(The following articles are from the September 16-31, 2011, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)

1) UNITE AND FIGHT TO BLOCK THE RIGHT!

Election message from the Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)

     Working people are justly angry at the McGuinty Liberal government for protecting corporate wealth and privilege while wages and living standards are falling, real unemployment is rising and the real economy is tottering on the edge of another deep recession. But electing the Tories to punish the Liberals would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

     Working people can see what the Tory agenda will do to by looking at Mayor Ford's actions in Toronto. Mass layoffs, wage cuts, privatization, deep cuts to services, user fees, tax increases for homeowners and tenants, and an all‑out attack on civil, labour and democratic rights - this is Hudak's agenda for Ontario.

     In August, PM Harper told Mayor Ford he hoped to "complete the hat trick" by turning Ontario Tory blue come the October 6 provincial election. Tory majorities in Ottawa and Queen's Park would make Big Business cheer, but spell catastrophe for working people across the province.

     A Hudak government will be Mike Harris on steroids, with the federal Tories as enforcers. HudakÆs Tories will drive down living standards, dismantle universal healthcare, education and social programs, eliminate public services and sell‑off public assets. They will starve cities, divide communities, and fill up new super‑jails with the poor, the young, Aboriginal peoples, migrants, women, trade unionists and protestors like those detained at last year's G20.

     Without any doubt, the Tories are the main danger in this election, and pose the greatest threat to working people and to civil, social, labour and democratic rights.

     The best outcome of Ontario's Oct. 6 election would be a minority government with the ballast on the left. Minority government is vulnerable to public pressure to adopt progressive legislation and block reactionary proposals. The NDP could provide some of that ballast, but working people can't depend on the NDP without a strong left shift in its policies, including unqualified support for the right to strike, for significant corporate tax hikes, and repeal of the HST. The same is true of the Green Party.

     The election of Communists and other progressives committed to fight for a People's Agenda aimed to meet people's needs, not feed corporate greed, is the surest way to block the Big Business parties, their right‑wing agendas, and their reactionary corporate sponsors.

     (To read the Ontario Communist election platform, visit www.votecommunist.ca)

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2) B.C. TEACHERS REFUSE "NET ZERO"

By Kimball Cariou

     The school year has started with BC Teachers' Federation members engaged in job actions, including refusal to do certain types of administrative work and supervision. But classes are underway, despite dire warnings of chaos by anti-teacher forces.

     Premier Christy Clark has directed the BC Public School Employers Association to refuse any net increases in the current round of bargaining, This "net zero" strategy means that any improvement must be balanced by giving up existing conditions in other areas of the collective agreement.

     Back in 2002, when Clark was education minister during Gordon Campbell's first term in office, the Liberals stripped from the collective agreement many provisions that would presumably have been on the table to trade under the "net zero" directive.

     Many of these working conditions clauses were achieved as a trade off in bargaining during the 1990s, for lower class sizes, limits on class composition, and staffing formulas for learning specialists like librarians and special education teachers. This put B.C. teachers further behind in salaries, and left no contractual provisions that could be traded.

     A zero increase would widen the huge gap between the salaries of teachers in the prairies and Ontario. An Alberta teacher, for example, already makes about $20,000 a year more than a teacher with equivalent training and experience in B.C. - and has a lower cost of living.

     As BCTF President Susan Lambert points out, "Salaries for B.C. teachers rank eighth in Canada, while the cost of living is among the highest in the country. Teaching requires five years of university training and new teachers on average spend three to five years working as teachers on call at an average annual salary of less than $15,000."

     The current "Phase 1" job action by the teachers is expected to continue during efforts to advance the collective bargaining process. But the inside word is that BCPSEA is blocking attempts to begin negotiations on the substantial issues in this dispute.

     Recent statements by the Premier and Finance Minister Kevin Falcon indicate that the defeat of the Harmonized Sales Tax by B.C. voters will be used as a club to impose further "belt-tightening" on education and health care, and new tax hikes on working people. It appears that teachers will be the first targets of the new regime. In fact, given her history, Premier Clark may well be hoping to use the teachers as a political punching bag to bolster her sagging support in public opinion polls.

     The result could be another sharp confrontation between the government and the teachers, who fought the Liberals to a standstill with their courageous two-week strike back in 2005. The BCTF had strong support from other unions during that dispute; even greater solidarity will be needed this time around.

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3) HEALTH COALITION PUTS THE HEAT ON ONTARIO PARTIES

Special to PV

     Moving to make health care a priority issue in Ontario's election campaign, the Ontario Health Coalition organized a mass rally at Queen's Park on Sept. 13. Buses from across the province brought demonstrators into Toronto, taking the demand for clear commitments to safeguard local health care services directly to the political parties.

     Polls show that health care ranks at the top of the public's agenda. But while every political party will promise to fund and improve health care, "lip‑service is not enough," warns the OHC.

     The Coalition says that Ontarians need clear commitments on key issues. These include: full‑service local hospitals safe from fear of service cuts, closed ERs and rural hospital closures; the right to access comprehensive chronic care whether a patient is in hospital, a nursing home or home care; action to address severe front‑line staffing shortages; improvements and new capacity built in public and non‑profit agencies and institutions.

     Comprehensive health care for Ontario patients and seniors, says the OHC, means chronic, rehabilitative, long term and home care that Ontarians can rely on to be there when we need it. The Coalition has been campaigning for equitable non‑profit and public care; rather than P3s, this means building capacity in public non‑profit hospitals and long term care homes, and restoring public/non‑profit home care.

     Earlier this year, the Health Coalition circulated over 100,000 leaflets which made powerful points about health care and taxes:

     "Since 1990, Ontario has cut corporate taxes and taxes for the wealthiest, faster and deeper than anywhere in Canada. Who benefits? A study by economist Marc Lee looked at what tax cuts have meant for Canadians. Almost all Canadians see no benefit from tax cuts. Only the top 10% of the income scale (individuals earning $120,000‑$266,000 or more per year) have profited from the tax cuts that began in the early 1990s. Ontario now funds our hospitals less than almost anywhere else in Canada. As a result hospital beds are cut, services moved out of local communities, and overcrowding is rampant."

     Ontario Communist leader Elizabeth Rowley, a candidate in the Brampton-Springdale riding, was at the OHC rally to campaign for her Party's health care platform.

     "People in Ontario face a clear choice in this election, with respect to public health care," said Rowley. "One the one hand, we can continue down the path of underfunding, delisting, privatization and profiteering. This is the path that erodes public health care and takes Ontario back to a time when good health was a privilege of the rich. Or, we can take the path that reverses privatization, that strengthens universality of health care, and that expands coverage to include pharmacare, dental and vision care."

     Rowley noted that the Communist Party has championed the cause of public health care since the party's formation in 1921. "In the 1930s Dr. Norman Bethune, a leading member of the Communist Party of Canada, campaigned long and hard for universal, public medicine. The struggle for socialized health care has always been a key part of our Party's history and the history of the working class in Canada. We have no intention of sitting idly by while health corporations and the political parties that serve them undo what millions of people fought to win and protect."

