A historical and practical resource for everyone interested in Canadian socialist politics. Ross Dowson was the leading figure in the development of Canadian Trotskyism from his entry in the movement at age 15 in 1932 until 1989. During these 57 years he devoted his energies and creative force to the building of what became the mainstream Marxist left current in Canada in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1974 he withdrew from the movement he had built for 30 years with a group of comrades to build another, in order to continue and develop their traditional politics.


       This website documents the rich political heritage both of Ross and the movements he led, starting off with his journal articles. Later, a selection of his voluminous correspondence will be added.

Two New Documents Of Interest To Canadian Social Activists

Both published in 1974, these pamphlets address the old but still current problem which remains before those activists in Canada now seized with the problem of what political vehicle is required to make real and permanent changes in this country — our country, which it turns out, has a favorable feature unique in North America in its political landscape.

That premier reality is that, alone in North America, Canada possesses a single dominant mass independent labor-based political party, the reformist New Democratic Party.

Instead of ignoring this central fact —the elephant in the activist living-room — these pamphlets lay the groundwork for a dynamic approach to the problem of winning the only force capable of genuine social change in Canada — it's working class — first over to independent labor politics via the NDP — entailing a giant stride, the huge break from capitalist party politics — and through this experience, on the road to the construction of a political party capable of leading the class to a socialist Canada.

We think you will find these sometimes detailed polemics on a very technical (Leninist, we believe) level interesting — like wine that is over 35 years old but perhaps now more than ever ready to imbibe.

1963 - CBC interview Ross Dowson on JFK Assassination

1966 - Fidel Castro's attack on Trotskyism - and the Cuban Revolution

1967 May Day Speech 50th Anniversary of Russian Revolution

The History of Canadian Trotskyist Movement - Pre-1921 to 1939
     1967 Part 1      1967 Part 2      1970- Part 3      1971- Part 4

GLOSSARY of Canadian Socialist & Labor Parties & Tendencies - 1894-1971

1969- May Day Speech World Congress of the Fourth International

1970- Tribute to Max Armstrong 1884-1970

1972- The agony of the Vietnam War, and radicalization beyond Détente
Speech to the League for Socialist Action/Young Socialists and friends of the Vanguard Forum

"Canada-US Relations: A socialist viewpoint" (Pamphlet, 1968)"

The first statement by the LSA/LSO on the rising phenomenon described as Canadian nationalist sentiment, dating from 1968. This document formed the majority consensus of opinion in the mainstream Trotskyist movement at that time, but was challenged anew by the new youth leadership by the early 1970s and was to become a major issue in the split of the Forward Group in 1974.

"Canada-US Relations: A socialist viewpoint" Canada-US Relations:(1969)

A reply to Prof. Matthews on Americanization

In April 1973 the United Tendency in defending and developing this evaluation of Canadian nationalism, issued the second document The New Stage in Canada - U.S. Relations re-published by the Forward Group in 1980.

"A step backward instead of forward" (Debate document, 1972)

"The key issue at dispute in Canada-US relations, Part 1" (Debate, 1972)

The Chartered Banks And Their Role In Canada-U.S. Relations

"The key issue at dispute in Canada-US relations, Part 2" (Debate, 1973)

(Mandel:) "Is Canada imperialized and its State imperialist?" (Debate, 1973)

A "Biographical Sketch of Ross Dowson is available, as is "A "Memorial tribute." As well, a more detailed "Short Biography of Ross Dowson" is now available.

NOW AVAILABLE — Ross Dowson's 70 Birthday celebration, titled "55 Years of Struggle'' is now on sale as a double VHS or Double DVD set. It features, aside from Ross himself, vivid testimonials from unionists Joe Meslin and Vic Hugh, as well as from Vernel Olson, Gord Doctorow, Harry Kopyto, Dave Tomszak and family members Anne Dowson and Lois Bédard, describing their experiences in the Trotskyist movement, touching on episodes from the 1930s to the 1980s.

This re-mastered production includes the City-TV series ''Dowson vs. the RCMP'' and a CBC Fifth Estate interview with Harry Kopyto defending his ''crazy glue'' charge against the courts and the RCMP. Order your copies through the webmaster address below.

Four speeches by Ross Dowson in the 1972 series "The Labor Party and the Struggle for a Socialist Canada" are available, and has been indexed for your convenience.

Part 1" The struggle to build a party of the class"

Part 2" The development of the CCF"

Part 3" The nature of Marxists' relationship to the mass labor party in Canada"

Part 4" The founding and evolution of the New Democratic Party"
A complete sound track of all four classes is now available on 6 mostly remastered CDs of excellent quality, at a cost of $25 each or the set for $100 (#2 and #4 are two CDs) &mdash: over 3 hours of a lively and provocative review of Canadian left and labor history from 1921 to the the late 1980s.

Pamphlets and a Booklet

The Coming Canadian Revolution

—Published by Young Socialists/ Ligue des Jeunes socialistes, —a discussion of the challenge before the people of Canada, particularly the youth who, with their idealism, with their example of selflessness and determination are moving out in increasing numbers in the anti-war movement.

The Socialist Vanguard and the New Democratic Party

The key historical document of the Trotskyist movement's strategic and tactical relationship with the mass expression of Canadian working–class political action: The Socialist Vanguard and the New Democratic Party

The Power and Dilemma of the Trade Unions

For many years Ross Dowson followed closely and wrote extensively in the pages of Workers Vanguard about developments in the trade union movement —a collection of back issues would present an accurate and moving story of the victories and the defeats, the present circumstances and the future prospects before this mighty and complex movement forged by the Canadian working class.

Ross Dowson vs. RCMP

A Booklet (copies available from the Webmaster for $10 including mailing): DOWSON V. RCMP: In the Federal Appeal Court The Socialist Rights Defence Fund appeal and list of Socialist Rights Defence Fund supporters
A vivid episode in the on going struggle for freedom of thought and social justice in Canada.

Movement Pamphlets 1948 To 2005

Quebec Series

This series covers the 32-year period from 1945 to 1977, and begins with Ross Dowson's unpublished notes "The Problem of Quebec." The evolution of the movement's evaluation and the program of the pan-Canadian Trotskyist movement is reflected in three further documents published as pamphlets:
1968: Vers la libération du Québec,
1968: Vive le Québec libre'' (English version) ,

1970: Pour la libération du Québec: indépendance et socialisme (this will be available by Feb 1st 2010)
1970: ''For an independent and socialist Quebec'' (English version of above)

1977:Quebec and the Canada crisis ."

(See also future listings: Les journaux et cahiers de la LSO; Documents internes de la LSO-LSA; Journal subject indexes -- English & French ;Journaux français: Contre la guerre du Vietnam)

Internal Documents

EN VEDETTE -- Une Programme de Combat for un Québec indépendant et francais (1972)-- A venir bientot, printemps 2010

SPECIAL — An Action Program for a Independent and French Quebec (1972) —New April 2010

May 6, 1968- DRAFT POLITICAL RESOLUTION—New April 2010

National Archives — Ottawa

Ross Dowson's indexed archives can be accessed at the National Archives in Ottawa, with additional material archived at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario and at UBC in Vancouver, B.C.