, Alexander A. Parent, who was also president of UAW Local 195, was elected as the Liberal-Labour MPP for Essex North in 1945. In January 1946, Parent announced he was breaking with the "reactionary" Liberals and sat the remainder of his term in the legislature as a Labour representative while voting with LPP MPPs MacLeod and Salsberg.^[3]^[4] He did not run for re-election in 1948.

The party has not been able to win any seats at the provincial level since Salsberg's defeat in 1955. The party continued to run under the Labor-Progressive banner up to the 1959 provincial election, after which it again identified itself as the Communist Party.

Individual members of the party have been elected to school boards in the past few decades, but have done so as independents rather than as "Communist Party" candidates. Since 2019, the party has been led by Drew Garvie.

Election results

Year of election	Leader	# of candidates	# of seats won	±	# of votes	% of popular vote	± (pp)
1929	N/A	5 / 112	0 / 112	New	1,542	0.15%	New
1934	N/A	13 / 90	0 / 90		9,559	0.61%	0.46
1937	N/A	2 / 90	0 / 90		3,751	0.24%	0.37
1943¹ ²	N/A	6 / 90	2 / 90	2	11,888	0.90%	0.66
1945	Leslie Morris	31 / 90 ³^[5]	2 / 90		46,418	2.63%	1.73
1948	A. A. MacLeod	2 / 90 ^[6]	2 / 90		17,654	1.0%	1.63
1951	Stewart Smith	6 / 90 ^[7]	1 / 90	1	11,914	0.67%	0.33
1955	Stewart Smith	23 / 98 ^[8]	0 / 98	1	20,875	1.19%	0.52
1959	Bruce Magnuson	9 / 98 ^[9]	0 / 98		4,304	0.23%	0.96
1963⁴		6 / 108 ^[10]	0 / 108		1,654	0.08%	0.15
1967		2 / 117 ^[11]	0 / 117		592	0.02%	0.06
1971	William Stewart	5 / 117 ^[12]	0 / 117		1,620	0.05%	0.03
1975		33 / 125 ^[13]	0 / 125		9,120	0.28%	0.23
1977		32 / 125	0 / 125		7,995	0.24%	0.04
1981	Mel Doig	17 / 125	0 / 125		5,296	0.16%	0.08
1985	Gordon Massie	10 / 125	0 / 125		3,696	0.1%	0.06
1987	Gordon Massie	9 / 130	0 / 130		3,422	0.09%	0.03
1990	Elizabeth Rowley	4 / 130	0 / 130		1,139	0.03%	0.06
1995	Darrell Rankin	5 / 130	0 / 130		1,015	0.03%
1999	Hassan Husseini	4 / 103	0 / 103		814	0.02%	0.01
2003	Elizabeth Rowley	6 / 103	0 / 103		2,187	0.05%	0.03
2007		8 / 107	0 / 107		1,715	0.04%	0.01
2011		9 / 107	0 / 107		1,163	0.03%	0.01
2014		11 / 107	0 / 107		2,290	0.04%	0.01
2018	Dave McKee	12 / 124	0 / 124		1,471	0.03%	0.01
2022	Drew Garvie	13 / 124	0 / 124		2,101	0.04%	0.01

Source: Elections Ontario Vote Summary^[14]

September 6, 2012 provincial by-elections: Kitchener—Waterloo, 87 votes (0.19%), seventh out of ten candidates.

Notes

¹A. A. MacLeod (Bellwoods) and J. B. Salsberg (St. Andrew) were elected under the Labour ticket, but switched to the new Labor-Progressive Party on its formation shortly after the election. Party operates under the LPP name until and including the 1959 election.^[15]
²Results compared to Communist candidates in 1937
³In addition, in 1945, the Labor-Progressive Party and Liberal Party of Ontario jointly endorsed 6 Liberal-Labour, 3 of whom were elected, in an effort to marginalize the CCF.
⁴The party reverted to its original name of the Communist Party as of this election. Results compared to Labor-Progressive Party in previous election.

Party leaders

Leslie Morris, 1945–1948 (1945 election)
A.A. MacLeod, 1948–1951 (1948 election)- MPP from 1943-1951
Stewart Smith, 1951–1957 (1951 election, 1955 election)
Bruce Magnuson 1957–1970 (1959 election,^[16] 1963 election^[17] and 1967 election^[18])
William Stewart 1970–1980 (1971 election, 1975 election and 1977 election)
Mel Doig (1981 election)
Gordon Massie (1985 and 1987 elections)
Elizabeth Rowley (1990 election)
Darrell Rankin (1995 election)
Hassan Husseini 1998–c. 2001 (1999 election)
Elizabeth Rowley c. 2001–2016 (2003 election, 2007 election and 2011 election)
Dave McKee 2016–2019
Drew Garvie^[19] 2019–present

Constituency associations

The party has three constituency associations registered with Elections Ontario:

Davenport
Hamilton Centre
Ottawa Centre

Party financing

Financing of the Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)
Year	Party level		Riding level		Total
Year	Contributions received	Number of contributors over $100	Contributions received	Number of contributors over $100	Contributions received
2007	$13,585.00	32	$1,530	3	$15,115
2008	$39,085.29	63	$3,600	10	$46,685.29
2009	$40,175.25	53	$8,630	20	$48,805.25
2010	$40,032.80	59	$6,020	13	$46,052.80
2011	$19,619.80	36	$400	1	$20,019.80
2012	$48,385.11	64	$635	3	$49,020.11
2013	$35,708.70	61	$170	0	$35,878.70
Total	$236,591.95	368	$20,985	50	$261,576.95