     The Communist platform includes emergency and long‑term action to preserve and expand public health care in Ontario:

* Stop privatization and end Public Private Partnerships;

* Enforce the Canada Health Act, ban private clinics and abolish LHINs;

* Reverse delisting of services and expand health coverage to include dental and eye care, drugs and long‑term care;

* Deliver needs‑based funding for public hospitals and health care, and rescind balanced budget legislation;

* Recognize the credentials of internationally trained physicians and health care workers;

* Make abortion services universally accessible in free standing clinics and all hospitals;

* Act now to improve health, education and living standards of Aboriginal Peoples.

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4) NATIVE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION REJECTS OPPAL'S "INDEPENDENT COUNSEL"

Vancouver, BC, Sept. 6, 2011 - The Native Women's Association of Canada has rejected the decision of Commissioner Oppal to appoint "independent counsel" to represent Aboriginal women at the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.

     NWAC is effectively shut out of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry as a result of the Clark government's decision not to provide funding for organizations granted standing to participate in the Inquiry. In contrast, the two police departments and multiple levels of government who have standing at the Inquiry will each be represented by publicly funded legal counsel.

     President Corbiere Lavell said, "The `independent counsel' arrangement does not give Aboriginal women real representation at the Inquiry. It does not remove the discrimination inherent in our exclusion, but rather adds to it."

     Now Aboriginal women are only be able to provide suggestions to the "independent counsel", but there is no obligation for this lawyer to follow the advice of Aboriginal women. The "independent counsel" is free to develop her own objectives and strategies.

     None of the interactions between the "independent counsel" and Aboriginal women are confidential, as she may be required to disclose all information from these conversations to the Commission or other parties.

     And, if the "independent counsel" says or does something with which Aboriginal women disagree, or fails to do her job in a manner that represents the interests of Aboriginal women, we have no recourse.

     NWAC provides no comment on the personal qualifications or experience of the lawyers appointed by Commissioner Oppal. The concern we are raising is the inability of the "independent counsel" to enter into a solicitor‑client relationship with either individual Aboriginal women or the organizations that represent them. Aboriginal women need to be able to give binding instructions and confidential information to our own legal counsel.

     The "independent counsel" was not chosen by Aboriginal women, NWAC points out, nor is she authorized to speak on their behalf.

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5) SUPPORT SISTERS IN SPIRIT

Resolution adopted by the Central Committee, Communist Party of Canada, August 27-28, 2011

     The Native Women's Association of Canada has made public the issues of violence confronting Aboriginal women and girls through the research findings of the Sisters in Spirit Research Initiative, which showed concrete evidence that Aboriginal women and girls continue to be the highest risk group in Canada relating to violence. These research findings point directly to the impacts of government policies and colonization historically, but also to the state violence perpetrated upon the groups of Aboriginal women, men and their families The violent impacts of colonization plus a controlling Canadian state have brought about the results we have seen from the residential schools, discriminatory laws and the Indian Act, which lead to low education and few employment opportunities. The NWAC contends that "ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls lies with both men and women, with both Aboriginal and non‑Aboriginal communities. It ends with recognition, responsibility and cooperation."

     The Canadian government had promised to begin a ten million dollar programme to help locate the missing Aboriginal women and solve the murder cases of so many, by funding the Sisters In Spirit initiative, encouraging the involvement of the families and friends of the missing and murdered women, and financing intense investigations aimed at ending the death and destruction. This financing would assist in providing services which are not always available to those who need help; it would allow investigation of the complexity of factors related to the missing women and girls; the services would be long‑term, culturally appropriate, supportive and accessible. The Aboriginal women and girls' families need practical guidance and information plus the ability to connect with other families, which gives comfort and support when needed.

     While the financing was announced by Rona Ambrose, Minister for the Status of Women, it was made clear by the state that the vast amount of monies would be handed over to the RCMP to specifically deal with "missing persons". No reference was made to Aboriginal missing persons at all. Further, the federal government has attempted to eradicate the Sisters in Spirit campaign altogether, and there will be no more federal funding to continue research for the Sisters in Spirit initiative. The families and friends of the Aboriginal women and girls disappeared or murdered are devastated that they will not have the financial means or support to complete the investigations so necessary to solving these crimes.

     The impact of lack of funding also extends to provincial levels.  In Vancouver on July 28, 2011, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, President of the Native Women's Association of Canada, called for a National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

     "The Government of British Columbia has shut us out of the BC Missing Women Commission of Inquiry," President Lavell said, "and now we have no confidence that it will be able to produce a fair and balanced report. The decision of the BC government to restrict funding for counsel primarily to police and government agencies demonstrates how flawed and one sided this process has become." It is vital that NWAC's expertise and knowledge be recognized as a key piece of expertise which should be used cooperatively with the federal and provincial governments.

     Communities across Canada are currently organizing for the 6th annual Vigil for the Sisters in Spirit movement to honour the lost sisters and their families and to show a united front. Over eighty cities hosted events in 2010, and NWAC is aiming to substantially increase this number on October 4th, 2011.

     NWAC has asked that all Canadians value and support their Aboriginal communities and join the struggle to bring equality to the social status of Aboriginal women. NWAC asks that all Canadians become effective allies who listen to the stories regarding these women, and take seriously the violence being perpetrated against Aboriginal women and girls daily. Due to historic discrimination by the state, Aboriginal women do not have voice or status to advance in workplaces. There are no employment advocates for Aboriginal women, who are unable to access desperately‑needed unionized jobs.

     The Communist Party of Canada supports Aboriginal women and girls in Canada, and calls upon our members and the working class movement to organize and support the October 4th Sisters in Spirit events and campaigns. We support stronger, united pressure on the federal and provincial governments to directly fund and involve the families, friends and other Aboriginal organizations to end the violence once and for all, and to bring about full equality and human dignity for all indigenous peoples.

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6) TRILLIONS AND COUNTING

People's Voice Editorial

     Amidst all the TV specials and acres of newspaper pages commemorating "the day that changed everything," many terrible questions were rarely asked. Most important: what has been the human, economic, and social cost of the imperialist world's response to the events of September 11, 2001? And what has the world gained from this tragic expenditure of lives and resources?

     Those in power tell us that such costs should not even be considered, since "any price" must be paid to protect our alleged "freedom and security." But Canadians and people in every country need to have the full picture.

     For example, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the U.S. Treasury may ultimately cost $4 trillion (see http://costsofwar.org) - about $12,000 for every citizen of the United States. At least 224,000 to 258,000 people have died directly from warfare in these countries, including 125,000 civilians in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands more have died from the loss of clean drinking water, healthcare, and nutrition, and another 7.8 million have been displaced by these wars.

