MONTREAL NEW LEFT JOINS QUEDEC SOCIALIST PARTY by R. Brock (Montrenl)
Addressing the anual moeting of the Montreal New Left Association, Joan-Mario Bedard, first vico—president of the PSQ (Quebec Socialist Party), answered arguments of the leadership of the New Democratic Party against having a separate workors party in Quebec. He quoted Janes Connolly to stress the theoretical justification for an independent and automonous party by citing tho decision taken by tho Irish socialists at a time when Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom. In forming the Irish Socialist Ropublican Party Connolly opted for real internationalism based upon a free association of the two peoples.
He went on to say that "if there is no formula like that of the PSQ the wholly progressive nationalism of the French-Canadian proletariat (a nationalism which has a class content because the means of production and distribution in Quobec are owned by Anglo-Amorican and Canadian capitalists) can be channolled into some Fascist or somi+fascist organi~ sation, such as tho Social Credit party..." Bedard also made it clear that the differences between the leadership of the NDP and the PSQ involve far more than the national question. In an obvious roforence to the expulsion of the NDP youth in Ontario and Vancouver, he said that the PSQ is open to overyone who bolioves in a socialist party for Quebec, “and in this it is much botter than tho NDP..."
After his speech, tho New Left Association decided with only one vote against to become the "Section Nouvolle Gauche" of the PSQ. Ed. notes material will appoar in lator issues on the differences between
the NDP and the PSQ.