Turn Left Virez à gauche - Capitalism vs. Life on Earth It's time to take a side - NDP Socialist Caucus
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Turn Left
Virez à gauche
Voice of the NDP Socialist Caucus / Voix du caucus socialiste NPD $2
Spring/
Printemps 2019
Capitalism
vs.
Life on Earth
It’s time to take a side
What’s Happening to the NDP?
BY BARRY WEISLEDER should be paid no more than the Tories. That includes the Green Party
average wage of their members, why which won 4.6 per cent and (for the
I
s the labour-based New Democratic their privileges and fat expense accounts first time in Ontario) one seat. Taking
Party, successor to the left ought to be gone, and why they should into account a voter turnout of 58 per
social-democratic Cooperative be subject to immediate recall! The cent (up from 51 per cent in 2014), it is
Commonwealth Federation in 1960, same applies to NDP officials. Replace evident that only about a quarter of the
being surpassed by the Green Party in the conservative bureaucrats with rank electorate backed Ford Nation.
2019? and file militants, and turn the unions and Now mass hatred of the
In the 2015 Ontario election, the labour party into instruments of class Conservatives is swelling visibly. Witness
the NDP, running on a left-reform struggle. One year on, it is clear that the enormous walkouts by students
platform, surged to 33.6 per cent of the only escalating job actions and general (April 5), and the huge protests against
votes cast and nearly doubled its seat strikes will be able to force an early cuts to education (April 6) and to health
total to 40. Several of its best policies election and terminate the catastrophic services (April 30) at Queen’s Park.
(re-nationalize Hydro One, provide free cuts. The question is: why is the
university, drug and dental care, raise But Horwath is not re-shaping Official Opposition NDP in the Ontario
taxes on the rich, build social housing the ONDP into the vibrant, dynamic Legislature neck and neck with the
and public transit) came straight from the opposition needed in the streets and despised Tories, 31 to 30 per cent,
NDP Socialist Caucus playbook. work places. Socialist policies and only 5 points ahead of the
Andrea Horwath was over-the- were shelved. Milquetoast, dilapidated Liberals, while
top ecstatic at becoming Leader of the defensive policies allow the Ontario Greens
Official Opposition, pledging to hold the Liberals and Greens “Thug have risen to 11 per
Ford “to account”. But, as predicted, to steal the limelight Ford’s horror cent, according to
this was insufficient. The Tory agenda and surpass the show must be a Pollara survey?
today is much more aggressive than that NDP. Toronto’s confronted by mass Indeed, the Green
of right wing Premier Mike Harris in the Mayor John Tory, a protest in the streets and Party has made
mid-1990s. Thug Ford’s horror show lapsed Conservative substantial gains in
must be confronted by mass protest who castigates
work places... NDP and B.C., Ontario, New
in the streets and work places, not by cuts aimed at his union leaders should Brunswick and Prince
reliance on polite parliamentary criticism. city, is touted as the lead the fight outside Edward Island, and
Ford is not afraid of Andrea Horwath. real leader of the the Legislature.” has done so at least
He is afraid of a well organized, militant opposition to Ford – partly at the expense of
working class. that’s how low the bar is the NDP.
NDP and union leaders should set! Why is the federal NDP
lead the fight outside the Legislature. The June 2018 election starved of funds? Why have one
In fact, the labour tops should have did not signal a unilateral shift to the quarter of its incumbent MPs stepped
mobilized the ranks to campaign for right. It rather reflected a polarization to aside, not seeking re-election on
the NDP, to counter the threat of the both the left and the right. The highly October 21? Why did Rachel Notley and
rampant anti-worker agenda of Ford disproportionate first-past-the-post the Alberta NDP lose so decisively to the
and his conservative hate mongers. A electoral system perpetuates capitalist radical right wing United Conservative
serious effort to expose Ford’s populist rule by usually delivering a majority of Party of Jason Kenney in April? At a
propaganda might well have won the seats to parties that gain a minority of time when interest in socialism is rapidly
Ontario election for the NDP. Instead votes. The Conservatives captured 61 rising across North America, especially
many labour officials sat on their asses; per cent of the seats (76 in total) with among young people, why do NDP
some even urged ‘strategic’ voting, only 40.5 per cent of the votes cast. leaders seem terrified to use the word
which meant a vote for the Liberal Party. In other words, nearly 60 per “socialism”? How did the NDP lose its
That was unforgiveable. cent of those who cast ballots supported seat in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith (British
It shows why union leaders parties ostensibly to the left of the Columbia) by-election on May 6?
02 Turn Left/Virez à gauche
photo: Can Pac Swire (flickr)
The Revenge of Palestine and elections”. the rich? They propose only a modest
Venezuela Thus, Singh obscured the real increase to those in the upper income tax
role of the imperialist powers, including brackets.
It is beyond ironic that the Canada, in causing material shortages, The problem with all of this is
by-election winner was Paul Manly. He in seizing Venezuelan assets abroad, in a lack of vision, and a lack of teeth. The
joined the Green Party after he was sabotaging the electricity grid, fomenting current leaders propose only modest
prevented from being the NDP federal violence, subverting elections, and reforms, leaving in place a system that
candidate in 2015. What was his crime? violating the rule of law. puts private profit and greed above
He asked then-NDP Leader Tom Mulcair Cynics say that few votes are human needs. The more timid the
to demand the release from an Israeli jail won or lost on foreign policy issues. But leaders are, the weaker the party gets.
of his father, Jim Manly, a former NDP principles know no borders. It permits the capitalist Green Party
MP. Jim was 80 years old in 2012 when to channel left-populist discontent. It
he was illegally seized from the Freedom Inspire, or Expire encourages left-liberals to stay put.
Flotilla to Gaza, in international waters, And it helps the Tories succeed where
by the Zionist navy. So, the NDP loss on NDP politicians have succumbed the discontented majority cannot see a
Vancouver Island is a blow to the party to unprincipled, pro-capitalist, anti- strong socialist path to meaningful social
brass both for undemocratic nomination environment policies on the Site C change.
practices and a backward policy on dam and the LNG pipeline in B.C. The It’s time for a reality check.
