02) GETTING NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR WORKING

By Sean Burton, Communist Party candidate in St. John’s East

            With the Communist Party of Canada running in St. John's East in the current federal election, it is important to discuss just what the Party's platform would mean for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

            The heart of the platform has been succinctly described as "create jobs and raise wages". Such a statement is highly relevant across the country. Canadian workers have been ravaged by years of layoffs, closures, and cuts to social programs.

            Newfoundland and Labrador is no stranger to the boom and bust cycle of capitalism. This province has seen some recent growth as a result of the oil industry, but that growth has only truly benefited the oil corporations and their representatives in St. John’s. Furthermore, as oil prices fluctuate on the market those corporations have no hesitation to eliminate jobs to enhance their profit margins. And though the oil sector employs nearly ten-thousand people, that number pales in comparison to the numbers once employed in our fisheries, an industry ruthlessly exploited by corporations leading to the near total destruction of several Atlantic cod stocks. Miners in Labrador West have the constant worry that iron ore mines will cut production or close altogether. Meanwhile it is still difficult to find good, steady work in the rest of the province and our infrastructure is deplorable or limited in many locations.

            The Communist Party proposes an alternative to the austerity that many people are resigned to face. An immediate plan for development has as its core substantial expansion and development of infrastructure, industry, and public services.

            Road and rail are critical infrastructure concerns for Newfoundland and Labrador. We propose that the island portion of the Trans Canada Highway be four lanes across its entire length, that significant improvements be made to our province's secondary highways, especially with respect to regular maintenance and higher-quality pavement. We also insist that the Trans Labrador Highway be fully paved and have more frequent service stations along its route.

            Newfoundland and Labrador should have a comprehensive, modern railway service, including high speed passenger service. A fixed road and rail link between the island and Labrador should be included. An inter-community bus system should be established to link outlying areas to stations, airports, and with local public transit. Consideration should also be made to building an overland route through the communities of northern Labrador. Existing ferry service in that region should be expanded via larger and faster vessels.

            Public transit must be expanded where it exists and established in a few of the other larger communities. Public transit in St. John's should connect directly to the airport as well as to nearby communities. In all cases, wait times between buses should be reduced and service should not end early at any point in the week. Fares should also be eliminated.

            The widespread development of alternative, renewable energy sources must also be a priority. The Communist Party would nationalize our natural resources and energy sector to ensure democratic control and environmental sustainability. Corporations that threaten to close plants and mines must face strict legislation that will impose heavy fines upon them or face public seizure of their assets.

            Instead of crowding students into "super schools", we should build more neighbourhood schools that would eliminate or greatly reduce the need to bus students; smaller class sizes would greatly reduce stress and workloads on teachers. Access to hospitals and clinics must be expanded, with priority given to rural areas and isolated communities.

            We propose a massive emergency housing construction program to provide affordable housing across the entire country, and a ban on evictions, mortgage foreclosures, and utility cut offs due to unemployment.

            We propose to rebuild Canada's industrial base. Newfoundland and Labrador could be a leader in the ship-building industry. At the very least, we should be designing and building our own ferries for the coastal service and for the link to Nova Scotia. Our agricultural sector should also be expanded where it is possible.

            The construction, maintenance, and operation of the above suggestions would provide thousands of good jobs to people in Newfoundland and Labrador, they would provide tremendous public service, and they will allow for a more diverse economy. It is not impossible to accomplish such a list of demands. Canada is a very wealthy country, and that wealth should be used for the benefit of its people, not for the bank accounts of an elite few. We must cut wasteful military spending, assume control of our resources, and place the burden of taxation squarely on the rich and corporations. On October 19th, put people's needs before corporate greed: Vote Communist!

(The above article is from the October 1-15, 2015, 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.)