     Here in Canada, a recent Rideau Institute report says that Canada will spend $34 billion on "national security" this year alone - about $17 billion more than if budgets had remained at pre‑9/11 levels. Military spending has jumped 90 per cent, passing $21 billion this year. Over the decade since 9/11, Canada has spent an extra $92 billion more on "security".

     Has any of this made people safer and more secure? Or should these vast sums have been invested in housing, clean water, better schools, environmental sustainability, and job creation? To ask the question is to answer. The "war on terror" of the past decade has in fact been a terrorist war against the peoples of the world, spreading death, disease, poverty and fear. It threatens all of us, and it must be ended.

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7) DUMP RITZ, NOT THE WHEAT BOARD

People's Voice Editorial

    In the latest example of Tory arrogance, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced on Sept. 12 that he will ignore the will of farmers and legislate the Canadian Wheat Board's single desk marketing system out of existence by August 1, 2012.

     The Minister's edict was issued on the same day that results of a CWB-sponsored plebiscite were revealed. Sixty-two percent of grain farmers backed the CWB single desk system for wheat and durum, which historically has provided higher, more stable prices for most farmers. A smaller number - 51% but still a majority - backed the CWB sales monopoly for barley. The voter response among prairie grain farmers was a strong 56 percent, similar to the turnout for federal elections.

     Speaking for the farmers who elect the CWB Board of Directors, chair Allen Oberg responded that "We will not sit back and watch this government steamroll over farmers. We cannot stand back and watch politics trample business interests. We intend to stand our ground and uphold the farmers' decision."

     Ritz, on the other hand, speaks only for the transnational private grain monopolies and the largest operators, who hope use their size in an "open market" to wipe out smaller farms. So much for the Conservative claim to speak for rural Canadians!

     The Harper Tories cannot be allowed to ram through this odious legislation without a fight. Farmers and rural Canadians are not the only people affected by the Tory attack on the CWB. In the long run this agenda will accelerate the depopulation of rural areas, driving thousands of families into poverty, and strengthening the grip of agribusiness on the food we eat. We urge PV readers to take up this issue everywhere, from union locals and labour councils to community organizations. Urban-rural unity can still save the CWB!

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8) BC VOTERS DUMP HST: TIME FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM

By Kimball Cariou

     In a historic political shake-up, British Columbia voters have defeated the "Harmonised Sales Tax," which was imposed by the Campbell Liberal government without consultation shortly after the 2009 provincial election.

     The final result of a mail-in referendum was a resounding 54.7% "Yes" vote to "extinguish" the HST and revert to the former PST/GST, with just 45.3% voting "No". About 1.6 million ballots were sent in, over 50% of registered B.C. voters.

     The outcome defied a massive pro-HST ad campaign by the corporate "Smart Tax Alliance" and the Liberal government. Poorly disguised as "unbiased", the Liberal campaign used millions of taxpayer dollars to convince voters that the HST would solve British Columbia's economic problems. The STA spent over $10 million to promote the HST, which transfers nearly $2 billion annually from the pockets of consumers to businesses.

     Most media coverage of the opposition campaign focused on the anti-HST coalition headed by ex-Social Credit premier Bill Vander Zalm and NDP commentator Bill Tieleman. The mainstream media has called the result an "anti-tax" vote, giving it a right-wing spin.

     But the referendum totals, broken down by constituency, show that working class voters were far more likely to oppose the HST than those in wealthy areas. The highest anti-HST votes came in working class ridings in east Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey, or in areas such as Vancouver Island or the Kootenays. High-income communities such as the west side of Vancouver and the North Shore saw heavy votes to keep the HST. But many Liberal-held ridings voted to reject the tax.

     While the B.C. Federation of Labour was slow to enter the fray back in 2009 (leery of association with Vander Zalm) the trade union movement did much to mobilize for a "Yes" vote. From this perspective, the popular revolt against the HST was a huge success for the working class and progressive forces.

     One immediate effect was a decision by new Premier Christy Clark to drop plans for an early election call. The B.C. Liberals are now far behind the NDP and even the new provincial Conservative party in the polls. Unfortunately, this means British Columbians are likely stuck with the Liberals until the spring of 2013.

     The referendum result is already being used by the Liberals as a stick to clobber public services and the labour movement. On Sept 8, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon released a "financial update", using inflated figures for the transition back to the combined PST/GST.

     Well known as a hard-right corporate attack dog in the Liberal caucus, Falcon projects that the treasury will suffer a loss of $2.8 billion more over the next three years than the previous estimates. He claims that $2.3 billion of the loss will be due to the return to the PST/GST system.

     As a result, Falcon says, "We're going to be very tough on operating expenditures."

     This, of course, is Liberal-speak for a new round of vicious cuts to health care, public education, and social programs, which have been repeatedly cut since Campbell was elected in 2001.

     But the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives suggests that the Liberals are dramatically exaggerating the fiscal impact of removing the HST. For one thing, Falcon's numbers ignore revenue losses which would have resulted from the Liberal promise to lower the HST by two percent over the next few years.

     The CCPA calculates that "the provincial treasury would have faced a shortfall of $800 million even if the HST had survived the referendum. The real net costs of reverting to PST/GST are $1.5 billion, not $2.3 billion." Even the lower figure, the think tank points out, is highly speculative.

     The CCPA's research shows that the HST is simply one element of a tax system which allows the richest 20 per cent of British Columbians to pay "a lower overall/total effective tax rate than the rest of us." The transition away from a "progressive taxation" system began shortly after Campbell took office, slashing taxes and imposing user fees across the board, with most of the net benefits going to the corporations and the wealthy.

     Meanwhile, working people endure a higher cost of living and higher unemployment rates than the rest of Canada. British Columbia families are also burdened with household debt levels averaging 160 per cent of income ‑ the highest in Canada.

     The fight now shifts to the need for a genuinely progressive tax system, including repeal of Campbell's huge tax breaks for the rich and the corporations. NDP leader Adrian Dix has promised a welcome step in this direction. But only the Communist Party of BC is demanding a return to the pre-Campbell tax rates on upper-income earners and corporate profits.

     Most immediately, the Liberals are now directing their fire against B.C. teachers, who are engaged in limited job actions to press for pay increases to catch up to other provinces. "Can't afford it," is the Liberal mantra, even as they refuse to consider reforms which would "tax the greedy, not the needy."

     With this confrontation underway, and the next provincial budget looming, the battle lines are drawn. The next few months will be critical for the future of British Columbia.

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9) COPE NOMINATIONS: SEPT. 18

"How We See It" commentary

     With Vancouver's civic election coming up in just two months, the Coalition of Progressive Electors will hold its nomination meeting on Sunday, Sept. 18, at John Oliver Secondary School. Registration opens at 1 pm, and the meeting starts at 2 pm.

     As always, there will be a lively contest for the COPE nominations. Under the terms of an electoral cooperation agreement strongly backed by its members last June, COPE will nominate three candidates for City Council, four for School Board, and two for Park Board. Vision Vancouver, the centrist party which holds a majority on Council, has already nominated Mayor Gregor Robertson and seven candidates for council, five for School Board, and five for Park Board.

