Parti des travailleurs du Québec
The Parti des travailleurs du Québec (PTQ) (English: Workers Party of Quebec) was a political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. It first issued a manifesto in 1976 and fielded candidates in provincial elections until the 1990s, never rising above fringe status.[1][2] Gérard Lachance was party leader for at least part, and possibly all, of its existence.[3]
In a 1981 interview, party spokesperson Maurice Gohier indicated that the PTQ was not communist but promoted both independence and socialism for Quebec. Its platform called for workers to be given a greater influence in the governing of society.[4]
The PTQ did not appear on the ballot in the 1985 provincial election due to registration difficulties, although some party members ran as non-affiliated candidates.[5] The party's central offices were burgled in the 1989 provincial election, and a party official indicated that the names and addresses of party members were stolen.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ A Montreal Gazette article from 1978 described the party as "tiny." See "Language the main issue in N.D.G." Montreal Gazette, 23 June 1978, p. 4.
- ^ Manifeste du Parti des travailleurs du Québec pour l'indépendence socialiste du Québec (publishing information), Open Library, accessed 31 January 2010.
- ^ Louis Falardeau and Mario Fontaine, "Deux chefs," La Presse, 27 September 1989, B5.
- ^ Hubert Bauch, "Chasing votes on the political fringe," Montreal Gazette, 28 March 1981, A25. A 1978 advertisement further indicated that the party was not aligned with existing Marxist-Leninist or Trotskyist groups. See Le Devoir, 25 October 1978, p. 2.
- ^ "Lack of forms sinks fringe party's status," Montreal Gazette, 21 November 1985, p. 5.
- ^ Michèle Ouimet, "Le PTQ dévalisé," La Presse, 16 August 1989, B7.