(The following articles are from the Feb. 15-29/2004 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, Canada, V5L 3J1.)  Labour stirs The road to revolution, as Lenin once wrote, is not like the Nevsky Prospect, referring to a famous straight road in his native Russia. It's full of twists and turns, advances and retreats. Those who base their strategy and tactics on appeals to workers to advance immediately to the overthrow of capitalism are invariable disappointed, often turning cynical or searching for more "radical" forces to assault the system. Recent years have seen many examples of this phenomenon in Canada. Instead of taking bold steps to build a broad movement of resistance against right-wing governments and greedy corporations, many reformist-minded trade union leaders have limited their efforts to news releases and the occasional rousing speech at conventions. Not surprisingly, this has disheartened many social activists desperate to mount a more powerful fightback. But life has a way of moving key social forces into action. The vicious policies of the Charest government in Quebec have roused a magnificent response from that province's working class. The latest reports indicate that labour activists are demanding that their organizations continue the mass protests launched last Dec. 11, with a new string of walkouts in the weeks ahead. On the west coast, it appears that the long-delayed Action Plan of the BC Federation of Labour may soon become a reality, not just works on paper. Such developments reaffirm that only one sector of modern capitalist society has the power to lead a successful struggle for change. The working class, despite its changing composition  and the weaknesses of certain leaders, remains that sector. A mass People's Coalition united on a platform of progressive policies must have the labour movement at its core to challenge the power of capital. (Back) (Home) They lied, thousands died Maybe the devil made them do it. George W. Bush and Tony Blair have finally admitted that their invasion of Iraq was based on "faulty intelligence." Inquiries have begun, the truth will be found, heads will roll, etc., etc. Those who insist on justifying imperialist crimes still refuse to admit any wrongdoing, of course. Even if there were no weapons of mass destruction, they say, Iraq had to be attacked in the interests of "long-term peace." This Hitlerian argument omits the uncomfortable fact that at least 10,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed and thousands more wounded by the attacking powers over the oast year, and that millions more are suffering the terrible impact of the occupation. There is no peace for those living under the conqueror's heel, nor for the occupying armies faced with constant guerrilla attacks. The truth is that the "leaders of the free world" lied through their teeth to garner some level of public support for their imperialist war. All the more reason for Canada to pull out of all participation in US-led military alliances and aggressions, and to remove our troops from Afghanistan immediately. Millions of people around the world will fill the streets on March 20 to protest the first anniversary of the illegal war against Iraq. Canadians should also use this occasion to tell Ottawa to stay out of Star Wars/Missile Defence. Paul Martin tells us that Star Wars is only a distant dream, and it isn't really about the weaponization of space. But as the Washington Post reported on Feb. 2, "the Pentagon plans to begin operation of a national missile defense system this summer, putting the first missile interceptors on alert weeks ahead of a previous autumn deadline..." This scheme is going full speed ahead, regardless of technical problems, because it has noting to do with "defence." Star Wars is part of a massive plan to give the US complete military domination of the planet, enriching military-industrial corporations on the way. On March 20, we must demand: End the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine! No to Star Wars! (Back) (Home) Students demand free speech By Brad Fougere (The following is from a first-hand report on a free speech struggle at Toronto's Queen Elizabeth High School - Editor) Suddenly, it erupted in front of the library, sexy and subversive, a blank wall where we could express our opinions. This wall stands in stark contrast to the trends within our school, toward censorship and control of expression. Though it was written prior to the event, these words from an unsigned pamphlet, largely attributed to the Youth Activist Collective, reflect with surprising accuracy the exciting events of Friday, January 16th. Prior to telling the story of Queen Elizabeth High School's "Free Speech Day," however, it might be beneficial to cover briefly the history of events leading up to the action. It began with the school's Youth Activist Collective (YAC), distributing pamphlets, planning a few small events (Teach-ins and the like). All of these things came to a screeching halt when, under heavy administration pressure, the group's teacher advisor passed on that the majority of the group's pamphlets were too confrontational, poorly sourced (including opinion pieces), or merely "offensive." YAC were also informed that, should they wish to continue as a school group, they'd need to narrow their focus, and generally become more like the school's Amnesty International group. Faced with being detoothed and made redundant, or losing club status, YACniks chose the latter. Not the sort of group to take censorship lying down, YAC was soon wearing duct-tape on their mouths, and handing out a handbill declaring "Censored? We Were!" This provoked the first of several unproductive meetings with the administration. Over the course of these little conferences, it was revealed that the administration wished to personally look over any material students wished to distribute. In the mind of the authorities, a good time for expressing opinions was "Never." When contacted by the media, the principal denied any knowledge of YAC or of the situation. Moved - even enraged - by the revelation that their school would not tolerate free expression and dialogue among students, it was decided that some decisive action had to be taken. In early January, the idea of an unpermitted free speech zone in QEH began to take concrete shape. Paper for a "Free speech wall" was secured, pamphlets written, press releases sent our, and detailed plans made. After a week of vague handouts, and cryptic messages scribbled on bathroom stalls, at 11 am on Friday, January 16, several students assembled outside the library. By twenty after eleven, when the lunch bell rang, everything was ready. Students streamed into the halls, and were handed pieces of paper declaring "The time to put your ideas, free and uncensored into the realm of open public debate is now." Relevant quotes by everyone from Mao, to Voltaire, to Emma Goldman were in the air as the room in front of the library began to fill up with excited students