Palestine. Ontario and federal NDP have failed to Trade wars are deepening. A global
Then there is federal NDP call for nationalization of General Motors recession looms. Racism, sexism and
Leader Jagmeet Singh’s soft-complicity in the wake of GM’s decision to kill over homophobia are rampant. Displaced
with the attempt by Trump, Trudeau and 2,600 jobs in Oshawa. millions are on the move as humanity is
the EU to overthrow the government of Horwath and Singh talk about a at the brink of climate catastrophe.
Venezuela. When asked by the media green new deal, but their prescription is In short, the NDP, still a working
“Who is the President of Venezuela?”, exceedingly vague, making no mention class party, must turn sharply to the left
Singh would not admit that Nicolas of public ownership of the energy sector. to survive and to advance. Join the
Maduro was democratically elected to They push pharma care for all, but not socialists to make it happen. n
the office. He said “the Venezuelan for all the needed medical drugs. They
people will decide”, and opined that limit the role of government to being Barry Weisleder is a Socialist Caucus
Canada can help with the “humanitarian a big bulk buyer, rather than becoming candidate for ONDP VIce-President.
crisis” and foster “free and fair a researcher/producer/distributor. Tax
Turn Left/Virez à gauche 03
Turn Left Virez à gauche
Published by the NDP Socialist Caucus Editorial Board:
Elizabeth Byce
www.ndpsocialists.ca Julius Arscott
Barry Weisleder
Editor and Designer: Sean Cain John Orrett Produced by union labour
Universal Child Care – Because It’s 2019
BY DIRKA PROUT their employment, income or marital status. reduced.
A
Ten hours of child care are offered for 261 A 2014 survey by the Institut de la
national child care weekdays. A universal system guarantees buy Statistique du Québec found the quality in
plan is an investment in across all economic classes. This makes it non-profit CPEs was good to excellent for 45%
in children and more difficult to cut under austerity minded of the children and inadequate for only 4%.
women’s equality. My governments. More than 87% of CPEs met the regulation
involvement in spelling bees The Ontario Tories CARE tax credit stating that at least two thirds of the educators
taught me that the early will only benefit those who can both afford be qualified. In contrast, only 18% of the
life experiences of children and find child care spaces. In the matter of full-fee garderies met this standard. Lack of
influence their health, creating spaces, the Ontario Tories are trying qualified staff was likely why the survey found
employment, and overall to be illusionists. How many public child care only 10% of garderies were good for children
success as an adult. spaces will disappear only to be replaced by with 36% found to be inadequate.
My fellow Canadians must think the private ‘new’ ones over the next five years? In Canada’s NDP may present a child
same way too. A 2016 poll indicated that three- early May 2019, they announced cuts of 50% care plan similar to the Ontario NDP’s 2018.
quarters of them supported a national child each to the fund to administer the licensed The ONDP plan, lauded by experts, focussed
care program. What can Ontario and Quebec’s child care system and the cost sharing on low fee child care delivered by licensed
child care approaches teach us? agreement with municipalities. non-profits. Its main critiques were that it was
In their Ontario April 2019 budget, Who provides the care is of too “ambitious” and would create too much
the Conservatives introduced Childcare importance to children. Researchers examined demand. In 1997, Quebec ignored a similar
Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) Quebec’s non-profit centres de la petite ambition critique and charged ahead.
tax credit. It will reimburse up to 75% of the enfance (CPE) and found that: Their program now pays for itself,
cost for any type of childcare expenses; 1) Across all income classes, cognitive and more, thanks the substantially higher
from actual daycare to camps. The amount is and behaviour vulnerabilities were lowest for labour force participation of women. Quebec
offered on a sliding income scale with caps, those in licensed care. did experience a demand problem in the mid-
per non-disabled child, of $6,000 up to age 6 2) The reduction in vulnerability risk is 2000s. It was solved by allowing for-profit
decreasing to $3,750 for ages 7 to 16. They also most pronounced for low income families. centres with users’ costs reimbursed through
plan to spend $1 billion over the next five years 3) The cognitive differences between a tax credit. To maintain low costs and high
to build new child care spaces. low income and medium to high income accessibility, the Quebec system allows the
Affordability wise, the Ontario Tories children is eliminated at least until Grade 6, garderies to operate below the regulated
CARE credit is a wet band aid on a bleeding provided that children enter the system early minimum standards due to insufficient
wound approach. Ontarians can spend as and attend consistently. oversight. If faced with a similar situation,
much as $36,000 annually for child care. 4) For children with depressive mothers Canada’s NDP should require and enforce
Faced with such alarming costs, Ontario specifically, problems are significantly uniform training and quality standards to
women will continue to disproportionately maintain the best outcomes for children
shoulder the child care burden. across private and public delivery schemes.
Quebec women have the second I look forward to presenting to
highest labour participation rate in the world “The ONDP plan, lauded voters, on behalf of Jagmeet and the NDP, our
and a better work-life balance thanks to their by experts, focussed vision of affordable, universal public funded
provincial $7 per day child care program. child care. The need is great. The majority of
Between 1997 and 2016, the labour force on low fee child care Canadians want it. We just need a party like
participation rate for Quebec women with delivered by licensed Canada’s NDP to have the courage to deliver it.
children aged 5 or under increased by 16%.
Their counterparts in the rest of Canada saw
non-profits. Its main Dirka Prout is a geotechnical engineer, co-
only a 4% increase. critiques were that it chair of the Federal NDP Women’s Council
The hugely popular Quebec was too “ambitious” and and the nominated federal NDP candidate
system is beautifully comprehensive. The for London North Centre.
fees usually represent less than 20% of the would create too much www.facebook.com/dirkaprout.
actual cost. Users face no barriers due to demand.” Twitter: @DirkaProut.
04 Turn Left/Virez à gauche
BY BRUCE ALLEN
T
he harsh reality of the Unifor –
General Motors agreement to
“save” the jobs of Oshawa GM
workers is undeniable. Altogether,
GM workers, plus about 2,500 low
paid workers employed by the supplier
companies located in and around GM
Oshawa, will be hit hard.
As a result, a workforce of
over 5,000 will shrink to about 300.
Furthermore, the long-term employment
of the 300 GM workers who will survive
the assembly plant’s closure is quite
uncertain. No one is guaranteeing
that these remaining jobs, which are to
be located in a small metal stamping
operation, will survive past the 2020
Unifor – GM contract negotiations. GM’s
promises that there could eventually be
up to 500 jobs are as worthless as its
unkept job security promises to Oshawa
workers in the past.