     In our view, the crucial struggle in Vancouver civic politics this fall is to defeat the forces backed by the Harper Tories and the provincial Liberals who want to take over City Hall, as Rob Ford and his group did in Toronto. A victory for the right-wing NPA in these circumstances would open the door to a similar vicious assault against public services at the municipal level, and in particular against the unions which represent municipal workers. The progressive response to this threat must be to strengthen the unity of centre and left forces at the civic level, in order to win the re‑election of Vision‑COPE majorities at City Council, School Board and Park Board. This is the position of the labour movement, including the Vancouver and District Labour Council.

     With this in mind, we urge COPE members to support the nomination of candidates who are strongly committed to the COPE‑Vision electoral cooperation agreement, and to building COPE as the progressive political arm of working people in Vancouver.

     For City Council, these candidates include incumbents David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth, and Rafael Aquino, a young activist from the city's Filipino community who has been involved in COPE for several years (visit his website at rjaquino.ca for more information).

     At the School Board level, incumbents Allen Blakey, Jane Bouey and Alan Wong have worked closely with Vision trustees to build a strong fightback against the B.C. Liberal attacks on public education. They deserve full support, along with Gwen Giesbrecht, a former chair of the city's District Parent Advisory Council and an outspoken campaigner for better schools.

     There are three candidates seeking COPE's two Park Board spots, and all have excellent credentials as defenders of working people and the environment. They include West End tenant leader Brent Granby, playwright/cultural worker Marcus Youssef, and CUPE activist Donalda Greenwell‑Baker. Each has worked hard to build COPE for many years. COPE members will have to use their best individual judgement to pick two of these candidates at the nomination meeting.

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10) MANITOBA COMMUNISTS CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE'S AGENDA

By Darrell Rankin, leader of the Communist Party of Canada ‑ Manitoba)

     The Communist Party is pushing for a People's Agenda in Manitoba's October 4 election, a platform that represents real change from the record of past provincial governments, including the NDP.

     The Communist Party is warning that the election of a Conservative majority would mean even more reactionary measures for working people and the needy, such as ignoring Aboriginal views on development and privatizing Manitoba Hydro and auto insurance.

     The NDP government has turned off supporters by cutting public service wages and corporate taxes, by ending a tuition freeze, by supporting the war in Afghanistan ‑ most importantly ‑ by failing to halt growing poverty and the decline in better‑paying jobs.

     If the NDP vote drops because of this anti‑working class record, the Conservatives will form the next government. Comments at Winnipeg Labour Council meetings show there is a large lack of enthusiasm for the NDP campaign.

     Real change is needed now to fix huge, festering social problems such as housing and growing poverty. Winnipeg's food banks now feed 29,500 children a month (up from 5,500 in 1997), so the Communist Party is calling for universal, free hot breakfasts and lunches in all Manitoba schools.

     We are urging a massive program to build quality, public housing that would create good‑paying jobs, 4,000 homes per year, and erase the failures of the private housing market.

     The Communist Party's People's Agenda is a broad platform that deals with the real issues, such as jobs, education, creating a just society and saving the environment. The platform calls for raising social assistance rates above the poverty line, and the creation of thousands more good‑paying jobs with a 32 hour work week with no loss in pay.

     Manitoba has not yet recovered from the loss of 12,000 manufacturing jobs in 2008, a rate higher than in Ontario. As a result youth unemployment is a real crisis. For many years, Manitoba has had the highest drop‑out rates in Canada, showing education must be a higher priority.

     The Communist Party's stance on Aboriginal peoples is a prominent part of our campaign, and most candidates are Aboriginal. Injustice towards Aboriginal peoples is a key reason why Manitoba is a low‑wage province. Racism, sexism and other discriminations are all dangerous, divisive weapons of capitalism against workers.

     Most importantly, the Communist Party's political message in the campaign connects the need for socialism with capitalism's global crisis. The capitalist class that built the railways and colonized Western Canada has no thought today other than to bail out the billionaires and spend billions more on the military.

     The People's Agenda is a beginning sketch of a future socialist society. It is the best beginning.

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11) CONDITIONS IMPROVING FOR UNITED MASS ACTION

Special to PV

     Meeting on August 27-28 for the first time since last May's federal election, the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of Canada called for "united mass action at the Canada-wide level directed against the main political instrument of the capitalist offensive, the Harper majority government."

     Looking at the international scene, a wide-ranging report adopted by the CC stresses that the systemic capitalist crisis which broke out in 2007 continues to erode the living standards of working people everywhere.

     As the report notes, "the worsening global economy has ignited a fierce debate within bourgeois circles". Various policies - interest rate changes, currency devaluation, stimulus spending - have been tried without success. A progressive option would need a radical redistribution of wealth from the banks, corporations and the super-rich, to increase wages and benefits and to expand public services and programs. But the ruling class refuses to contemplate any "reform" which involves higher taxes on profits and wealth, preferring instead to intensify exploitation, inflate the "debt bubble" and accelerate militarism and war.

     At other meetings over the past several years, the CPC leadership has welcomed the growing popular movements in Latin America as a sign of resurgent socialist ideas. This meeting examined a new phenomenon: the wave of mass democratic and anti-dictatorial struggles across North Africa and the Middle East. While these struggles are not directly anti-imperialist as in Latin America, they are rooted in socio-economic grievances such as high unemployment, record food prices, and grinding poverty.

     The most significant of these struggles, says the report, has been the revolutionary upsurge which swept away the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia, and then Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.

     On the other hand, events in countries such as Libya and Syria have been more complex, as imperialism seeks to take advantage of internal disputes to maintain its domination of the region. The CC report sharply condemns the NATO war against Libya, and Canada's "disgraceful participation" in this action to impose a US-friendly client state.

     Addressing the situation in Cuba, the CC report notes that recent changes in that country do constitute a tactical economic retreat, but also that these reforms are intended to increase efficiency and stimulate growth. "We are confident that the Cuban Communist Party and the Cuban state will do everything possible to mitigate the negative impact of these changes, and to safeguard Cuba's socialist character now and into the future," the report says, calling for further study of these developments.

     This global situation is the context for post-election moves by the Harper Tories, including aggressive attacks on the right to strike and bargain collectively; the impending "austerity" social cuts; the push to deprive the Canadian Wheat Board of its single-desk selling authority; the racist "crime bill" which criminalizes Aboriginal youth; and the announcement of a foreign policy review to entrench the militarist policies adopted in recent years.

     This dangerous situation, warns the Communist leadership, requires a wider fightback and a comprehensive set of progressive demands and alternatives to unite the labour and democratic movements. The CC report is critical of arguments that "nothing has really changed" under a Conservative majority, or that Canadians can "ride out" the Tory assault.

