15) GOOD FIRST WEEK FOR PV FUND DRIVE

            The first week of this year’s People’s Voice Press Fund Drive was a good one, but we need to keep up the quick start. As of March 8, we have received a total of $9688 at our offices in Toronto and Vancouver, which means 19.3% of our $50,000 target. That helps pay off some of the bills which start to pile up in January and February each year, so we send our deepest appreciation to all supporters who responded immediately to our mail appeal!

            That appeal was dropped off at Canada Post at the end of February, so there hasn’t been enough time to get replies from some parts of the country. But we can report that Ontario leads the Drive at this point, with an amazing $6091 raised so far, which is 27.6% of their provincial target. British Columbia readers are starting to catch up, with $3347 turned in, or 15.9%. And we have received our first donations from Manitoba ($150) and Nova Scotia ($100). By our next issue, we’ll be able to report on the initial progress of the Fund Drive in other provinces.

            Why is it so important to keep People’s Voice in print? A quick look at the issue in your hands gives some answers. Think about it: does the daily corporate paper in your community even mention the topics covered in our 12 pages? Most often, for example, PostMedia papers only refer to the Trans-Pacific Partnership in glowing terms, as the best way to “grow the economy.” Readers of the mass circulation dailies won’t see the comprehensive debunking of the Ontario government’s so-called “free tuition” plan found on page 2 of this issue. Such papers won’t agree with our editorials calling for full support to the March 19 anti-war rallies in several Canadian cities, or for a united and powerful coalition of women’s equality-seeking organizations. None will follow the lead of our St. John’s contributor Sean Burton, who analyzes the Newfoundland and Labrador budget from a working class perspective on page 5. Sam Hammond’s latest scathing expose of the “US Steal” ripoff (page 7) deserves to be read by millions of working people - but they won’t find Sam’s writing in the Daily Business Booster. Nor will they find out about the global labour struggles we cover, or the murder of indigenous environmental leader Berta Caceres in Honduras (page 9), likely committed by corporate-paid thugs. Readers of the music and arts sections of the big dailies will sometimes find coverage of progressive musicians, but nothing as powerful as Helen Kennedy’s review of the latest David Francey CD on page 10.

            We could say more, but you get the point. People’s Voice may be just 12 pages, and our circulation is not huge. But we print news and analysis that you just won’t get from the mainstream media. Our newspaper helps bring together and elevate working class struggles from coast to coast to coast. Your contributions are the only thing that keeps us in print. Don’t let your fellow workers down... please send your donation today!

The above article is from the March 16-31, 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.)