The overlooked, poorly-paid
workers in the supplier operations are GM Retirees Call for Nationalization
the most victimized by this agreement.
They get nothing. By contrast, senior to Make Vehicles We Need
Oshawa GM workers eligible to retire,
or nearly eligible to retire, can either
get lucrative retirement incentives
with pensions or the opportunity to of Oshawa. GM had to be especially In effect, the Oshawa and
fill a small number of job openings the pleased by the American UAW’s lack of St. Catharines retirees saw the closure
agreement will create in what’s left of the interest in supporting a Unifor fightback. announcement as an opportunity to save
St. Catharines GM plant 169 kilometers Things did not have to go so far more jobs, to protect the community
south-west of Oshawa. badly. GM retirees in Oshawa and St. of Oshawa and produce non-carbon-
Oshawa will be devastated. To Catharines, who are the backbone of emitting vehicles -- an excellent response
grasp the severity of the situation, one remaining activism in the auto sector, to the accelerating climate change crisis.
only needs to recall how union leaders demonstrated this. They showed more Top Unifor leadership and
often said that every auto industry job willingness to fight back than the active leading federal and provincial politicians
generates six or more jobs in surrounding members, with the notable exception of inexcusably failed to see the opportunity.
communities. Do the math in order to the Oshawa GM workers who staged brief They weren’t interested. Just as they
grasp the magnitude of the economic hit sit-down strikes immediately after the aren’t prepared to do what’s necessary to
Oshawa faces. closure announcement. The retirees also tackle the threat to the environment and
Just recall what happened showed a degree of radicalism absent civilization.
to Flint, Michigan after GM gutted its from auto since the Oshawa Fabrication Consequently, most of the
operations there, slashing the workforce Plant was occupied during the successful affected workers face a fate of trying
to a fraction of what it once was, leaving twenty-day strike against GM in 1996. to survive in an increasingly low wage
behind a desperate population now living Oshawa retirees are calling for economy which involves more and more
with a water supply poisoned by lead. the nationalization of GM Oshawa and precarious work. Every challenge presents
This sorry outcome is all there is retooling the plants to produce future- an opportunity. GM’s Oshawa closure
to show for an ineffective Unifor fightback oriented, green vehicle technology. announcement presented an opportunity
to save GM Oshawa. Hampered by a Likewise, St. Catharines retirees wrote to to address the crisis facing these workers
glaring lack of support from the rest of Unifor President Jerry Dias calling for the and the ecological crisis threatening the
a labour movement (Unifor withdrew plant to be handed over to the workforce planet.
from the Canadian Labour Congress in and the community, so that operations That opportunity was
2018), weakened by feeble backing from can continue, much like happened in squandered. It was squandered by
Unifor leadership where GM has other idled factories in Argentina which have leaders lacking vision who demonstrated
operations, and an impotent boycott that been successfully occupied and run by their subservience to Capital by bending
pandered to xenophobia by targeting GM their own workers. to the will of GM. n
vehicles made by Mexican autoworkers, Unifor’s national leadership
this ‘fightback’ was little more than a minor disregarded these proposals. The Bruce Allen is a GM retiree and Unifor
nuisance to GM. Indeed, GM relished the agreement that claims to save 300 jobs is activist/leader since 1977
lack of support for the resistance outside all they came up with instead.
Turn Left/Virez à gauche 05
BY COREY DAVID enjoying billions in profit. So when Andrea maximization.
Horvath says she wants to bring business and We have the expertise, resources
W
e hear it at election time and at the labour to the table together, it raises a red flag. and infrastructure to create all manner of
end of each financial quarter: Job They don’t come equally, and history shows goods and deliver all kinds of services. Not
numbers are up. But what does it that often when a deal is made, workers lose. jobs for the sake of jobs. We need the means
mean if those jobs don’t provide the means to In perhaps the starkest example, Canada to live a life with dignity. Tommy Douglas
improve one’s quality of life? What happens sells military equipment to Saudi Arabia, called it “a society to meet human needs and
when the economy is ‘strong’ but 75 per cent while innocents in Yemen are killed by Saudi respond to human wants.”
of Torontonians can’t afford to buy a home, and indiscriminate bombings and starved by its We don’t need a balanced budget
when real wages, that is, purchasing power, are cruel blockade. above all. We need respect and democratic
actually falling? It means that working people One would think Canadians might control. When full-time workers spend
are being exploited at a higher rate. stand up against this, but when a community’s one third of our awake life at a job, before
When economists talk about the ability to support itself is threatened, just like retirement, it isn’t a radical concept for us
desirability of a balanced budget, they do so what pipeline companies do to small towns have a say in the operation of the company or
to lure ‘responsibly-minded’ individuals. The and impoverished Indigenous reserves in institution which our labour makes possible.
priority of those “experts” is not the creation of western Canada, you pull on the heartstrings One challenge in creating a fair
a fair and stable economic environment. Their of those who are trying to survive. and humane world is overcoming neoliberal
banking model shows that the prime objective The line becomes blurry between ideology - that individual success is a divine
Can Capitalism Deliver Good Jobs
and a Democratic Economy?
is the private accumulation of wealth. They
seek to avoid corporate taxes, fund arms
manufacturers and carbon producers, and rig
the system through institutions, lobby groups
and politicians to disenfranchise working
people and the poor wherever they can.
We’ve seen the NDP fall into this
trap. NDP federal leader Tom Mulcair in 2015
ran on a platform of austerity, resulting in a
major hit to the party at the polls.