and invited media. Vice Principals and other school officials stood by helplessly as wave after wave of students rushed to grab a marker and share their opinions with their peers, unmolested. YAC member, Cole Webber, had brought an acoustic guitar, used to great effect by a few students (Cole's own performance of Propagandhi's "State Lottery" was especially enjoyable) until the noise began to irritate those in the library. Cole also did interviews with several media people. Around this point, space on the paper had almost run out and lunch hour wasn't even three-quarters over. Luckily, there was duct tape around, and the writing moved from the main piece of paper, and on to smaller scraps, taped on the surrounding area of exposed wall. Classes did, inevitably, start up again at twenty after twelve, but it took several minutes for the principal to convince those at the wall to leave. He asked that organizers come immediately to a meeting with him. Outnumbered by about 15 students, the meeting was short-lived, dominated mainly by threats to seize the camera of one YAKnik (who, of course, refused to give it up). Later that afternoon, a meeting, including the parents of several students, was arranged for a later date. That meeting occurred on Tuesday afternoon, the 20th. Though there were attempts to change the subject, the students came with a simple demand - free speech rights for all students, including the right to pamphlet, poster, and book classrooms, without any admin interference. After an hour and a half of debate, these points were conceded. Such a dramatic about-face by the administration is a testament to the power of action, and the effect of the free speech wall. Though newspaper articles on the subject showed a lacklustre understanding of the anarchist principles of several of the organizers, and widespread radical consciousness hasn't suddenly sprung up at QEH, YAC sees the event as a success, and plans to use their new-found freedom of expression. Expect more news soon. (Back) (Home) Behind Bush's push for the stars By Kate Hudson Alarm bells are already ringing over President Bush's latest space plans, with his announcement that the US is going beyond its current vision of world domination to apace. This will involve establishing permanent bases on the moon and landing astronauts on Mars. The spin that Bush places on these developments harks back to the idea of bravely pushing the frontiers of space in the noble cause of science and human progress, but behind this supposed "renewed spirit of discovery" is an alarming subtext of both military and commercial interests. Space exploration and rocket technology have always been inextricably linked with missile military development ever since Werner Von Braun and his team took their V2 missile technology from Nazi Germany into the US space program. Part of the new proposals that Bush has outlined is likely to be a nuclear rocket known as Project Prometheus, named after the God of Fire. This would halve the amount of time that it would take to reach Mars, but according to peace activists the project would have military applications as well and is a dangerous, unproven technology. And, according to the organisation Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, "The military has long eyed the moon as a potential base of operations as warfare is moved into the heavens." Again, this reinforces what we read about in the US strategy document Vision 2000, which refers to "full spectrum military dominance" on land, sea, air and in space. Surely Bush's recent proposals are bringing this horrifying scenario closer than ever. Commercial interests are strongly to the fore here, too. The moon also happens to have an abundant supply of helium-3, an isotope that is rare on the earth and is a possible energy replacement for fossil fuels. As reported in the New York Times in December last year: "When fusion reactors start coming online, lunar entrepreneurs may stand to make the kind of money their predecessors raked in during the gold rush and the oil boom." This potentially adds a whole new terrifying dimension to the notion of resource wars if they are to be carried into space. But attempts have been made to stop space becoming just another commercial and military battleground, For example, the UN introduced the Moon Treaty and Outer Space Treaty as ways to prevent ownership, exploitation and war fighting beyond our own planet. However, as Leeds Metropolitan University Professor Dave Webb explains, "The US never signed the 1979 Moon Treaty and estate agents are already selling plots of land [on the moon] to US citizens." The question of costs of these two initiatives is of great concern within the US as the country faces record deficits. The White House claims that the project will not require major spending increases in the short run, but initial estimates of the cost of a mission to Mars suggest around US$1 trillion over the next decade or so. As the organisation Scientists for Global Responsibility argues, such a large sum of money could be put to much better use. "It is clearly contributing to new nuclear arms race and heightening global tensions." As if that isn't bad enough, it also costs nearly US$10 billion a year - the cost of providing clean water for all - with an eventual total cost of over US$1 trillion. We are better informed than ever about what is going on in the world - about the real motivations and interests that lie behind government policies and military strategies. It is absolutely clear what these space developments are about, no matter how they are dressed up. So, let us keep on with our campaigning and keep space for peace and the world for the peaceful fulfilment of real human needs. (Kate Hudson is chair or the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Britain) (Back) (Home) India set for Feb. 24 general strike The die is cast, and an India-wide general strike on February 24 is approaching fast. Backed by all major labour federations, the strike will be a bold protest against the total failure of the right-wing UJP-led government of India to take the steps to reverse a supreme court judgement against the right to strike. The decision to call the strike was taken at a meeting of all central trade union organisations held in Delhi, including the INTUC, AITUC, CITU, AICCTU, UTUC, and TUCC. According to union leaders, the strike will also show the determination of workers to struggle against the anti-people and anti-national economic policies of the Indian government. Adopted under pressures from the IMF, World Bank and WTO, these policies have resulted in rising unemployment and poverty, reckless privatisation and plant closures, and delays in the enactment of a law to safeguard the interests of unorganized workers. (Back) (Home) Violation of labour rights in Gambia A new report by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions on core labour standards in Gambia, produced to coincide with the trade policy review of Gambia at the WTO, criticises