     But as the report states, there are two opposing tendencies within the labour movement. One is a top-down strategy imposed by the class collaborationist Georgetti leadership of the Canadian Labour Congress, which focuses on preparing the conditions for an NDP election victory in 2015.

     However, reports from around the country indicate that the demand for stronger resistance is gaining momentum at the local and provincial levels. In Ontario, for example, the OFL leadership is taking the lead to bring together a "common front" of labour and community groups, and a powerful battle is brewing against the cutbacks being pushed by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his far-right group on city council. The labour movement in British Columbia has played a key role in the successful campaign to increase Canada's lowest minimum wage, and the referendum defeat of the hated HST. Quebec unions are moving to build a broader movement against the reactionary Charest Liberals, and similar struggles are emerging in other provinces.

     These developments, estimates the CC, improve the possibilities to map out a united and comprehensive fightback plan, with a focus on opposing Harper's budget cuts and defending public services. Communists in the labour and people's movements will play an important role in building pressure on the CLC leadership to move in this direction. As several provincial elections begin this fall, Communists will be on the ballot in Ontario and Manitoba to demand people's alternatives to the right-wing agenda.

     The CC meeting also looked at progress in party-building efforts across the country, such as big changes to the CPC's website which have been met with many compliments. Other improvements have been made in the party's ideological and educational work, and in the functioning of important commissions and other bodies.

     The federal election interrupted plans for celebrating the Party's 90th anniversary this year, but these activities will resume in the fall, including a speaking tour by CPC leader Miguel Figueroa. The CC agreed that the deepening economic crisis opens up new opportunities to win members, calling for increased public visibility but also greater efforts to maintain political and organizational unity.

     At the same time, the CC noted the rising anti-communist offensive by the ruling class, aimed at dividing working people at this critical time. One example was provided by Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, whose vicious red-baiting was met with sharp condemnation by the CPC and other democratic forces.

     Several special resolutions were also adopted by the CC meeting, including a call for increased anti-war actions on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the imperialist occupation of Afghanistan, a statement of solidarity with the "Sisters in Spirit" actions by Aboriginal women's groups, and a demand for public ownership of the steel industry.

     One important resolution expresses the CC's view on the difficult situation within the Communist Party USA. The resolution, "Lessons from our History", outlines the struggle two decades ago to block an attempt by the Communist Party of Canada leadership of that time to liquidate the party. This episode, says the resolution, serves as a warning of similar ideological and political debates in today's international communist movement. Voicing agreement with criticisms raised by fraternal communist parties such as the KKE (Greece) and Mexico, the CC resolution warns that the political line of the present CPUSA leadership will objectively lead to its liquidation as a revolutionary working class party. The resolution pledges the CPC's commitment to its fundamental Marxist-Leninist principles, as contained in "The Road to Socialism" and the decisions of party conventions.

     The full documents of the CC meeting are available on the Party's website, www.communist-party.ca or www.parti-communiste.ca.

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12) VISION OF THE "NEW LIBYA": VISIT THE "NEW IRAQ"

By Felicity Arbuthnot, Global Research, September 3, 2011

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. (Oscar Wilde, 1854‑1900)

     As Eid, the great post Ramadan celebration of that month of abstinence, self sacrifice and reflection, dawned on Libya, marked there this year on August 31, the NATO "liberated" country, after seven months, looks a lot like "liberated" Iraq after eight years.

     Queues of cars now wait for petrol in another oil rich country; other queues form, carrying containers for water. The multibillion dollar development of Libya's vast underground aquifers had been dubbed the "eighth wonder of the world." Libya`s water supply infrastructure has been systematically bombed through the country. Shops are without food.

     The all is: "absolute disaster", according to an eminent legal observer, very familiar with the country.

     And with electricity largely off, those seeking knowledge as to whether friends and relatives are alive, injured, fled, dead, find internet, and phones dead.

     As the terribly injured overwhelm hospitals, many are bombed, damaged or without power and pharmaceuticals. No power: no incubators, life support machines or surgery.

     Another country with a modern, developed infrastructure reduced to a pre‑industrial age - with the rebuilding contracts reportedly already being divvied out in the West.

     NATO Members, however, eat, as their bombs destroy humanity and vital necessities for the living. Over a "working lunch", on the 14th of April, they "deplored violence" and underlined the "need ... to restore water, gas, electricity and other services."

     Still depriving others of the means to cook, or of any semblance of normality, at another "working lunch" (June 8, 2011) they further discussed their: "clear mandate to protect civilians (and) populated areas ...taking the utmost care to avoid civilian casualties." This as: "Tripoli experienced what were perhaps the heaviest daylight bombardments by NATO since the air strikes began in March." (Guardian, June 8, 2011)

     As they masticated and munched, they vowed to bring "a speedy resolution ... to put an end to the violence", under "Operation Unified Protector." They are delusional and arguably psychotic.

     Just twenty four hours later, on the 9th of June, the decade long destruction of Afghanistan eclipsed Libya. NATO Defence Ministers met to declare it: "NATO's top operational priority." General David Petraeus, returned from the ruins and about to be confirmed as CIA Head: "explained ... progress."

     A number of lunches later, on August 23, NATO spokeswoman, Oana Lungesco, re‑affirmed their "mandate to protect civilians."

     How this squares with hitting: "over five thousand [official figures] legitimate targets [in a] 24/7 operation [with] over twenty thousand sorties", is confusing.

     The actual number of strikes has not been reported. Its in the tens of thousands.

     Equally so is how destruction of services essential to maintaining life, State institutions, schools, hospitals, archeological sites and treasures, attacking of all which is illegal under swathes of international law, are included in this "legitimacy."

     By September 1, NATO operations from March 31 had reached: "a total of 21,090, including 7,920 strike sorties."

     In context, this latest "shock and awe" brigandage is being rained down by a 28-country alliance, on a country of 7 million. The population of Tripoli is over 1 million (or was, until unknown numbers of souls were liberated from their lives in a bombardment which started with the unleashing of 110 Cruise missiles, on March 20, eight years to the day of the start of the Iraq invasion.)

     Coincidentally, the considerably Western backed and funded "uprising" in Benghazi, which preceded the bombing, began on February 15, the eighth anniversary of millions, in the largest global peace rally in history, from Manchester to Melbourne, Hong Kong to Honolulu, rallying against an attack on Iraq.

     The invaders though, have "learned from past mistakes." The "New Libya" will not be like the "New Iraq." It is surely beginning to look chillingly like it. A legitimate head of State again has a million dollar bounty on his head and is "wanted dead or alive." Since "boots are on the ground" only unofficially, the pack of playing cards with the "most wanted" on, has not yet been printed. But times are hard, and in 2003, the United States Playing Card Company, commissioned by the US Defence Intelligence Agency, received orders for 750,000 of the packs within a week.

     Further, if the US and UK were blindly ignorant of Iraq's social and tribal complexities, those of Libya are more so in orders of magnitude.

     Just prior to the Iraq invasion, General Colin Powell was quoted as telling George W. Bush, that after the onslaught: "You will own twenty seven million people, Mr, President."

