Central Committee of the Communist Party of Canada

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Canada (French: Comité central du Parti communiste du Canada) is the highest executive and administrative body of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) (CPC–ML; the ruling political party of the Canadian Republic) between sessions of the Party Congress, which typically occur annually. All decisions made and actions taken by the Central Committee are subject to review at the subsequent Party Congress, which may either formally ratify or veto (reverse) all Central Committee decisions and actions. The Central Committee currently consists of 65 members, all of whom are elected by the previous Party Congress.

The Central Committee itself typically meets only once per month, and thus elects two smaller bodies to which its responsibilities are deputised between sessions: the Secretariat, which handles the administrative and organisational affairs of the Party, and the Politburo, the top policymaking body between Central Committee sessions; the decisions and actions undertaken by the Secretariat and Politburo are subject to review at subsequent Central Committee sessions.

The Central Committee is chaired by the General Secretary, who is elected at the Party Congress, with each attending Party Congress member receiving a single vote. In addition to chairing the Central Committee, the General Secretary also acts as de facto "speaker" or "debate moderator" during sessions of the Party Congress, opening and closing Congress periods and sessions, and announcing the results of Party Congress votes. When the Central Committee is not in session, the General Secretary is, according to the Party Charter ex officio chairperson of the Politburo, and appoints a Deputy General Secretary to chair the Secretariat (who must already be a member of the Central Committee).