Canadian Labour Defence League
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Labour Defence League was a legal defence organization founded and led by Reverend A.E. Smith. The league was in 1925 as a civil rights
organization dedicated to protecting striking workers from persecution. It was allied with the Communist Party of Canada
and functioned as a front
for the party. The group was the Canadian affiliate of International Red Aid
The CLDC had 52 groups affiliated with it by 1927 with a combined membership of 3,0000 people. By 1933, it had 350 branches across Canada with a membership of 17,0000. It reached its height during the Great Depression
"“promoting communist policies, agitating on behalf of the CPC and defending in courts over six thousand individuals who had ventured astray of the law because of their militant labour activities."
In addition to defending strikers, the CLDL also campaigned to remove Section 98
of the Criminal Code of Canada
which banned "unlawful associations" such as the Communist Party and other radical groups and had empowered the government to deport non-citizens involved in radical politics.
The CLDL was very active in the early 1930s raising $180,000 and collecting over 450,000 signatures in support of eight leaders of the Communist Party, including leader Tim Buck
, who had been arrested and charged with sedition
.
The group became less active as the end of the decade approached and was banned in 1940 under the Defence of Canada Regulations
.
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
organization dedicated to protecting striking workers from persecution. It was allied with the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
and functioned as a front
Communist front
A Communist front organization is an organization identified to be a front organization under the effective control of a Communist party, the Communist International or other Communist organizations. Lenin originated the idea in his manifesto of 1902, "What Is to Be Done?"...
for the party. The group was the Canadian affiliate of International Red Aid
International Red Aid
International Red Aid was an international social service organization established by the Communist International...
The CLDC had 52 groups affiliated with it by 1927 with a combined membership of 3,0000 people. By 1933, it had 350 branches across Canada with a membership of 17,0000. It reached its height during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
"“promoting communist policies, agitating on behalf of the CPC and defending in courts over six thousand individuals who had ventured astray of the law because of their militant labour activities."
In addition to defending strikers, the CLDL also campaigned to remove Section 98
Section 98
Section 98 of the Criminal Code of Canada was a law enacted after the Winnipeg General Strike banning "unlawful associations." It was used in the 1930s against the Communist Party of Canada....
of the Criminal Code of Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
which banned "unlawful associations" such as the Communist Party and other radical groups and had empowered the government to deport non-citizens involved in radical politics.
The CLDL was very active in the early 1930s raising $180,000 and collecting over 450,000 signatures in support of eight leaders of the Communist Party, including leader Tim Buck
Tim Buck
Timothy "Tim" Buck was a long-time leader of the Communist Party of Canada...
, who had been arrested and charged with sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
.
The group became less active as the end of the decade approached and was banned in 1940 under the Defence of Canada Regulations
Defence of Canada Regulations
The Defence of Canada Regulations were a set of emergency measures implemented under the War Measures Act a week before Canada's entry into World War II in the fall of 1939....
.