It’s not hard to see exploitation
manifested in the explosion of precarious work
across every sector. Companies like Foodora
and Uber are extremely profitable. They
classify workers as independent contractors,
freeing the company of responsibility and
disconnecting the workforce, making it
difficult to unionize. In education and social
services, the gig economy keeps workers
desperate by short shifting and classifying providing for your family and the fate of right and that class exploitation is normal. A
them as casual, alienating many of them from someone a world away. That’s why the goal is to build and maintain organizations that
union benefits and participation. democratization of the economy is necessary, are independent of monopoly corporations
The complicity of governments as is the transition away from this destructive, and bureaucratic governments.
selling out to banks and monopoly corporations wasteful capitalist system of production -- in To build a movement for public good that
is one thing, but even if a government is willing order to end the desperation that so many doesn’t bow to capitalism and is built from the
to fight for a fair relationship between worker workers experience. bottom up, not relying on idolized leaders.
and employer, corporations circumvent the In the 2018 Ontario election, If Ontarians think about the
democratic process. Tactics like threatening Horwath proposed an NDP plan to dismantle impact of our actions and have the power to
job loss, even an exit from the region, they bury the Pickering power station, which is already influence the course ahead, we can change
governments in legal battles and misinform or beyond its life expectancy. This move would the dominant narrative of this province and
spin narratives with propaganda. create thousands of jobs while protecting make this economy work for all of us, not just
Amazon and Walmart fight tooth the environment and local communities the 0.1%. n
and nail against labour reforms, progressive against unnecessary risk. Most importantly,
taxes and unionization. Amazon and Loblaws it demonstrated how a thriving economy is Corey David is the Socialist Caucus
have been subsidized by public funds, despite possible by shifting away from private profit candidate for President of the Ontario NDP
06 Turn Left/Virez à gaucheSC resolutions feature green jobs,
housing, peace and mass action
BY ELIZABETH BYCE to thousands of working-class Ontarians. and the interests of the vast majority. We
H
Builders and land developers seeking profit cannot afford to confine our efforts to the
ow can we get the have failed for decades to bring any significant Legislature, much less to waiting for the
Ontario NDP to amount of affordable housing to the market. election in 2022. We call on the Ontario NDP
fight for a working The Socialist Caucus urges the ONDP to “to actively support mass protests, including
class agenda that “actively campaign for the construction of rallies, demonstrations and job actions, up
makes jobs and justice 250,000 quality, affordable housing units, to to and including sectoral and general strikes,
a priority? By fighting be built within five years by a new publicly- against Doug Ford - PC government attacks on
at the June 14-16 ONDP owned Ontario Housing Construction public services, civil liberties, equity seeking
Convention for socialist Corporation that would sustainably acquire groups, unions and non-organized workers
policies. That’s how. land and build affordable housing comprised in this province. The ONDP, unions and social
When the of a mix of freehold, cooperative, co-housing, justice partners, in anticipation of serious cuts
NDP’s organized left, the Socialist Caucus, mixed income, rental and subsidized rental to jobs and services, should go on immediate
held its province-wide conference on March 16, units.” strike alert and build a broad, democratic
it adopted over 30 policy resolutions. united front of resistance.”
Many of those resolutions have been 3. NDP should be Clear: Hands Off
endorsed, some by numerous ONDP electoral Venezuela! 5. Share the Work, Shorten the Work Week
district associations, which then submitted
them to party headquarters for debate on the The Ontario party has a duty to Long, exhausting workweeks for
convention floor by the 1,000+ delegates who address the federal NDP’s violation of the millions of workers in Canada cause high
will gather in Hamilton. party’s long commitment to peace, social stress, illness and lowers productivity. But
Here are the top five motions. They justice and non-interference in the affairs tens of thousands of new jobs would be
show the direction the NDP needs to go if it of other countries. When the NDP Foreign created, especially in light of the rampant
is to offer a working-class alternative to the Affairs Critic attacked the elected government robotization and automation underway, if the
Liberals and Greens. of Venezuela, supported the Lima Group and available work is shared. Socialists ask the
U.S. President Trump’s fake “humanitarian ONDP to campaign to:
1.Nationalize General Motors aid” gambit, and condoned the bid by foreign
powers and the domestic ultra-right for a) reduce the work week to 32 hours, beyond
In the wake of the General Motors regime change, she dismayed most New which overtime rates would apply, without the
decision to close most of its production Democrats. In addition, the federal Leader loss of pay or benefits to workers,
facilities in Oshawa this year, the Socialist refuses to acknowledge that Nicolas Maduro
Caucus asks the ONDP to “actively campaign is the democratically-elected President of the b) reduce the maximum work week to 35
for the creation of a publicly owned Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. hours, from the present 48 hours, and outlaw
transportation industry, under workers’ and Socialists ask that the Ontario mandatory overtime.
community control, that would begin with NDP “actively oppose foreign interference
the nationalization of the Oshawa GM plans, in Venezuela, defend Venezuela’s right to What can you do now? Please go to
and integrate, under public ownership, self-determination, reject alignment with the Policy Priority Workshops on Friday, June
existing parts-making, assembly and research U.S. foreign policy, demand ‘Canada Out of 14 to ensure that these and other Socialist
facilities, and build new capacity so Ontario the Lima Group’, and request the federal NDP Caucus resolutions are ranked at the top of
can be a leader in the production of electric immediately to remove MP Helene Laverdiere the list, in each topic area, for debate at the
and hybrid public transit, freight and personal as Special Advisor to the NDP Leader on convention. n
vehicles.” Foreign Affairs.”
Elizabeth Byce is an activist with the NDP
2. Build Social Housing as an Emergency 4. Dump Thug Ford with Mass Extra- Socialist Caucus. All 33 resolutions for
Priority in Ontario Parliamentary Action convention are located on the Socialist
Caucus website at www.ndpsocialists.ca
Today shelters are often overflowing, The Doug Ford PC government has
rental unit rents are skyrocketing far beyond proven lethal to the labour movement, the
inflation, and home ownership is not available environment, civil liberties, social well-being
Turn Left/Virez à gauche 07Québec : vaincre le projet de loi
raciste 21 de Legault
Robbie Mahood
Le gouvernement québécois de François
Legault est déterminé à adopter une loi
interdisant le port de «symboles religieux»
par les employés de la fonction publique. La
Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) de Legault
détient la majorité des sièges à l’Assemblée
nationale du Québec. Le projet de loi 21
ciblerait les juges, la police, les gardiens de
prison ainsi que les enseignants.
Legault soutient que la loi est
nécessaire pour défendre la laïcité, la
séparation de l’église et de l’État. Il la défend
comme étant juste, puisque le crucifix installé
il y a 85 ans à la Chambre des députés sous
Duplessis sera retiré de l’Assemblée nationale.