     At the "Friends of Libya" gathering in Paris on September 1, hosted by Prime Minister Cameron and President Nicolas Sarkozy, a gloating, unnamed British official is quoted in The Economist as saying that: "NATO's involvement in the Libyan uprising means that now we own it."

     (For the omen‑prone, watching Western threats to an ever rising number of countries, Syria and Iran currently topping the list, September 1 marks the 62nd anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, and the Second World War.)

     Sarkozy - recipient, claims Qaddafi's son, Saif al‑Islam, of his family's funding for his 2007 French Presidential election campaign ‑ is widely reported to have been promised one third of Libya's oil by the insurgents, the "National Transitional Council", prior to NATO involvement. With "Friends" like these, Libya certainly needs no enemies.

     "The international community will be watching and supporting" Libya, said Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, adding requirements to the new Libyan constitution. There is a "clear road map to democracy." Afghan and Iraqi puppets, now joined by Libyan ones.

     When it comes to the rebuilding of Libya, "investors can't call the tune", was one theme, it must be "Libyan led."

     UK Foreign Secretary William Hague blew that lie. Britain, he said: "would not be left behind." Much focus was on rebuilding the oil industry. Heaven forbid that too, follows the Iraq model, with the bereaved, dispossessed and invaded blowing up the pipelines - and contractors.

     It also transpires that the UK's surely mis‑titled "International Development Minister", former oil trader, Alan Duncan, allegedly, had a hand in, and connections to Swiss based energy giant Vitol, which established links with the NTC rebels, whilst starving Qaddafi's troops of transportation fuels.

     Vitol President, Ian Taylor, has allegedly donated very large sums to Cameron's Tory Party. Opposition MPs are citing a possible covert "Libyan Oil Cell", an allegedly billion dollar deal, questioning whether Duncan's fingerprints are on it.

     As to the Conference, there was one dissenting voice. Bertrand Badie, an expert on international relations, told Xinhua: "I think this conference is a very bad sign, because [it consists in] starting a process of state building by an international conference dominated by western powers ... "

     But even he did not mention mind‑bending illegalities.

     The half day carve up (sorry, "Meeting") regarding assets of another sovereign land, was followed by "a dinner", according to a US State Department spokeswoman.

     Incidentally, the Paris Cabal took place on the 42nd anniversary of the Free Officers Movement bringing Qaddafi to power on September 1, 1969.

     "You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists", said George W. Bush on November 1, 2002. Ten years is certainly a long time in politics. There are many who would say they are now funded by the same US and protected by the might of NATO.

     Activist Sandra Barr has compiled just a small snapshot of a vast tragedy. A few incidents amongst uncounted others, "collateral" humanity, to add to a pitiless twenty year rampage through mortality, legality, basic values and all the normal hold precious:

"13 May 2011: The murder of 11 Muslim Imams in Brega.

30 April 2011: The bombing of the Downs Syndrome School in Tripoli.

30 April 2011: The bombing of a Gaddafi residence, murdering Saif Gaddafi, his friend and 3 Gaddafi children.

12 June 2011: The bombing of the University of Tripoli. Death toll not yet established.

22 July 2011: The bombing of the Great Man-made Waterway irrigation system, which supplies most Libyans with their drinking water.

23 July 2011: The bombing of the factory which makes the pipes for the water system, and the murder of six of its employees.

8th August 2011: The bombing of the Hospital at Zliten. Resulting in the murder of a minimum, of 50 human beings, many of them children. The bombing of hospitals is against all international laws, and a most grievous crime.

9 August 2011: The bombing of the village of Majer, resulting in the murder of 85 civilians. 33 children, 32 women and 20 men.

     The persistent ongoing bombing of the civilian population in Zliten and Tripoli, death toll not yet established.

     David Cameron has admitted that UK special services have assisted the terrorists on the ground, in defiance of the UN mandate. Today, Cameron has gone further, admitting that British forces played a "key role."

     Ms Barr demands that the ICC take a stance. Sadly, it would amaze if they did.

     On May 1, Muammar Qaddafi's youngest son, Saif al‑Arab, and three grandchildren were reported killed in an allied air strike on Tripoli. Another nauseating anniversary: George W. Bush, declaring: "Mission Accomplished" ‑ the destruction of Iraq.

     One can only fervently pray that we do not hear another sickening, "Viceroy" Paul Bremer wannabe, declaring: "Ladies and gentlemen, we got 'im." With accompanying kangaroo court and lynchings.

     The "New Libya", it seems, with its formerly free, high quality health care, is in serious trouble.

     This full page advertisement by Medicins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) appeared in the Mail and Guardian (South Africa (Sept. 1, 2011):

     "Tripoli, Libya: Months of conflict have put extreme strain on the Libyan health system. `We desperately need more staff' - Jonathan Whittal, MSF Emergency Coordinator Tripoli, August 23.

     MSF URGENTLY NEEDS: Trauma surgeons, Orthopaedic Surgeons, ER Doctors, OT Nurses, Obstetricians and Midwives. Available for short term contracts (3‑4 weeks) ‑ able to leave IMMEDIATELY.

     MSF has been working in eastern Libya since February."

     Another "Liberation", another unimaginable, international, criminal tragedy.

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13) SLOVAK GOVERNMENT ON ANTI-COMMUNIST RAMPAGE

By Emile Schepers, People's World

     The government of the Slovak Republic, a coalition of four right‑wing parties (led by Prime Minister Iveta Radicova of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union‑Democratic Party) has approved draconian legislation that could end up sending members of the country's Communist Party and other leftists to prison for up to three years because of their beliefs and speech.

     The law would criminalize any promotion of, or professions of sympathy for, communism, as well as denial of the crimes of the previous socialist governments of the former Czechoslovakia. It seeks to equate support for communism with support for Nazism. It is scheduled to go into force Sept. 1, though constitutional challenges are being mounted and protests are planned. Besides the Communist Party of Slovakia, other democratic currents in the country are denouncing the law.

     This is not the first attempt by the Slovak right to legitimize fascism by attacking communists. A 2006 law makes opponents of the former communist‑led government eligible for special government financial aid and includes anti‑communist actions going back to Oct. 6, 1944.

     Alexander Rehak, Emeritus Professor at the University of Bratislava, explains why this is troubling. After the Munich agreement of 1938, Hitler invaded Bohemia and Moravia (the "Czech" part of Czechoslovakia) directly and set up a puppet state. The Nazis also fomented the breaking away of Slovakia, which came under the rule of a clerical fascist, Monsignor Jozef Tiso, who became a key ally for Hitler, and participated in the Holocaust by facilitating the deportation of Slovak Jews.

     In 1944, communists, Slovak military personnel and others organized the Slovak National Uprising against the German occupation and the collaborationist government of Tiso. On October 6 of that year, Czechoslovak and Soviet troops attempted to force the Dukla pass in the Carpathian Mountains, so as to move from Poland into Slovakia to link up with the Slovak National Uprising and defeat the Nazis and their Slovak collaborators. Unfortunately, the effort failed, and the uprising was crushed with many deaths.