the west African country's lack of compliance with the eight ILO conventions known as "Core Labour Standards". Gambia's Labour Act imposes general restrictions on the right to strike, and civil service employees are completely denied the right to strike. More than half the workforce is employed in the informal economy, depriving workers of necessary protections and making existing legislation hard to enforce. The report also notes that there is a lack of employment opportunities for women, who are generally restricted to occupations such as selling food or subsistence farming. Women are subject to discrimination in education and employment. The female literacy rate is extremely low at 32.8%. Child labour is prevalent in Gambia. Some 49,000 children between 10 and 14 years were economically active in 2000, representing 33.83% of this age group. There are not enough secondary schools and enrolment of girls in school is low, particularly in rural areas. Many children in rural areas assist their families in farming activities and there is no protection from exploitation for children on family farms. Gambia is also a country of origin and destination for trafficked women and children, including those exposed to sexual exploitation. There are reports of child sexual exploitation in the tourism sector. The ICFTU called upon the government of Gambia to apply the core labour conventions it has ratified, and proposed specific actions on the full range of issues raised in the report.   (Back) (Home) FMLN needs your solidarity By Ramon Castillo and Ronald Chavez On March 21, El Salvador's Presidential elections will take place. Recent polls indicate that the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) candidate has a chance of winning. It is an urgent priority that the FMLN win the election. Our democratic socialist party, with 31 deputies in the 84-seat National Assembly, is the largest political force in El Salvador. In addition, we govern all the large and medium sized municipalities. However, to implement real change we need to win the Presidency, where political power is concentrated. Our country is governed by the right wing ARENA party, which has pursued free market policies such as privatisation and Free Trade (FT) with the US, leading to greater poverty, unemployment, social inequality and economic underdevelopment. Free trade (FT) has damaged agriculture, forcing many campesinos to leave the land (and swelling unemployment) because they cannot compete with government subsidized US agricultural products entering the country tariff free. FT has also led to the growth of a maquiladora economy, where transnational companies come to the country because wages are low. Many young people must leave the country to find work. Many a family's survival is dependent on money that they receive from family members working in the US. Wealth concentration is so extreme in our country that according to the United Nations, the wealthiest 20% of the population earns 56% of total income, while the poorest 20% takes 4%. If the FMLN is elected, we will immediately reverse ARENA's disastrous policies and implement measures to ameliorate the country's suffering. ARENA is doing everything possible to prevent our party from winning the Presidential elections. For instance, they have denied state funds that the FMLN is entitled to receive under the law which provides money to parties for each vote they received in the previous election. With its endless access to funds from Big Business, ARENA is trying to buy the elections. In contrast, our only source of funds is from our individual members and supporters, most of whom are lucky to earn the equivalent of 30 to 40 dollars each month. ARENA has also threatened our candidates and campaign workers with violence. To compensate for our scarce financial resources, our 95,000 members are currently trying to canvass every household in El Salvador, from the congested barrios of San Salvador to the remotest households in the countryside. The FMLN asks for your political support and solidarity. We also ask that you consider making a financial donation to the FMLN. Every dollar that you can donate will make a difference. An FMLN win would not only be a big victory for the Salvadorean people, but a victory for the left internationally. An FMLN win would strengthen the position of the left in Latin America, as there would be four left-wing governments in the region,  (El Salvador), Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil. (Ramon Castillo and Ronald Chavez are members of the Vancouver FMLN Committee. Donations can be sent to the Vancouver Committee of the FMLN at 113 - 2140 Wall Street, Vancouver, BC, V5L 1B4. Checks should be made out to the "El Salvador Solidarity Fund.") (Back) (Home) Victor Perlo - A keen observer of capitalism Review by Tim Pelzer Book Review of: People vs. Profits, Columns of Victor Perlo. Volume 1: The Home Front, edited by Ellen, Stanley and Arthur Perlo, International Publishers, 2003, 372 pages If there was ever a keen observer of modern political economy, it was Victor Perlo. Unarguably one of the most important and prolific American Marxist economists of the 20th century, he wrote 3,000 columns and articles for the Daily World, People's Daily World and People's Weekly World from 1961 to 1999. On the side he found time to write thirteen books on economics, teach and participate in academic and policy conferences. People vs. Profits is an absorbing collection of his columns in the US Communist press spanning 40 years. People vs. Profits offers Perlo's thoughts on militarism, finance, the CIA and FBI, Marxism, agriculture, labour and industry, living conditions, social security, racism, education, Big Business, bureaucracy, oil, taxes, government policy and various public figures. He critiques the economic and social policies of every US President from 1961 to 1999, from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton. He addresses the major economic policy shifts during this period as well as international events such as US involvement in Vietnam and the former Yugoslavia. Perlo's writings on the Clinton Administration are fascinating. Stripping away the shiny liberal image, Perlo demonstrates that Clinton in fact was a conservative Democrat who increased military spending and reduced expenditures for social programs. In this sense, People vs. Profits is also a social and economic history of the US spanning four decades. Moreover, the columns are as timely as the day he wrote them, providing insights on capitalism that are still relevant, such as the system's tendency towards underconsumption, overproduction, and crisis. His writings on the stock market and various financial crises make interesting reading in light of what is happening today. In 1999 he wrote that, "The soaring stock prices of the corporate behemoths have gone beyond any reasonable relation to their profits, creating an expanding bubble awaiting the shock that will cause it to burst, with disastrous