En réalité, la principale cible de la
loi 21 est la minorité musulmane du Québec
et plus spécifiquement les femmes de cette
communauté. Les hommes musulmans
portant la barbe ne subiront eux, aucune
sanction. Le projet de loi vise les femmes
portant un hijab (voile couvrant la tête) ou le
nombre réduit de femmes portant la burqa
(voile intégral). Lorsqu’on lui a demandé de
justifier l’interdiction d’enseigner pour les
femmes portant le hijab, Legault a répondu
avec arrogance: «elles n’auront qu’à se trouver jeune homme baignant dans le milieu raciste seulement une question de droits humains
un autre emploi». Il faudra être à visage blanc a ouvert le feu dans une mosquée de la mais aussi un principe stratégique important.
découvert pour avoir accès aux services ville de Québec, faisant six morts et 19 blessés Une campagne antiraciste pour la défense des
publics, même pour une chose aussi banale parmi les fidèles. droits des femmes musulmanes est cruciale
que de prendre l’autobus. Alors que les perspectives et prend corps petit à petit. Québec Solidaire
Si la loi finit par être déclarée d’indépendance du Québec se sont n’a pas été épargné par l’islamophobie,
inconstitutionnelle, Legault a menacé amenuisées, le nationalisme blanc identitaire mais, initiative bienvenue, s’est prononcé
d’invoquer la clause dérogatoire, célèbre a pris son essor, ouvrant la voie à des partis contre l’adoption de la loi 21. Une des deux
pour avoir été utilisée pour protéger la loi de droite comme la CAQ et alimentant les grandes centrales syndicales du Québec, la
101, loi linguistique québécoise vieille de 40 manifestations racistes. Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN),
ans. Cependant, la protection du français Comme pour la Chartre des Valeurs s’oppose maintenant à cette loi, restant
comme langue d’enseignement et de vie dans du PQ, il faut s’opposer au projet de loi fidèle aux meilleurs principes du mouvement
l’espace public jouit d’un soutien beaucoup xénophobe et anti-femmes de Legault. syndical de se porter à la défense de ses
plus important que la victimisation de femmes Ce projet met les femmes des cultures membres les plus faibles.
appartenant à une minorité, victimisation patriarcales conservatrices au banc des S’opposer à Legault et au projet
inscrite dans le projet de loi 21. L’interdiction accusés. Ce sont les femmes et les femmes de loi 21 de la CAQ c’est renforcer nos luttes
du foulard et du voile est très populaire seules qui doivent décider de leur tenue sur d’autres fronts : contre les coupures
en zone rurale et dans les petites villes du vestimentaire et de leur manière de se imminentes dans les services publics, les
Québec, malgré le nombre réduit de femmes présenter en public et non l’État et son dictat, attaques sur les salaires et les conditions
musulmanes qui y vivent. C’est à Montréal, ou la notion d’objectivation du corps de la de travail, ainsi que contre la dégradation
où se concentre la plupart des minorités femme promue dans la culture capitaliste continue de l’environnement et le pillage
culturelles et religieuses et où la tolérance est patriarcale qui l’entoure. par les entreprises des richesses naturelles
plus répandue, que l’antipathie à ce projet de L’opposition à la loi 21 est souvent du Québec discrètement orchestré par
loi est la plus forte. posée en termes de droits individuels. Mais l’administration Legault favorable au monde
L’islamophobie gangrène la société les socialistes souhaitent aller plus loin. Nous des affaires. n
québécoise depuis plus de dix ans. D’abord luttons contre l’oppression et le racisme
cultivée par les prédécesseurs populistes de parmi les travailleurs dans leur ensemble et la Robbie Mahood, Caucus socialiste du NPD,
droite de la CAQ, elle a été reprise par le Parti société en général afin de renforcer l’unité de Montréal
québécois qui a tenté d’imposer une «Charte la classe ouvrière. La défense des membres
des Valeurs» à la province en 2013. En 2017, un les plus vulnérables de notre classe n’est pas
08 Turn Left/Virez à gaucheTowards a Green Transportation Industry
BY JOHN ORRETT manufacturing plant would use Canadian industry solely to adjust to tariff and tax
materials and metallurgical skills to considerations of our so-called free trade
W
ith one third of Canada’s sustain a long term and steady source of agreements is not acceptable. It’s time to
population spread close to employment for skilled jobs. take over this company.
the shores of the Great Lakes The electrical energy produced A high-speed rail corridor would
and the St. Lawrence Seaway, Ontario is is necessary for transitioning to a more take cars off the road. But the real gains
Canada’s largest industrial manufacturing environmentally friendly transportation in reducing carbon emissions from gas
province. It has the potential to shape regime. It is the internal combustion and diesel vehicles will occur by shifting
the country’s total carbon emissions. Will engine and the automobile era that has production and use to electric ones.
Ontario remain part of the environmental contributed heavily to the build- up of Ontario is at a crossroads right now.
problem or part the solution? carbon in our atmosphere. No serious General Motors announced the end of
Clean renewable energy is the global climate change initiative is possible automobile assembly in Oshawa. We can
place to start. The Province needs to without addressing transportation. decide to either sit back without any say
ramp up its resolve in this area, but to To this end, Ontario needs to in where electric cars are produced, or
do so it must take control of decision partner with Quebec, with its abundant we can act decisively and take over the
making. The disparate parts of the former electric power, to create a new publicly GM Plant in Oshawa and all their other
Ontario Hydro, sold off by Conservative owned, high- speed electrical train Canadian facilities, and use them as our
and Liberal Governments, should be system starting with an express Montreal- entry into the electric vehicle industry with
brought back under public ownership. Toronto route, and gradually expand East a goal of being a world leader in this field.