     Because of this, opponents of the 2006 law complain that people who were basically on the pro‑Nazi side toward the end of the Second World War, even perhaps Tiso (who was hanged after the war), could end up being exonerated and even given material rewards.

     The new anti‑communist law in the Slovak Republic is one of several such attempts in former socialist bloc countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, where right‑wing politicians hold power. In each country, the left attributes the eagerness to attack the communists to a need to distract attention from the current rulers' own failed policies. The Slovak Republic is a good example of this: the right‑wing government is implementing a particularly fierce program of austerity.

     The World Federation of Democratic Youth issued a statement on the Slovak anti‑communist law, which summed this up: "Aware that the current system is unable to provide the people of Slovakia the `well‑being, justice and democracy' that was promised during the early nineties, the dominant classes need to chase and eliminate all forces that, in an organized way, can fight against the destruction of social, political and democratic rights that the capitalist restoration has meant... On this occasion, we express our solidarity with all democratic formations in Slovakia, particularly with our comrades of the SZM [Slovak Socialist Youth League]."

     Progressive people everywhere are asked to raise their voices in protest against this anti‑democratic measure.

     (NOTE: The Slovak experience is similar to the situation in Poland, where an amendment to Article 256 of the Penal Code banned "totalitarian symbolism," a phrase covering communist symbols and even Che t-shirts. On July 18, 2011, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal struck down this amendment, ruling that it violates the principles of freedom of expression and of acquiring and disseminating information.)

 

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14) REMEMBERING A HERO

By Gurpreet Singh

     Even though terrorism entered the sensibilities of North Americans after 9/11, over 300 leftists lost their lives fighting against this menace in India almost three decades ago. Among them was Comrade Darshan Singh Canadian, a towering communist leader of Punjab state who had spent 10 years in Canada.

     Born as Darshan Singh Sangha, he came to be known as Canadian even after he returned to India in 1947 and lived there until his assassination by religious extremists on September 25, 1986. Canadian, whose 25th martyrdom day falls this month, had challenged the ideology of the Sikh separatists who were seeking a "Khalistan" theocratic homeland in Punjab, close to the Indo-Pak border.

     The insurgency launched by the Sikh militants was being sponsored by the Pakistani spy agency, ISI, which had the patronage of the CIA. Clearly, it was a proxy war against India from across the border, where training camps were organized to turn the Sikh militants into seasoned killers. The US and other Pakistani allies had turned a blind eye to this open subversion.

     Ironically, both Pakistan and the US are now engaged in war with Islamic militants who were also trained on Pakistani soil. While the US establishment acted against terrorism only after the September 11 attack on New York, 300 communists were systematically killed during a decade-long pro-Khalistan movement for opposing religious sectarianism and terrorism.

     Darshan Singh Canadian came to Canada like any other ordinary immigrant for a prosperous life. However, he left shortly after India gained independence from the British rulers in 1947. During his years in Canada, he not only helped fellow Indians in getting a right to vote in BC, but also supported the freedom struggle. After all, his native village in Punjab was a breeding ground of revolutionaries. He also played a significant role in finding recruits from among the Indo-Canadian community for the labour movement. While in Canada, he joined the Young Communist League and the Communist Party. Upon his return to his home country, he joined the Communist Party of India and gradually got elected to the Punjab legislative assembly.

     Darshan's old associates in Canada remember him as a witty and simple hearted human being. Even as an elected official he was very accessible and often raised issues of the common people in the house. But he was also a vocal critic of terrorism, risking his life by travelling across Punjab during the height of bloody militancy and speaking without fear. Some liberal Sikhs feel that his interpretation of the Sikh philosophy was more genuine, whereas the fundamentalist brand of Sikhism had distorted the image of one of the most secular and broadminded religions.

     Canadian also wrote many thought provoking articles that challenged religious fanaticism. He was equally critical of the ultra-leftists and pulled no punches while criticizing them in his essays. He clearly saw imperialistic designs behind the extremist forces that were getting support both from Pakistan and the US.

     If he wished, he could have stayed in Canada to enjoy a much more comfortable life style. Instead he chose to return to a developing nation to serve the poor and downtrodden. He died as a true secular fighter, without compromising his ideals. In a nutshell, he fought a real war against terror by facing an enemy which had international support from the same forces which now wage a full scale "war on terror" only to further their business interests.

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15) TEN YEARS OF IMPERIALIST OCCUPATION AND WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

Resolution adopted by the Central Committee, Communist Party of Canada, Aug. 27‑28, 2011

     October 7, 2011, will mark the tenth anniversary of the U.S and British missile attacks which launched the imperialist occupation of Afghanistan. The Chretien Liberal government of Canada quickly joined this racist war of aggression, which continues with no end in sight. In fact, the war in Afghanistan has been a key part of the broader imperialist strategy, aimed at military‑political domination of the region and control of its vast resources.

     The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Canada, meeting in Toronto as the war began, unequivocally condemned the US/UK aggression. A statement by the CPC on that day said, "While claiming that they are targeting Taliban military forces and those accused of masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks, the imperialist powers are bringing new deaths and suffering to the people of Afghanistan, for whom we express our sorrow and solidarity at this difficult moment." Our party warned that the U.S., which has engaged in frequent military aggressions against other countries, had no moral or legal right to launch its war of revenge against the Afghan people.

     The views of our Party have been confirmed repeatedly by the events of the past decade. We called for an immediate halt to military aggression in favour of a meaningful search for political and peaceful solutions involving all forces in Afghanistan ‑ a demand which today is widely backed by international and Afghan public opinion. We rejected the hypocritical claims that the western military actions were "humanitarian" in nature, as proven by the subsequent deaths of many thousands of Afghan civilians at the hands of the occupation forces. We pointed out that the Taliban and Osama bin Laden were largely the creations of massive CIA intervention in Afghanistan during the 1980s, and that their rivals for power were equally pro‑imperialist and reactionary, a view which was confirmed by the corrupt, brutal record of the Karzai warlord regime in Kabul.

     Despite an unrelenting militarist propaganda campaign, a solid majority of Canadians have consistently agreed that Canada's military forces should be withdrawn from Afghanistan. This majority opinion has been ignored, first by the Liberal government which launched the Kandahar military mission, and then by the Harper Tories. Even after 2006, when the three opposition parties in Parliament all expressed support for an early return of the troops, partisan bickering blocked any serious attempt to compel the Harper government to bring a quick end to Kandahar mission.

     That deadly mission has now officially ended, only to be replaced by deployment of 1000‑plus Canadian troops for so‑called "training" of Afghan military and police forces. But the 2014 date for this extension remains open‑ended and vague, and Canadian troops will be stationed across the country, not just in Kabul as originally promised. Clearly, Canada remains one of the military powers actively engaged in a combat role in Afghanistan.