impact on the economic life of the country." This prediction of a stock market crash came true in 2002-3. He was also one of the first to call attention to the dangers of growing corporate and consumer debt, which today is causing alarm among mainstream economists. There is an interesting column about the S&L scam of the late 1980s, where the rich bilked US taxpayers out of $300 billion. Perlo delves under the surface, exposing the psychological motivations that underlie capitalism. In "Corruption and Decay," he quotes a professor of Business and Ethics who fears that many business students are just driven by greed and selfishness. He mentions the case of a regular school project (also carried out in a number of other business schools) where students sit on the board of directors of an imaginary company that is marketing a dangerous drug. Despite its lethal effects, the majority of students decide to continue promoting the drug until it is banned, then make plans to market the drug abroad. The other aspect that makes this book enticing is its readability. Perlo rejected the dry prose of 20th century economics and wrote in a clear, lively fashion that allowed his ideas to be easily grasped. One can read his columns on the esoteric worlds of finance and the stock market without having a PhD in economics and acquire fairly easily an understanding of how these institutions function. People vs. Profits is essential reading for every student of history and economics. It is also an important reminder of the valuable contribution that Perlo made to political economy. $10(US). Order from International Publishers 239 W. 23rd St., New York, NY 10011 USA email:service@intpubnyc.com http://www.intpubnyc.com phone: 212-366-9816 (Back) (Home) BC government retreats on welfare cuts PV Vancouver Bureau After months of threatening to eliminate the sole income of tens of thousands of poor people, the BC Liberals have finally been forced to back down. On Feb. 6, the government announced that recipients who are looking for work will not be removed from social assistance, a change that sharply reduces the numbers to be affected as of April 1. But the two-year time limit still remains on the books, and could be enforced by a future change in regulations. Also, many recipients will see their cheques reduced on that date. "This retreat is a significant victory, though far from complete," responded BC Communist Party leader George Gidora. "Once again, public anger against a specific plank in the Campbell platform has blunted an attack by this government. The emerging unity of anti- poverty groups, the labour movement, women's organizations, churches and other sectors was the key factor in forcing the Liberals to shift tactics. Such unity is possible, and absolutely crucial, to drive Campbell and his gang out of office." Minister Hagen has been quoted as saying "...the government has had huge success moving people off of welfare into the workforce... but as you come down the curve and sort of deal with individuals that we're now dealing with they're getting more difficult to place." In effect, Hagen was recognizing that many people are simply not able to work, but his government still clings to its goal of virtual elimination of social assistance. The Liberals have caused enormous stress to welfare clients through their Two Year Welfare Limit Policy and the Review of Disability Benefits. Both policies threatened many people with the loss of income, only to be reversed under pressure. Debbie Krull, Community Advocate with United Native Nations Local 111, told the media that many people have already been cut off assistance. In reality, said Krull, some programs do not get official recognition of being either a job or training program. "One welfare worker told a 22 year old aboriginal youth to quit her grade 12 completion courses at Langara College and sign up for a job training program. The youth chose to complete her grade 12 and got cut off of welfare."Seth Klein, BC Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives stated, "The policy's sole remaining function is to intimidate welfare recipients, who, in spite of the new exemption, will live in fear of being cut off. The exemption's application remains uncertain. Once this issue recedes from the public spotlight, the Ministry may instruct case workers to be more demanding about employment plans, or may refrain from informing clients about the exemptions. "While the announcement does show that the government is reconsidering the time limits rule, it must go further. The Ministry's estimates indicate that hundreds of people will still fall through the cracks. Regardless of whether the number is fifteen thousand, three hundred, or one, this is a bad law. It remains an awful precedent in Canada and should be removed from the books." BCGEU President George Heyman said "...The Campbell government should be deeply ashamed for putting tens of thousands of vulnerable people through months of unnecessary anxiety and distress over the potential impact of these changes... The two-year time limits should still be taken off the books. The government is estimating that 167 clients may see reduced benefits in the next year, because they've been collecting welfare for more than two years. (Those figures) represent mostly single parents and their children. Not one British Columbian in need deserves to be punished further for living in poverty." The Stop Welfare Cuts Coalition remains committed to "reversing morally bankrupt policies of the BC Liberal government... and will continue to fight back until Welfare Time Limits are defeated". For more information, contact the Coalition c/o Lisa at End Legislated Poverty, 604-879-1209 or elp@telus.net. (Back) (Home) CPC's 34th Convention - turning the corner Years of rebuilding are paying off for the Communist Party of Canada, which held its 34th Central Convention over the weekend of Jan. 29-Feb. 1 in Montreal. The overwhelming view of delegates was that the Communist Party has finally "turned the corner" towards a much bigger role in Canadian politics. The most striking evidence of progress came when sixteen young delegates and observers, many of them members of the Young Communist League, were introduced on the floor of the convention to stormy applause. The average age of delegates was 47, dropping closer to the figures of the 43-44 years at CPC conventions during the 1980s. In December 1992, when the CPC held its 30th Convention after the most serious crisis in its history, the youngest delegate was 30. At this convention, almost one-fifth of the delegates were younger than 30, and two of these were elected to the new Central Committee. Delegates also noted many other advances over the past decade. Defying those who dismissed the communist movement as finished, the CPC has won a major legal challenge against the Elections Act, regained its status as a registered party, rebuilt its presence in Quebec and other parts of Canada, and launched newspapers in English and French. Communists