Hydropower from Quebec should be to Quebec City and West to Windsor. This may require a worker led
imported at fair cost to replace power lost Bombardier could design and build these occupation of the Oshawa plant and a
through decommissioning the Pickering trains as they have already done so with labor leadership that supports it. Will
Nuclear Generating Station, one of the the high speed electro-magnetic Bullet Unifor National President Jerry Dias
oldest in North America. Train from Shanghai to Beijing. lead this effort or settle for 300 jobs in a
A new subsidiary of Ontario But this designer and builder stamping plant, a glorified race track in
Hydro should be created. The new should be a new publicly owned Oshawa, and improved worker termination
Ontario Solar Panel Corporation would Bombardier, not the current scandal ridden agreements? The very fact he sat in with
build the most advanced solar panel stock corporation that takes public monies GM President Travis Hester at a news
manufacturing plant, designed by its to pay its senior management even while conference to announce the agreement
research and development department suffering mega-losses, and fails to deliver and referred to it as “innovative” raises
that would scour Canada and the planet its contracted streetcars to the Toronto doubts much further opposition to GM
for leading-edge developments in solar Transit Commission on time. head office will be forthcoming.
energy technology. A Bombardier that has a two-tier These rail and auto projects
Wind turbines could also be stock ownership structure is undemocratic would necessitate a dynamic steel
manufactured in Ontario instead of being and should be outlawed. A company
that flips in and out of the aerospace continued on page 11
imported from South Korea. A mid-size
Turn Left/Virez à gauche 09THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM:
HOW NEOLIBERALISM RUINS EVERYTHING
BY LISA HOWARD Even an increasing number of treat fellow citizens as “customers.”
T
wealthy business owners don’t believe in In any case, we’ve had about forty
he private sector is the theory of “trickle down.” One of them, years of this kind of approach from government,
bad at everything. It’s American Nick Hanauer, often tells a personal following the urgings of the private sector.
the exact opposite of story in his many media appearances of how it Starting in the 1980s, most politicians, even
what people usually say. fails every time: rich millionaires like him won’t supposedly left-wing ones, were converted to
The private sector should go out and buy a thousand pairs of pants. But if the theory of neoliberalism.
get out of the way and let you spread the wealth around, giving a larger We’ve had neoliberalism under
government do what is share to the working class and the poor through Liberals. We’ve had it under Conservatives.
in the public interest in higher wages and/or a guaranteed annual We’ve even had it under the NDP. It’s a bit like
areas such as health care, income, they will repair their cars and pay for that children’s book by Dr. Seuss where we are
education, and the environment. the babysitter. The wealthy won’t spend the asked to accept green eggs and ham in various
Take health care. Public, universal extra loot, they’ll sock it away in banks. different guises.
health care systems are more efficient at A complementary part of trickle down Under the NDP and the Labour Party
providing services to citizens at a lower cost. In is austerity, because once you lower taxes on in the United Kingdom, it was called the “Third
the United States, for example, Americans pay the wealthy, you’re going to have less money Way.” Under liberals and US Democrats, it was
twice what Canadians pay for health and tens of
millions go without health insurance. This has
become so obvious to Americans that it has
sparked a movement to leave the private health
care trap completely and finally establish
universal, public health care for all.
With our environment, the
private sector should step aside and let the
government nationalize sectors of the energy
industry, buy up infrastructure like the General
Motors plant and convert its output to electric
and solar-powered vehicles. The current
government, for its part, should institute
a national strategy to regulate and build
infrastructure, especially affordable trains and
other public transportation, to make them more
environmentally-friendly and sustainable.
Unfortunately, none of that will
happen until we stop believing in neoliberalism,
the debunked theory that the private sector is
always better than the public sector and should
be expanded to include most services we now
receive from the government.
It goes by a handful of other names,
and the theory is often described through the
various policies that are entailed by it, including to spend on services. And when public sector called “centrism.” And under the Conservatives,
trickle down, privatization, deregulation, budgets are diminished in this way, there’s it’s called cutting taxes, or fiscal responsibility,
laissez faire capitalism, and most recently: less money for roads, schools, health care, and or even “common sense,” as in Mike Harris’
austerity. But these are really just features of support for the elderly. Common Sense Revolution of the 1990s.
neoliberalism. Neoliberalism comes with its own The end result of neoliberalism
Trickle down is the aspect that bureaucratic language. Its proponents will is when we need to act in concert for the
deals with tax cuts, and defends how and talk about market solutions and public-private public good, especially when dealing with
why we should give them to rich people and partnerships. They will use buzzwords like life-threatening matters like climate change,
corporations. The assumption here is that if “incentivize,” “nudge” and “stakeholder.” governments no longer know how to even do it.
we reduce taxes on them, it will stimulate the There’s a lot of emphasis on entrepreneurship n
economy and result in more jobs for average as people who have been laid off will be
citizens. Yet as we have seen from mounting told to strike out on their own and become Lisa Howard is a writer and social
evidence, giving tax breaks to the wealthy independent contractors. Even in the public democrat who lives in Ottawa
never results in the kind of spending that sector of the neoliberal age, workers are told to
actually creates jobs. act as though they are in the private sector and
10 Turn Left/Virez à gaucheNationalize the Ring of Fire under First Nations,
workers’ and community control
BY JULIUS ARSCOTT which must be rectified, before there can mean that Indigenous peoples and workers
be peace. Some capitalist politicians call for would have the final say in what resources
T he Ring of Fire is one of the largest
potential mineral reserves in Ontario.
It is considered one of the most promising
nation to nation reconciliation. But there
can be no meaningful reconciliation without
restitution.
are extracted, how they are extracted and
processed and in what quantity in order to
mitigate damage to the natural environment
mineral development opportunities in Public ownership of the Ring of Fire and ensure that the wealth created will be
Ontario in more than a century -- the may generate opportunities to create jobs utilized for the benefit of present and future
economic equivalent of the Athabasca oil and long-term prosperity for the Canadian generations.
sands, with the potential to generate $120 working class, including First Nations people The NDP campaigned in favour of
billion in profits. for generations to come. We should take this significant social gains in the last provincial
It is situated in a remote part of opportunity to consider the development of election. It is necessary to explain how
northern Ontario, and will impact nine First resources based on human need and not Bay important social services will be paid for
Nations’ communities. These communities Street greed. Social democratic governments in order to gain the confidence of workers
should be the first to be consulted, and around the world have implemented public across the province. Public ownership and
if they agree, the first to benefit from ownership of resource extraction to the responsible development of profitable
development. In the past, Indigenous people benefit of the majority -- to provide jobs and natural resources would be an important step
have been shunted aside while the landscape excellent social services. in that direction. n
is plundered. The result has been destitution, Public ownership would also
Green Transportation, from page 9 believe that the grand solution must entail starving and landless peasants worldwide,
the eradication of the capitalist system. and save some of the animal species that
industry in Ontario, not its dismantling as We are tired of the men and are heading towards extinction.
