09) A POPULAR ENERGY PROGRAM FOR CANADA - STRENGTHEN THE DIALOGUE
By Darrell Rankin
Canadians know from bitter experience that heating bills are expensive. There is a remarkable growth of First Nations' opposition to oil pipelines and extraction.
But how do the labour and other democratic movements in the rest of Canada feel about this and related energy issues?
Developing a broadly based peoples' energy program requires the support of these movements. When asked in a 2005 Leger poll, Canadians with a view wanted to nationalize the oil and gas industry by a margin of 59% - place it in public ownership. (1)
Canadians are in solidarity or aligned with the demands of First Nations to curb the oil industry's threat to nature and future generations. (2)
Last fall, people voted in large numbers for the Liberals who promised a 'new nation to nation process', implying it would be equal.
These are promising conditions for a broad public discussion, facilitated by popular movements in Canada.
Agreement between First Nations, Inuit, Métis and popular movements for a popular energy program would create a firm and viable alternative to the failing, profit-driven form of development, a model that excludes First Nations and treats workers, including those in the oil patch, as second class, disposable citizens.
In recent years, heavy job losses and climate change helped to shine a spotlight on the industry. It is clear to millions of people that the over-reliance on resource extraction has driven Canada's economy into a ditch.
Some unions have argued the need for jobs trumps any other consideration, no matter how dire. This was the case in the United States where some unions came out in support of the XL pipeline. But it is a false argument, since developing more sustainable energy industries would and can boost job numbers, with no loss in pay.
What is needed is the political unity of popular movements in Canada from all nations in support of their own energy plan.
Environmental concerns or the need to address resource and land claims have not yet budged unions who openly support pipelines and the heedless development of the oil and gas industry, especially those in the oil patch itself. But the oil patch from coast to coast is in shambles, and no one knows how long the crisis will last.
The low price of oil has forced the large oil corporations to lay off tens of thousands of workers.
Pundits mistakenly joke about Russia's economy, but of all the developed capitalist countries, Canada is the most exposed and vulnerable to the present global crisis, a contagion starting to affect the entire global economy.
Such crises lead to mergers. That means Canada's oil industry will become more foreign-dominated, especially by U.S. oil companies. If nothing is done, Canada's ability to develop a sovereign response to this crisis will be severely compromised.
A people's energy program can put all nations and workers ahead of private profit.
It must be a program that challenges the present model of heavily subsidized, profit-oriented extraction of oil and gas. Such a program needs to recognize the interests of all the parties, so that none shall lose and all shall gain:
- Creation of jobs in sustainable energy industries by shifting state subsidies from oil and gas, and the painless, planned conversion of remaining oil and gas jobs to greener forms of energy, with no loss in pay.
- Immediate settlement of Aboriginal land and resource claims.
- All nation or multi-national approval of a new development model for Canada's energy needs.
- Work with other countries to reduce their reliance on oil, coal and gas with the aim of ending exports and exporting expertise in alternative energy sources.
These points are a possible framework for discussion at local and regional meetings of any kind. It is a framework that could be useful for a peoples’ workshop or summit at any level. Any framework for talks needs to be aligned with the demands or approaches of Aboriginal nations and unions. (3)
1. Discounting the 17% with no view, only 41% were opposed to public ownership of the industry. http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/050906eng.pdf
2. For example, Fewer Canadians back plans for new oil pipelines to West Coast ports, Globe and Mail, May 30, 2013
3. Delegates to the Canadian Labour Congress affirmed their support for the Aboriginal nations' right of self-determination three times, from 1980 to 1996. The CLC is on record six times at convention for “expediting … land claims” between 1978 and 1996.
(The above article is from the March 1-15, 2016, 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.)