are an increasingly visible force in a variety of movements across the country, and a new generation of political activists see the Party's policies without the fog of Cold War anti-communis. But the delegates in Montreal were also acutely aware of huge challenges ahead. Despite becoming a much younger party in recent years, some of its most experienced and capable members have passed away, and the CPC'S net growth in size has been small. The incoming party leadership sees its number one task in the coming period as improving the CPC's ability to win far more new members, especially in the labour movement. The Convention began on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 29, with welcoming speeches and a reception at the city's Greek Labour Hall, long a centre of progressive activity. On the following morning, delegates got down to business at the Centre 7400, a conference centre where most also had rooms and meals for a very reasonable cost. (Other delegates and guests stayed at private homes or a unique bed and breakfast in the old section of Montreal, while some hardy YCLers slept at the Parti communiste du Québec's new building on rue Papineau.) A keynote address by CPC leader Miguel Figueroa touched on a wide range of issues, from recent developments since the Draft Convention resolutions were issued in September, to some of the debates which have emerged since then in party clubs and provincial meetings. Delegates then moved into debates on the draft resolutions, starting with "The International Situation and the Struggle for Peace and Social Justice." The Communist Party has always made peace and solidarity a high priority, and in recent years CPC members have been extremely active in helping to rebuild the anti- war movement ion many areas. That involvement was evident in the discussions at the microphones, and in the debate around a special resolution calling for full mobilization to build the global anti- war protests planned for March 20. Another highlight of the second day of the convention were speeches from several international guests, including Dee Miles from the CPUSA, Cuauhtemoc Amezcua Dromundo from the Popular Socialist Party of Mexico, and Olfonso Noya Martinez of the Communist Party of Cuba. Most of Saturday, the third day of the convention, saw continued discussion around two other draft resolutions, "Canada, the Fightback and the Tasks of the Party," and "Forging Alliances and Building a People's Alternative." All three of the main resolutions were amended by delegates, on the basis of proposals from party clubs and provincial nominating conventions held in December and early January. Official business wound up early on that day, so that delegates and observers could pay tribute to Canada's most famous Communist, Dr. Norman Bethune. About thirty comrades braved icy winds to take party banners and a special wreath to the statue honouring Bethune, where Miguel Figueroa gave a short speech. Attracted by the gathering, several people from the local Chinese-Canadian community came to listen. After two full days of hard work, delegates were ready for a change of pace. The Saturday night convention banquet, held at the Casa del Popolo restaurant, was a memorable evening os songs, wine and great food. BC Communist leader George Gidora presented the premiere of a new power-point show on the history and accomplishments of the CPC, accompanied by the music of Tom Hawken. Other performers at the banquet included Joyce Holmes, Linda Chobotuck, Anibal Laner, Naomi Rankin, and Normand Raymond. Rising bright and early a few hours later, delegates spent the final morning of the convention reviewing the CPC's financial reports, and then voting for the new leadership. Thirty-two candidates were nominated for 26 Central Committee positions (six each from BC and Quebec, one each from Alberta and the Atlantic region, two from Manitoba, and ten from Ontario). Of the 26 CC members, eight were elected for the first time, another reflection of the CPC's recent growth. Ten CC members are labour activists, eight are women (up from six), and almost all are prominently involved in mass movements: peace, municipal reform, defence of public education, immigrant rights, Cuba solidarity, the student movement, aboriginal peoples,. the LGBT community, and other struggles. The new Central Executive of the CC includes seven members: party leader Miguel Figueroa, PCQ leader André Parizeau, Ontario leader Liz Rowley, BC leader George Gidora, Manitoba leader Darrell Rankin, Dan Goldstick (editor of the CPC's Spark! discussion journal), and People's Voice editor Kimball Cariou. Much of the final afternoon was devoted to a series of changes to the CPC's constitution, which has not been amended in several years. Most of the proposals were fairly minor, updating the constitution or removing ambiguities. But one of the most widely-discussed changes concerns the CPC's emblem. For many years, the emblem has been a gear and wheat sheaf (symbolizing the unity of workers and farmers) imposed on a maple leaf. Since the PCQ was reorganized in the late 1990s, it has been recognized that the maple leaf is widely seen by many Québecois as symbolic of their national oppression within the Canadian state. The delegates voted to approve a proposal to call for submissions for a new emblem; the best submissions will be placed before the membership in a referendum vote before the next convention. By 4 pm on the Sunday afternoon, the convention's work was virtually complete. After a rousing rendition of The Internationale in a multitude of languages, the hall was cleared and delegates headed home, tired but charged with new optimism. Shebib films convention debates Canadians will soon be able to see a new film about the Communist Party. Well-known filmmaker Don Shebib ("Going Down the Road") and a crew from the National Film Board spent two days shooting footage at the 34th Convention for a project titled "Commitment". We'll keep readers informed about the progress of the movie in future issues. (Back) (Home) Keynote address: peace, democracy, labour Many of the themes which emerged in debates leading up to the 34th Convention were touched upon in the keynote address presented by CPC leader Miguel Figueroa on Behalf of the party's Central Executive. Here are some excerpts from the speech: Say NO to war on March 20 The position of our Party on the war and occupation has been clear from the outset, condemning it as an act of wanton and self-serving aggression. We support the demand for an immediate end to the Occupation and for the full restoration of Iraqi national sovereignty. Furthermore, the U.S. must be held accountable for the mass suffering and destruction it has caused to the Iraqi peoples for its violation of the UN Charter and international law, and be compelled to pay full reparations. Our Convention needs to speak out strongly and clearly as well about the situation in Afghanistan, especially given that Canada is officially part of this "sanctioned" occupation, with