seen in the last decade. Now is the time to women in suits at the end of the Kyoto, We need decisive carbon
transcend the failures of the past to protect Copenhagen, and Paris International reduction action now. In Ontario we
our steel industry. It is time for the United Climate Change Conferences, patting can contribute by nationalizing under
Steel Workers and the ONDP to call for themselves on the back and falsely worker and community control all the
a nationalized steel industry that will take declaring that their nations will now essential inputs required to manufacture
over what is left of US Steel as well as the address climate change before it is too electric vehicles and build more public
Luxembourg based AcelorMitel which late. It is nearly too late now. Our only transportation. This should be the policy
owns the Dofasco mill and the Indian hope now is to mitigate the storms, fires of the ONDP. n
owned Essar Steel Algoma. and floods to come, slow the migration of
It is ridiculous that all major steel
producers are foreign owned by integrated
capitalist multinational corporations, as is
the world’ second largest nickel producer
in Sudbury, owned by Vale Brazil. Nickel
is used in galvanized steel, another input
into auto and train manufacturing.
How can we take control of
decisions made in these key industries if
they are not owned and controlled by the
people and workers in Ontario? Why are
we letting profits from basic industry leave
the country?
Many organizations such as
Courage to Leap and the Green New Deal
in the U.S. Democratic Party are building
support across North America to change
the economy. The response to these
initiatives is encouraging as they indicate
a willingness to challenge the system. The
Socialist Caucus joins forces with these
and other progressive movements in
calling for climate change initiatives, like
stopping new pipelines and providing safe
drinking water and affordable housing
to our indigenous communities, but we
Turn Left/Virez à gauche 11ProtectING Farmers
through Supply Management
photo: Richard BH
By Joseph Gubbels public safety through the use of antibiotics, crops, meat, and other farm products would
cause mass animal suffering, and harm the not only stabilize prices in these sectors
C
anada’s supply management system for environment. and protect small farmers, but also help
dairy, poultry, and eggs is a uniquely The average Canadian dairy farm tackle many of the worst effects of market
popular and successful policy in size is 85 cows versus 225 in America, and competition on these sectors.
Canadian politics. This form of economic while American milk production has not Outside of the supply managed
planning is a notable exception to the norm remained relatively constant, the number sectors, Canadian farmers are still forced into
of market economics, and the system is of dairy farms in America has gone from competition with giant vertically integrated
so widely liked that even the Liberals and over 80,000 in 2000 to under 40,000 in 2018, agri-industry from other countries, subject to
Conservatives are forced to pay lip service to meaning fewer but larger farms, and hundreds fluctuating market prices, and left at risk of
supply management in order to maintain rural of thousands of people losing their livelihoods. overproduction, and thus are unable to ensure
support. Opponents of the supply a stable living off their farms. Many pork and
The supply management system management system often claim that as a beef farmers are forced to work off the farm in
relies on five crown corporations, each result of the system, Canadians pay more for order to subsidize their family income, much
responsible for management of a single sector supply managed products, especially milk. like their American counterparts
(eggs, hatching eggs, turkey, chicken, dairy), The facts do not support this assertion over Large corporate farms dominate
that set prices for their sector’s products based the long term. American milk production is many other sectors in Canada, forcing all
on the average farmers’ cost of production. enhanced with the use of growth hormones farms into a race to the bottom on prices,
Production quotas are established regularly which are banned in Canada due to animal resulting in environmentally unsustainable
based on consumer demand thereby avoiding health and welfare concerns. When comparing production, huge amounts of greenhouse gas
under- or over-production. There are also equivalent hormone-free milk across the two emissions, and inhumane factory farming.
strict limits on the market share for imported countries, Canadians actually pay less for milk A quota system would prevent
products, ensuring unmanaged imports from ($1.50/L vs $1.64/L). over-production and waste, allowing a
giant farms in other countries don’t drive The unregulated US market with maximum cap to be set on the size of farms
Canadian farmers out of business. its fluctuating, below-cost prices, and threat which would let smaller farms to thrive.
The supply management system of over-production has left American farmers Supply management would stabilize and
saves the federal government from having with increasingly stressful, unpredictable lives. reduce grocery costs for working families by
to spend billions on farmer subsidies like in Tragically, the result is a suicide epidemic preventing huge fluctuations in consumer
the U.S., where the government spends $17 among American farmers, who have a prices, protect local economies from
billion per year supporting dairy farmers who suicide rate more than double that of military unregulated competition with global supply
are paid less than the cost of production by veterans. Recent studies of Canadian pork and chains and ensure rewarding and reliable life-
processors. Supply managed prices also allow beef farmers have shown this same alarming long careers for Canadian farmers.
Canadian farmers to make a fair return for crisis. Expansion of the supply
their labour and investments. It must be a priority for socialists management system to encompass the
The system also protects small to not only defend the supply management entire farming sector ought to be a focus
farms and rural communities that rely on system and the Canadian farmers covered for socialists in Canada, and it ought to be a
them by ensuring prices that allow farmers to by it, but to demand that government offer policy pushed within and by the NDP. n
make a living without having to expand into similar protection to all farmers. Expanding
American-style factory farms that threaten the supply management system to cover all
12 Turn Left/Virez à gaucheBY GARY PORTER
M any on the Left see the nearly four years
of Rachel Notley’s NDP government in
Alberta as unmitigated betrayal on tar
sands development, pipelines, and caving in
to the oil cartel and corrupt swindlers such a
Kinder Morgan. But the period of NDP rule looks
different to people in Alberta, especially those
who lean politically left.
To David Climenhaga, a well-known
political blogger who works in communications
for the United Nurses of Alberta, the pipeline
drama is an unfortunate distraction from a
long record of legislative victories: the first $15
minimum wage in Canada, stabilized funding
for healthcare, restrictions on big money in
elections, and tax increases on corporations
and the wealthy. The Notley Government was
Notley Failed for Lack of (Socialist) Vision
under Premier Prentice, even though it caused defeat Kenney on his own turf, defending the oil
a “genuinely progressive party, even if you the provincial deficit to grow. For the first time cartel until Alberta is broke and filled with rage.
disagree with their environmental policies.” Climenhaga can remember in Alberta, “there’s Nobody believed Notley was the real thing.
