This document is a companion to the Programme of the RWP. It outlines the immediate actions we would take if we were to take power today. This document should be considered limited: at this stage it is impossible to imagine the course of events that give rise to the seizure of power of the working class in Canada. And thus, we cannot imagine the organizational forms or international context in which we win. However, it stands to reason that we should present some idea of what we wish to accomplish. That is where this list comes in to play.

This list is neither a minimum nor maximum program. It is not the bare bones of what we will do, nor is it our end goal (which is, of course, communism). Nor is it a list of demands; we are not begging the capitalists to achieve these goals in some cynical ploy to demonstrate the inability of capitalism to meet the basic needs of the working class. Instead, this list is a list of promises. From the standpoint of today, when we win, this is what we will do.

ECONOMIC MEASURES

Private ownership of capital –wealth used to create other wealth- will be made illegal.

Safeguarding of the personal property of the working class.

The creation of a new constitution which will outlaw private property, exploitation, and will contain a code of social rights including: the right to a good standard of living, good and meaningful work, the right to control one’s future, the right to exist free from bigotry and oppression, as well as basic human, political, and civil rights for all workers.

The immediate seizure without compensation of all rented housing to be turned over to its residents.

The immediate seizure without compensation of the personal land of the capitalist class to be redistributed for the benefit of the working class.

The creation of programs to improve the quality of existing residences, to make them fit for dignified living.

The immediate seizure without compensation of all large factories, farms, and other workplaces, with ownership being turned over to workers.

The reindustrialization of Canada, along green lines, to allow for an economy that does not rely on international capitalist trade networks.

The immediate seizure of all utilities and natural resources controlled by Canada, with respect to the self-determination of indigenous peoples.

The transformation of small businesses into worker-run co-ops, with small owners given an equal share with their employees.

The transformation of the agricultural sector to produce healthy food sustainably with a transition away from carbon intensive methods.

The immediate seizure without compensation of the banks and their held assets.

The cancellation of all debt held by held by the working class including mortgages, household credit, and credit cards.

Immediate dissolution of investment funds, including the pension funds owned by trade unions.

The creation of a comprehensive insurance system run for the benefit of the working class.

The banning of casinos and gambling. The creation of programs to help with gambling addiction.

The immediate banning of commercial marketing.

The transition to a planned economy which produces for human need instead of profit.

MEASURES RELATING TO WORK

Exploitation will be made illegal.

Guaranteed meaningful employment for everyone. The end of planned unemployment.

The creation of a comprehensive labour code guaranteeing good and decent working conditions for all workers in socialist Canada.

The immediate beginning of and gradual elimination of differences in pay rates.

The implementation of the most modern and safe methods and machines in all fields of work, irrespective of profit, with the goal of eliminating human misery at work.

The immediate reduction of the working day and working week in line with the needs of society rather than profit.

The immediate elimination of overtime and night shifts where possible.

Campaigns to end the distinction between specialist/technical work and manual/general work as part of comprehensive training and education programs for workers.

Promotion of leadership and planning courses for workers to end “management” as a special task of specific people.

The formal recognition of unions. The defence of the right of unions independent of both the RWP and the state to exist. The recognition of the right to strike.

ANTI-IMPERIALIST AND ANTI-COLONIAL MEASURES

Support for the self-determination, up to and including secession, for all Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Renegotiation of the Treaties in favour of Indigenous nations.

Reparations to be paid to Indigenous peoples for centuries of colonial oppression.

The dissolution of the Canadian empire.

A renewed focus on the true equality of all peoples, nations, and languages within the new state.

The seizure of all exported Canadian capital. The seizure of all foreign capital in Canada.

Reparations paid to countries exploited by Canadian capital.

Support for the self-determination of all oppressed nations.

Material support for revolutionary movements outside of Canada, especially in countries ravaged by Canadian imperialism.

The opening of the borders to immigration, with emphasis placed on political refugees, climate refugees, and those escaping the effects of Canadian imperialism.

The extension of citizenship and full political rights to all workers within Canada.

And end to all current trade agreements, especially NAFTA/USMCA.

Immediate withdrawal from all international alliances, especially NATO.

Rooting out the influence of foreign investment, especially American, inside Canada.

The recall and dismantling of the Canadian Forces.

ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES

The immediate end of fossil-fuel extraction in Canada.

The transition to a carbon-negative economy, designed around human needs.

Immediate transition to renewable energy.

Promotion of popular and free public transit (subways, busses, inter-city rail, etc.) alongside infrastructure projects to facilitate it becoming the predominant form of transportation.

Creation of conservation programs to protect the natural environment.

A priority placed on protecting water systems from pollution.

Massive investments in technology and the creation of vast research programs to reverse climate change.

SOCIAL & CULTURAL MEASURES

The creation of programmes to collectivize housework and move away from single-nuclear-family dwellings towards communal forms of living.

The creation of programs to promote increased domestic labour by men.

Comprehensive childcare made available to everyone at no cost. Extensive parental leave to be guaranteed, while also understanding that the raising of children should become a collective social endeavour.

Full rights given to children. The end of seeing children as effectively the property of their parents.

Abolition of Child and Family Services. Creation of community and child-focused adoption services.

Creation of campaigns to fight against patriarchal violence, primarily committed by men, against women and children.

Racial discrimination will be made illegal in all its forms.

The forceful dissolution of reactionary organizations such as white supremacist groups, fascist and proto-fascist organizations, male chauvinist organizations like “Mens Rights Associations,” and other organizations which uphold the oppression of marginalized groups.

Promotion of full equality for the LGBTQ+ community in all areas of life.

The immediate banning of “conversion therapy” and other forms of institutionalized bigotry against LGBTQ+ people.

Full acceptance and state recognition of trans people and the right of all to gender self-determination.

The creation of organizations composed of and led by people with disabilities to oversee that the new world we are building is accessible to all.

Development of true universal healthcare access, including: dental, pharmacare, mental health care, and accessibility devices.

Legalization of the use and minor possession of all banned substances.

Illegalization of drug trafficking.

Secularization and modernization of addictions treatment programs to conform to evidence-based best practices. Addictions treatment programs to aim at the root social causes of addiction.

The end of private property in medicine. All medical practices, including hospitals, to be collectively owned by society.

The immediate seizure without compensation of pharmaceutical companies. The socialization of medical research and development, and the elimination of drug patents.

Comprehensive public education made available at no cost.

The promotion of secular public education, and an end to religious public education. An end to homeschooling.

The radical transformation of education, especially at the post-secondary level, to end the distinction between mental work and physical work. The involvement of all people in physical labour of the form appropriate to their abilities.

The promotion of intellectual work which serves the people.

Elimination of copyright and patent in all fields and disciplines.

The creation of programs to give all people unlimited access to culture (books, films, video games, music, etc.) irrespective of copyright.

The creation of programs to economically support artists and cultural workers.

The popularization of science not as an exclusive discipline but instead as a tool for the betterment of the people as whole.

Active promotion of the absolute equality of all languages and nations through the creation of resources to ensure services, especially education, are available in all languages possible. Special attention and resources to be devoted to the promotion of Indigenous languages.

Full and free access for all workers to the various cultural services of the new society including museums, TV, radio, the internet, etc..

MEASURES RELATING TO THE STATE