Canadian troops on the ground. They are not there as peacekeepers, but rather as aggressive "peacemakers", carrying out search & destroy missions against suspected Taliban supporters and "terrorist nests". This occupation is also completely unjustified, and should be ended as quickly as possible, and Canadian troops should be withdrawn immediately! ...On March 20th, the first anniversary of the launching of the U.S. war on Iraq, peace actions will be held in centres across Canada, and around the world. Our Party will participate fully in these actions, and help to build them wherever possible. Ending the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan will be central demands of these actions, but we should use there opportunities to alert the broad peace movements about the looming threat of imperialist war against North Korea and Colombia/Venezuela as well. Another key demand on March 20th will be opposition to Canada's involvement in or support of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system. The BMD issue should be at the centre of our peace activity today: (1) because it would directly involve Canada in the single most extensive and dangerous project in the escalating arms race - the militarization of space; (2) because Canada's participation would be completely subservient to the Pentagon, further eroding Canada's already weak sovereignty; (3) and because, given the divisions which exist in the Liberal caucus on the issue, there exist real possibilities for widening the front against Canada's involvement in the period leading up to, during and following the next federal election. The federal election Mr. Martin and his team are now free to carry out a pro-corporate agenda which will go beyond that which the Chretien government carried out over the last eleven years in office, including more dismantling of the public sector, more trimming of the social safety net, more deregulation (including revision of the Bank Act which would allow for bank mergers and greater foreign ownership in the financial sector), reactionary labour law "reform", and greater "continental harmonization" of immigration, customs, monetary, defence and foreign policies with those of the U.S.; in other words, Canada's further subordination within "Fortress America" and a corresponding erosion of Canadian sovereignty. Of course, The Martin Liberals must first gain a new majority in order to carry through these measures, in an early election expected this April or May... As you know, our Party won a remarkable victory in the Supreme Court of Canada this past June, when the Supreme Court struck down the 50-candidate rule as unconstitutional. While the ruling itself was extremely positive, the remedy - granting Parliament one full year to change the Act - was less fortunate. Last fall, the Chretien cabinet actually introduced Bill C-51, which would have reduced the candidate threshold from fifty to one; however the bill died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued, and it is unlikely that it will be introduced and dealt with in the new session before Martin decides to call an election. This means that we will be facing yet another election within the 50-candidate rule in place... The Central Executive is recommending that, if the Act is not satisfactorily amended before the election, then we aim to run 50 or more candidates in the coming election as well. We believe it would be a mistake to lose our registration now, after the monumental struggle we have waged to defend our legal status. But this is not our main consideration. There is a new climate afoot across the country. It finds reflection not only in the growth of mass protests and resistance, but also a significant increase in the recent period in both interest in, and recruitment to our Party among the most conscious sections of our class and among radicalized youth. This coming election will provide an exceptional opportunity for our Party to take its ideas, policies and program out to working people across Canada, and to build the Party in a substantial way. We therefore propose that coming out of this Convention, the new leadership and indeed all delegates, return to the membership and begin discussions and preparations aimed at identifying candidates, organizers, official agents and volunteers, and that the whole Party begin immediately to gear ujp for the Spring election with the objective of mounting the most extensive and ambitious campaign possible. The fascist danger ...As the Imperialist world system becomes ever more economically volatile and politically unstable, as its contradictions mature, and as working class and popular resistance grows, there is an increasing attack on the democratic rights of the people. We see this being played out most clearly in the United States, where a dangerous clique, representing the most aggressive, reactionary section of the U.S. ruling class, has gained control over decisive parts of the state apparatus, and uses those positions to attack democratic and minority rights and curtail dissent, to implement a reactionary economic and social program, and to carry out a militarist, adventurist foreign policy. They are also pressuring other states, including Canada, to follow suit. We should not mince words here. These crypto-fascists within and around the Bush Administration in Washington are busy laying the seeds - the foundations - of fascism both domestically and in terms of international relations and affairs. This is the rising danger of fascism to which our resolutions refer. This of course does not mean that the United States, Canada, or any other leading imperialist states are on the verge of fascism. Capitalism still has an extended capacity to manoeuvre and manipulate within current political arrangements; nor are the working class and revolutionary forces strong and united enough to constitute a serious threat to its vital interests, or to challenge for power, at least in the short run. There is no urgent need, therefore, for the ruling class to shed its preferred method of domination, i.e., bourgeois democratic rule (which has always really amounted to formal democracy "at home" combined with brutal police\military terror "abroad", especially in colonies and semi- colonies in the third world). So while it would be wrong of us to overstate this danger of fascism, it would be equally wrong of us to ignore or remain silent in the face of these disturbing development. Already, the formal rights and protections of certain groups and communities (especially the Arab and Muslim communities) are being stripped away under the pretext of the "war on terror". The Arar case - involving the forced deportation to Syria of a Syrian-Canadian suspected (but never tried or convicted) of terrorist connections -  has shocked and angered democratic-minded people across this country. There have been times in our country's history when fascism had become a real danger. This danger is rising again. The important point here is that it