He and others note that even on a sense that there’s no crisis in healthcare, it’s Kenney is a benighted, backward-looking,
the environment it can be difficult to make properly funded, it’s running smoothly.” defender of profit, regardless whether it is
generalizations. At the same time that Notley Notley defended oil, she said, to destroying the planet as a living habitat. If you
called Kinder Morgan opponents “extremely defend high paying jobs. But these jobs are are looking for Neanderthals, Kenney is your
foolish” and threatened to cut off oil shipments already disappearing amid low oil prices and guy.
to B.C. unless the project was built, her NDP falling demand for Alberta’s dirty and expensive Many urged Notley, at the outset, to
regime phased out coal-fired electricity and oil. The Trans Mountain Pipeline is supposed to rule like a one term Premier and do the right
implemented an economy-wide tax on carbon. get tar sands oil to the Tidewater principally for things, i.e. the left-wing things, the socialist
Notley spent her first year in China. Yet the first tanker of 2019 did not leave things. Take over the tar sands and phase it out.
a legislative blitz. Starting with a ban on Burnaby until April even though the first stage Build publicly-owned, worker and community
corporate and union donations in elections, of Trans Mountain has existed for years. controlled green energy plants, 5G tech plants,
her government passed 33 bills, along with China wants less and less of mass green public transit and regardless of
thousands of pages of new regulations. Alberta’s expensive and dirty oil. With higher jurisdiction, work with the indigenous people
“There’s lots of change going on, we’re bringing anti-pollution standards, the advent of electric to end their exploitation and subjugation
Alberta from the back of the pack in terms of transportation, the low quality and high cost of by Ottawa by providing the water systems,
the environment, social and labour issues, to Alberta oil, Notley failed completely to take the housing, schools, social services and job
the head,” NDP House Leader Brian Mason told leadership on moving away from oil toward a training they need, under their control.
the Globe and Mail. future oriented economy where long-term jobs Alberta could have been transformed.
The NDP raised corporate taxes truly lie. Notley accomplished some worthwhile but
two per cent, adopted plans to get rid of the There was no way Notley could modest reforms, pushed by her labour base.
province’s flat tax on income (which had She could have transformed Alberta and
favoured the wealthy), and cracked down on led the country. Now we face four years of
a system of corporate patronage set up by Sasquatch, profit over human needs, corrupt
previous Tory governments. “Notley accomplished old boy politics in Alberta.
Yet, even in this, the NDP acted some worthwhile but Why do I say that? Some 30
more like mild reformers than radicals. Its modest reforms, pushed UCP candidates were caught advocating
patriarchal, white supremacist, anti-LGBTQI
corporate tax increases just brought Alberta
up to Canadian standards. “I don’t think that by her labour base. She views before the election. So this was another
they’re a government that’s putting the one per could have transformed missed opportunity by the conservative
cent under deep pressure,” Climenhaga said. leadership of Canada’s labour-based party. It
Notley’s NDP reversed about $1
Alberta and led the truly is time for the NDP to turn Left. n
billion in spending cuts to healthcare planned country. ”
Turn Left/Virez à gauche 13NDP ESTABLISHES FIRST BLACK
CAUCUS IN ONTARIO HISTORY
From Rima Berns-McGown, MPP for the NDP and the Black community, gave finance, to health care, education, housing,
Beaches-East York members of the NDP caucus the opportunity the Arts and beyond. Our mandate is to
to hear from Black community leaders. A work actively and collaboratively with Black
QUEEN’S PARK — Official Opposition key recommendation was the importance communities to address systemic anti-Black
Leader Andrea Horwath and the NDP caucus of formalizing representation, and direct racism by proposing policy solutions that will
announced the official formation of the NDP engagement with the Black community as a help build a future of equity, justice, respect
Black Caucus – Ontario’s first formal Black distinct group. and safety,” said NDP Black Caucus Chair
caucus in a political party. The establishment of the Black Laura Mae Lindo.
“Black community members should caucus is part of the Ontario NDP’s “It’s time for political leadership
see themselves represented and respected continued commitment to working with in this province that isn’t content with
when they look at their government. Black Black communities – from Zanana Akande’s backsliding or even with a slow pace of
Canadian leaders must be at the table when trailblazing work establishing the Anti-Racism change, but that instead works actively and
every decision is made. That’s why I’m so Secretariat in the 1990s to aggressively urgently with the Black community to build a
proud to announce the formal creation of the pushing the previous Liberal government to future of equity, justice, and respect.” n
Ontario NDP’s Black Caucus, chaired by our abolish carding instead of legislating it, and
Anti-Racism Critic and MPP for Kitchener the NDP’s present call for the government
Centre, Laura Mae Lindo,” said Horwath. to not only eliminate carding in Ontario,
“This is the first official Black caucus but also destroy all data obtained from the NDP Socialist Caucus
in Ontario’s history. It is the first time any party unconstitutional practice. Convention Meetings
has elected enough Black members to form a
caucus, and the first time a body like this has The inaugural NDP Black Caucus consists of: Friday, June 14, 8:00 pm
been formally identified as a key priority. What Join the Socialist Caucus for a
we’re putting out there by formalizing this Kitchener Centre MPP Dr. Laura Mae Lindo pub night at the George Hamilton
caucus is that we expect and believe that the York South-Weston MPP Faisal Hassan restaurant and bar, across from the
Ontario NDP MPP Black Caucus will continue Toronto – St. Paul’s MPP Dr. Jill Andrew convention centre, 152 King St.
for generation after generation, growing after Brampton North MPP Kevin Yarde West.
every election.” Beaches—East York MPP Dr. Rima Berns-
The NDP’s Black caucus was McGown Saturday, June 15, lunch and
established as a direct result of an initial Black dinner adjournments
community leaders’ roundtable discussion at The mandate of the NDP Black Attend the Socialist Caucus
Queen’s Park with the NDP. This discussion, Caucus is to ensure that Black perspectives meetings for candidate speeches
which was a key step in cultivating and are meaningfully incorporated into the work and open forum.
advancing an ongoing partnership between that New Democrats do on every file – from Venue: To be announced at
convention.
14 Turn Left/Virez à gaucheYou can also read