     The costs of this imperialist blunder have been enormous, from the huge numbers of deaths among the Afghan people themselves, to the 157 deaths of Canadians. Well over $2 billion has been wasted by the Canadian military, and there have been increasing political pressures to silence dissent against the war. Canadian forces have been involved in the abuse of prisoners, and the Harper Tories have done their best to block public scrutiny of such scandals. Despite media reports of new hospitals, clinics and schools supposedly built in Afghanistan with the assistance of the Canadian military, there is little to show on the ground in terms of real infrastructure. Claims that millions of Afghan girls receive an education thanks to the occupation have been based on wildly-inflated figures.

     Just a significantly, the war in Afghanistan has been used to craft a wider international role for NATO. Canada's participation in Afghanistan and Haiti has been escalated into an openly expansionist foreign policy doctrine, aimed at bringing this country into new wars such as the current illegal NATO intervention in Libya. This militarist policy, including massive purchases of new fighter‑bombers and a hugely expanded navy, will cost Canadian taxpayers an estimated $500 billion over the next two decades.

     The tenth anniversary of the October 2001 aggression is a time to renew calls from all anti‑war and democratic forces in Canada to end our country's disastrous military role in Afghanistan. We demand: Bring all the troops home now! Support peaceful and political solutions to the crisis in Afghanistan! No more imperialist wars! Slash military spending by 75% ‑ fund civilian needs, not military profiteers! Canada out of NATO ‑ close Canadian military bases overseas!

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16) NEGOTIATE A JUST SETTLEMENT WITH LOCKED OUT STEELWORKERS

Statement adopted by the Central Committee, Communist Party of Canada, Aug. 27-28, 2011

     Steelworkers in Hamilton have now been locked out by US Steel for more than 10 months, with no end in sight, no negotiations, and now threats by the company that they will crater their Hamilton operations.

     Since negotiations began last year, US Steel has insisted the union accept the de‑indexing of retirees' pensions, the introduction of defined contribution pensions for new hires, and a two‑tier wage system. In other words, the company is demanding the 900 working union members sell out their 9,000 retired members, and all future workers - that is, the city's youth who depend on the steel industry for their livelihoods.

     To their credit the locked out Local 1005 members have stood firm through more than 300 days on the picket lines, as well as through company provocations and bad faith bargaining, including:

* closing two blast furnaces in Hamilton, while opening two new furnaces in the US

* price fixing

* taking coke out of Hamilton to working mills in the US, while lying that the coke was for Canada's Lake Erie works

* ignoring City of Hamilton directives to fix the sewer system

* refusing to bargain a collective agreement for 10 months

* attacking the union's bargaining committee

* threatening to close the Hilton Works, which would leave thousands without jobs or income

     US Steel, another predator transnational corporation, signed an agreement with Investment Canada when it bought the Hilton Works promising to maintain production, employment, and investment (including pension investments) at the same levels for at least three years, as a condition of purchase.

     US Steel has breached this agreement time and again, and has been taken to court by the Canadian government after massive public pressure finally forced the Harper government's hand. It was during these court proceedings that documents proving US Steel's price‑fixing came to light.

     One of the first acts of the Harper government after the federal election was to end the lock‑out at the post office with back to work legislation, and to threaten similar legislation against striking workers negotiating with Air Canada. It's on the public record that this Tory majority can act quickly and decisively when it comes to protecting corporations and attacking workers.

     We demand that the federal government use its authority to uphold Canada's interests, and the rights of unionized workers at US Steel in Hamilton, by directing US Steel to immediately commence negotiations for a collective agreement with Local 1005 USW; and further to take over US Steel's Canadian operations immediately if it fails to negotiate in good faith, and to resume operations at full capacity with the same size workforce, investment, productive capacity and production levels as existed when US Steel took over the steel mills four years ago. This means rebuilding the two blast furnaces shut down last winter, maintaining the coke ovens, and restoring basic steel‑making in Hamilton.

     We stand 100% with Local 1005, its locked out members and retirees, and with the people of Hamilton who have stood up to US Steel's bullying, lying and economic terrorism with courage and tenacity. We call on the labour and democratic movements to close ranks in support of Local 1005, and to increase the pressure on the federal government and on US Steel to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a just settlement now.

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17) MALEMA HEARING CONTINUES IN SOUTH AFRICA

PV Vancouver Bureau

     Disciplinary hearings conducted by the African National Congress against a controversial ANC Youth League leader resumed nearly two weeks after violent protests by supporters of Julius Malema.

     Malema is accused of violating ANC policies by calling for South African intervention to overthrown the government of neighbouring Botswana. While the ANCYL leader is seen by some as a militant advocate for nationalization of South Africa's mining sector, he is also a wealthy man who is closely connected to the country's business community.

     The August 30 protests outside Luthuli House, the ANC's Johannesburg headquarters, included the burning of the ANC flag, T-shirts bearing President Jacob Zuma's face, and posters of South African Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande. Demonstrators hurled bricks at police and journalists, and smashed nearby shop windows. Police fired back with rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas.

     In a statement on these events, the South African Communist Party noted that it has tried to avoid comment on internal ANC processes. But the party was compelled to respond, considering the "well orchestrated desperate campaign in the media to link the SACP leaders" to the disciplinary processes against Malema and other ANCYL executive members.

     "This lie is extremely unfortunate and indicative of apartheid era operatives tactics that sought to always portray the ANC leadership as being controlled by the communists," said the SACP. "This is the work of those who have caved in politically and are prepared to perfidy the SACP and its leadership at all cost."

     The burning of Nzimande posters, the statement said, "feeds into this anti‑communist agenda. This is an extreme form of provocation that can only be spearheaded by reactionary and counter‑revolutionary forces who have no space in our movement."

     To those who seek to splinter South Africa's governing alliance, the SACP replied, "The ANC-led alliance remains committed to the fight against poverty, inequality, unemployment, exploitation and corruption. For these the SACP will participate and mobilise our people in a principled fashion. Communists have remained principled in the unity of the alliance and the progressive forces including for progressive internationalism."

     The statement also criticised supporters of Malema who use the Polokwane struggle to justify their conduct, referring to a pivotal 2007 conference which elected Zuma and shifted the ANC's strategy to the left: "The run up to Polokwane was characterised by a principled fight and mobilisation against the abuse of state institutions to settle political scores."

     The SACP urged "calm and total respect of the ANC process," and warned that "We should not confuse militancy for anarchy or disorder for democracy. We hope the ANC will act decisively to quell this and restore the authority of the organisation as opposed to individual and personality cult."

     The South African Young Communist League has taken a similar position, rejecting attempts to impose policies through violence. In an August 17 statement, the YCL condemned any "media trial" as a violation of Malema's legal rights. But the same statement urged full investigation of a detailed list of corruption allegations facing the Youth League leader, warning against "those who speak popular language to hoodwink the masses of our people for the benefit of the few."

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