is not pre-ordained - it can be stopped "dead in its tracks" provided that the labour and democratic movements move more sharply into action against the fascist threat, and in defence of democracy. Workers must lead Let us turn to the situation in the mass trade union movement. No honest person can deny the stultifying, even paralysing effect that the dominant right-ring leadership has had on its capacity to lead the mass fightback against neoliberalism, globalization and war... This chronic situation has led some to lose confidence in the importance or centrality of the trade union movement in advancing the struggle against capital and reaction, and to look instead to other social forces or "actors" which can play such a galvanizing role in organizing and leading the fightback. Obviously, Communists must always exercise maximum flexibility and creativity in our tactics, and it would be absolutely foolish of us to overlook, much less reject, any opportunity to move the mass struggle forward, simply because doing so would not conform to past practices, or to schematic constructs for the future. That said, it would be equally wrong for us to abandon our overall class-strategic perspective on this score. The most basic tenet of Marxism is that in all class-divided societies, the primary lines of division and conflict occur between the two main contending classes which stand in antagonistic contradiction to one another - in capitalism, between capital and labour. This is what gives rise to the "historic mission" of the working class as the ultimate "grave-digger" of the capitalist system, a pre-condition for its own social emancipation. In turn, the trade union movement - for all of its current weaknesses and limitations - remains the most organized section of the working class as a whole. It follows therefore that the organized labour movement must continue to be at the very centre of our agitational and ideological work as Communists. Of course, we must not do so at the exclusion of other tasks, or of our work among other forces, but out Central Committee proposes that we place more - not less - emphasis on our work within organized labour, to build up the left, class conscious and militant forces within this movement, and to give more effective support to every spark, wherever workers are engaged in class struggle. There are real possibilities of winning the labour movement for class struggle positions, and for militant action. While the situation varies across the country, there are some openings, some bright spots. The most important of these is the situation right here in Quebec, where the mass mobilization against the Charest government and its reactionary program, is moving into high gear. What is especially significant is the leading role of the three labour centrals - the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ), the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), and the Central of Unions of Quebec (CSQ) - in this fightback, and the increasing likelihood that this struggle will include a general strike, or even a series of general strikes, in the near future... What is the overall character of the fightback today? Clearly, we are still at a defensive stage of the struggle, with the initiative still remaining with the class enemy, finance capital - both domestic and international - and its governments. But is the situation beginning to turn for the better? Is the pendulum beginning to swing back in our direction? Yes, comrades, it is, and this is creating new openings, new possibilities for the labour and mass democratic forces to move onto the offensive. (Back) (Home) Labour and left leaders greet delegates The opening session of the CPC's 34th Convention, held at the Greek Labour Hall, featured welcoming remarks by Party leader Miguel Figueroa, and greetings from several prominent leaders of the trade union movement and the Quebec left. Michel Parent, president of CUPE Local 301, brought greetings from the 8,000-member Montreal blue collar civic workers' union, which was organized in 1943 by Léo Lebrun, a well-known Communist. In the 2000 federal election, Local 301 endorsed Communist candidate Dorothy Sauras in Montreal Rosemont, the only union to take such a step. Local 301 has played a major role in the formation of the Union des forces progressistes (UFP, Quebec's left political coalition), in recent struggles against capitalist globalization, and in the latest mass labour protests against the Charest government. Parent began by noting that while he is not a communist, the leaders and members of Local 301 "often find ourselves defending the same ideology at the social and political level. "It is essential, he continued, "for all left-wing organizations to mobilize and weave connections to fight the plans of right-wing governments. We'll need a lot of cooperation between organizations to ensure that the Martins and Charests are forced to accept a better distribution of wealth. As we often say in our blue-collar workers' union, the battle for dignity is a daily one." Next was Deborah Bourque, the first woman president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which for many years has been one of the most progressive unions in Canada. Shortly after his retirement from the Canadian Labour Congress, former CUPW president Jean- Claude Parrot spoke to the CPC's 33rd Convention, held in Toronto in January 2001. Bringing greetings from 54,000 members of CUPW in Canada and Quebec, Bourque said that "it's clear that we are but different wings in the same mass movement of working class forces, engaged in a common struggle to promote the interests of working class people... Our organizations take a similar approach to many challenges which confront the working class, which is perhaps not surprising considering the long relationship between many activists in CUPW and the CPC. CUPW has a long history of working in progressive coalitions, such as in the Action Caucus at labour conventions." "We've worked together in the peace movement," said Bourque, noting the leadership role of the Communist Party in the struggle for peace ever since the Cold War period. Bourque also spoke about the recent successful battle to organize 6,000 rural postal workers. "We went into bargaining and told Canada Post that unless these workers had the right to collective bargaining there would by no agreement for the other 48,000 CUPW members. Now that all 6,000 are in CUPW, they are no longer contractors without rights and benefits. The agreement wasn't easy or automatic. We made controversial sacrifices, but we believe these were necessary to gain justice for these workers." The final welcome of the evening came from Francois Cyr, a teachers' union activist who is the president of the UFP. Born two years ago at the initiative of the Parti communiste du Québec (PCQ, the Quebec wing of the CPC) and other left groups, the UFP ran 73 candidates and won about 40,500 votes in last spring's Quebec election. "What unites us is a thousand times