Miguel Figueroa

Miguel Figueroa
Figueroa in 2012.
Leader of the Communist Party of Canada
In office 1992–2015
Preceded by	George Hewison
Succeeded by	Elizabeth Rowley
Personal details
Born	(1952-07-29)July 29, 1952 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Communist Party of Canada
Residence	Toronto
Occupation	Politician

Miguel Figueroa (born July 29, 1952) was the leader of the Communist Party of Canada from 1992 until 2015. He is known for the landmark Figueroa case, which redefined the role of small parties and Canadian Parliamentary democracy, as well as his role re-establishing the Communist Party of Canada in the post-Soviet era.

Figueroa was born in Montreal. He attended Dawson College, McGill and Concordia in Montreal, before joining the staff of the National Union of Students in 1975 as a national field organizer.

Figueroa joined the Communist Party in 1977 and held many positions within the Party. In 1978, he became the party’s Greater Vancouver organizer, working with people such as city councilors Harry Rankin and Bruce Yorke as well as Party activists across the region. He also helped organize demonstrations which brought scores of thousands onto the streets, marching for nuclear disarmament.

From 1986 to 1992 Figueroa served as regional correspondent for the Canadian Tribune and the Party’s Atlantic region leader. He was based in Halifax, but traveled across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland on a regular basis. In 1991 Figueroa was laid off (a casualty of the inner-party struggle which had begun to brew), and he decided to go back to school, beginning a Master's program in International Development Studies at St. Mary's University, while working as a teaching assistant at neighbouring Dalhousie University. In 1992–93, Figueroa chaired a union organizing committee that signed up 800 part-time seasonal professors and teaching assistants at Dalhousie, ultimately leading to membership in the Canadian Union of Public Employees. He was also active in various mass movements like peace and disarmament, international solidarity, and trade union organizing.