Source: Elections Ontario, Yearly Financial Statements, Political Parties, Constituency Associations^[20]

References

^ "Registered Political Parties". Elections Ontario. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
^ COMMUNISTS WOULD BE ALLIES OF C.C.F. GROUP: Labor Progressive Party ... The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); August 23, 1943; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 4
^ "Parent Quits Liberal Party", Globe and Mail, 14 January 1946: 8
^ "Breaks With Liberals", Toronto Daily Star, 2 February 1946: 6
^ 317 in Field For 90 Seats The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); May 29, 1945; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 1
^ PC's Lead Field With Candidate In Every Riding for June 7 Vote The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); June 1, 1948; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 8
^ Ontario Votes Today: 49-Day Campaign Ends as 271 Seek Legislature Seats Bain, George The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); November 22, 1951; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 1
^ Latest Ontario Election Results The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); June 10, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 2
^ Twilight of a Party The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); June 13, 1959; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 6
^ 35 Years a Communist Young, Scott The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); September 23, 1963; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 6
^ 366 hopefuls file papers for election The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); October 5, 1967; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 8
^ Higher majority for Davis: TORIES SWEEP ONTARIO Nixon re-elected, Lewis in fight Munro, Ross H. The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] October 22, 1971: 1.
^ 725 seats in legislature: Record 454 candidates nominated for 125 Ontario seats The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); September 5, 1975; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 40
^ http://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2014/historical-results/2014/Summary%20of%20Valid%20Ballots%20Cast.pdf Archived June 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine 2014 Elections Ontario
^ 277 Men and Six Women File Nomination Papers For Wednesday Election: ... The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); July 29, 1943; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 4
^ "The Windsor Daily Star – Google News Archive Search". google.com.
^ "The Windsor Star – Google News Archive Search". google.com.
^ "The Windsor Star – Google News Archive Search". google.com.
^ "Communist Party of Canada – Toronto Clubs". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
^ http://www.elections.on.ca/en/political-entities-in-ontario/financial-statements/yearly-financial-statements.html Archived October 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Yearly Financial Statements

External links

Communist Party of Ontario

[1] "Registered Political Parties". Elections Ontario. Retrieved July 23, 2023.

[2] COMMUNISTS WOULD BE ALLIES OF C.C.F. GROUP: Labor Progressive Party ... The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); August 23, 1943; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 4

[3] "Parent Quits Liberal Party", Globe and Mail, 14 January 1946: 8

[4] "Breaks With Liberals", Toronto Daily Star, 2 February 1946: 6

[5] 317 in Field For 90 Seats The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); May 29, 1945; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 1

[lppcand-6] PC's Lead Field With Candidate In Every Riding for June 7 Vote The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); June 1, 1948; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 8

[7] Ontario Votes Today: 49-Day Campaign Ends as 271 Seek Legislature Seats Bain, George The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); November 22, 1951; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 1

[8] Latest Ontario Election Results The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); June 10, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 2

[9] Twilight of a Party The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); June 13, 1959; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 6

[10] 35 Years a Communist Young, Scott The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); September 23, 1963; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 6

[11] 366 hopefuls file papers for election The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); October 5, 1967; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 8

[12] Higher majority for Davis: TORIES SWEEP ONTARIO Nixon re-elected, Lewis in fight Munro, Ross H. The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] October 22, 1971: 1.

[13] 725 seats in legislature: Record 454 candidates nominated for 125 Ontario seats The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); September 5, 1975; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 40

[14] ttp://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2014/historical-results/2014/Summary%20of%20Valid%20Ballots%20Cast.pdf Archived June 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine 2014 Elections Ontario

[15] 277 Men and Six Women File Nomination Papers For Wednesday Election: ... The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); July 29, 1943; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 4

[16] "The Windsor Daily Star – Google News Archive Search". google.com.

[17] "The Windsor Star – Google News Archive Search". google.com.

[18] "The Windsor Star – Google News Archive Search". google.com.

[19] "Communist Party of Canada – Toronto Clubs". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2020.

[20] ttp://www.elections.on.ca/en/political-entities-in-ontario/financial-statements/yearly-financial-statements.html Archived October 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Yearly Financial Statements

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

v t e Provincial political parties in Ontario
Legislative Assembly	Progressive Conservative (80) New Democratic (28) Liberal (9) Independent (5) Green (2)
Other recognized parties	Alliance Canadians' Choice Centrist Communist Confederation of Regions Consensus Electoral Reform Freedom of Choice, Peace & Justice Freedom Libertarian Moderate New Blue None of the Above Northern Ontario Ontario Party People with Special Needs People's Progressive Common Front Populist Public Benefit Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda
Historical parties represented in the legislature	Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Labour Labor-Progressive Liberal-Labour Liberal-Progressive Patrons of Industry Protestant Protective Association Soldier Trillium United Farmers
Other historical parties	Family Coalition Natural Law Peoples Reform Social Credit Socialist Socialist-Labor
Pre-confederation parties	Clear Grits Family Compact Reform (Mackenzie) Reform (Baldwinite)
Italics indicate parties represented in the legislature but not yet registered.