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Hardial Bains | |
|---|---|
 Bains in 1979 | |
| First Secretary of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) | |
| In office 1970–1997 | |
| Succeeded by | Sandra Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 August 1939 Chak 6, Punjab, British India |
| Died | 24 August 1997 (aged 58) Hull, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) |
| Spouse | Sandra L. Smith |
| Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
| Profession | Lecturer of microbiology |
Hardial Bains (15 August 1939 – 24 August 1997) was a Canadian communist leader who founded a number of leftist organizations, foremost of which was the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) (CPC(M-L)). Presenting himself as an anti-revisionist Marxist–Leninist until his death, Bains acted as the spokesperson and ideological leader of the CPC(M-L), known in elections as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada. During his lifetime, Bains's outlook was initially heavily influenced by Maoism until the Sino-Albanian split, where he then became closely aligned with Hoxhaism and the government of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. Shortly before he died, abandoning his previous sharp criticisms of both countries, Bains supported both Cuba and North Korea. Spending most of his life in Canada, Bains was also politically active in England, Ireland, United States, and India. He was a lecturer of microbiology by profession.