06) SUPPORT MARCH 1 RALLIES

 

People's Voice Editorial

 

            The federal Conservatives increasingly use their entire toolbox in the drive to eliminate any effective opposition. With depressing regularity, Harper & Co. keep debate in Parliament to a minimum, wrap up huge piles of reactionary legislation into "omnibus" bills, and send spies and goons to intimidate citizens. Scientists are ordered to shut up, libraries are burned, veterans get flipped the bird, court rulings are ignored, senators are dumped from caucus... the list of arbitrary, arrogant actions of this government seems endless.

 

            The latest example is Bill C-23, the hilariously mis-named "Fair Elections Act." Pundits and opposition MPs have found dozens of clangers in this dangerous legislation, which escalates the Tory strategy to rig the next election to a whole new level. Frighteningly, the strategy just might work - not least by sending the discouraging signal that no amount of public anger will deter the Harper neo-cons from making Canada a more profitable place for transnational corporations.

 

            We can't let them get away with this deliberate voter suppression tactic, but neither can we afford to wait until an election some time in 2015. March 1 offers the next good chance to build the fightback in the streets across Canada. In cities and towns across the country, grassroots organizers are planning "Omnibus Dump Harper" actions, bringing together a wide range of issues: defense of the environment, solidarity with Indigenous struggles, labour and migrant rights, the attack on Canada Post, unchecked militarism, electoral democracy, and much more. Check out your local event and start inviting friends and allies. Unity can defeat the Tory agenda - the time to build it is today!

 

(The above article is from the February 15-28, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist 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.)