more important than what divides us," said Cyr. Describing the formation of the UFP, he explained that "we saw a world where the vast majority desired peace while the US drove to war, and the neo-liberal forces were out to destroy the gains of past years." The UFP will soon celebrate its second anniversary, said Cyr. "Even though our growth has not been earth-shattering, it has been steady." He mentioned several contributions by PCQ members to this growth, including "the regular, modest and systematic work of all your activists, the wonderful victory of the CPC in the Supreme Court case, the idea that May First should be a holiday we celebrate with pay, and the fact that your party is Canada-wide." "Your knowledge of the rest of Canada will be very important for us here in the battle against Martin and Charest," said Cyr. "You have a particular responsibility to help bring down the wall of silence between Quebec and the rest of Canada," he stressed, noting that it was PCQ leader Andre Parizeau who brought news of the COPE victory in the last Vancouver civic election, a success which was ignored by the Quebec media. Cyr concluded by discussing prospects for the struggle against the Charest government in the months ahead. Quebec's unions and popular movements are considering various options,d such as walkouts on March 8 in solidarity with women workers particularly affected by the government's policies; April 14, the first anniversary of the government's election; and May 1, "celebrated for over 40 years in Quebec as a day of struggle." (Back) (Home) International solidarity highlights convention As an organization based on working class internationalism, the Communist Party of Canada has built strong links of solidarity with revolutionary forces around the world since its formation in 1922. CPC conventions are always an occasion to invite guests from other communist and workers' parties, and national liberation movements. Delegates at the 34th Central Convention of the CPC hosted several guests, including Dee Miles, a member of the National Board and National Committee of the Communist Party USA; Cuauhtemoc Amezcua Dromundo, leader of the Popular Socialist Party (PPS) of Mexico; and Alfonso Noya Martinez, a Central Committee member of the Communist Party of Cuba. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was unable to attend at the last minute because of an important election campaign. Dee Miles, who works in Chicago as head of the CPUSA's Education Commission, expressed "deep appreciation for the longstanding relationship between our two parties," and recalled some of the memorable episodes in that history. She thanked the Canadian comrades who recently spoke in several US cities on the issue of health care, as part of a tour to raise funds for the People's Weekly World. Focusing on her party's strategic outlook, Miles blasted the Bush Administration as "a government representative of the most backward, anti-democratic sections of the ruling class," and a fundamental threat to the sovereignty of all peoples and the future of the planet. The Bush regime, she said, actively and virulently attacks all dissent as unpatriotic. But she also expressed confidence that Bush can be defeated by the combined power of organized labour, and the African-American, women's, and Latino movements. "These forces will vote for whomever the Democratic Party candidate turns out to be," she said. Miles noted the importance of splits in the ruling class, such as sections less inclined to aggression against Cuba. The Leninist approach, she said, is to take advantage of such differences to advance the cause of the working class. "We join with labour, African-Americans, women, and Latino Americans to defeat Bush because it is a necessity, because history demands it," she said, stressing that the CPUSA's policy is to unite with such strategic forces, which are necessary to achieve fundamental social change. Cuauhtemoc Amezcua Dromundo has attended several CPC conventions on behalf of his party. Formed in the late 1940s by radical trade union leaders, the PPS later adopted Marxism-Leninism as its ideology. After decades of representation in the Mexican parliament, the PPS was deregistered in the mid-1990s and had to gather the names of 100,000 supporters to save its legal status. Besides a common outlook and experiences, he said, the PPS and CPC share a fight against US imperialism, and against NAFTA and the Free Trade Area of the Americas. The key struggle at this moment," he said, "is the fight against US imperialism, especially its present dangerous expression, the Bush administration. For Latin Americans, the most important part of this fight is defence of the Cuban Revolution. A free, socialist Cuba has been the most advanced part of all our struggles for freedom, sovereignty and independence." He condemned the government of Vicente Fox, "who represents the interests of the transnational corporations, and does not honour the Mexican tradition of independence and dignity. He is always on his knees ready to obey any order of his master, President George Bush." The Mexican people, he said, are "passing through an interesting process of rising social consciousness. They do not believe imperialist propaganda as easily as before, or that changing one party for another will solve the problems of the people." Only the widest unity, he concluded, will be able to build the necessary correlation of forces to defeat imperialism. Alfonso Noya Martinez headed a four-member Cuban delegation to the 34th Convention, including representatives from the embassy in Ottawa and the consulate in Montreal. He also paid tribute to the historic ties of friendship and solidarity between the communists of Cuba and Canada. The global gap between rich and poor has doubled since 1960. he noted, and average life expectancy is just 49 years in the poorer countries compared to 77 in the most developed countries. The poor are the first to suffer the consequences of environmental destruction, lacking hospitals or services for entire families. The most immediate threat to the world is the US doctrine of pre- emptive strikes, Martinez continued. The illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, he noted, clearly demonstrates the desire of the hawks in the White House to militarize US foreign policy. The campaign of threats against Cuba is part of this strategy, he said, referring to false accusations of Cuban weapons of mass destruction and human rights abuses. Despite these attacks, Cuba continues to record modest advances in living standards, and saw sits GDP rise by 2.6% last year. In closing, Noya Martinez condemned the "absurd US allegations" against the Cuban 5 prisoners and their wives and families, several of whom have been subjected to prolonged waits for visas. "We continue to count on the solidarity of our Canadian friends," he said, urging "increased international efforts until our heroes are freed." (Back) (Home)

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