BC Election results: the struggle in British Columbia will continue

Statement by the BC Provincial Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada

The May 14 B.C. provincial election saw the right‑wing Liberals win a fourth consecutive majority, thanks largely to the corporate sector which financed a massive anti‑NDP attack ad blitz. But it must be also noted that Adrian Dix's NDP failed to campaign on a platform to defend the interests of the working class against big business.

     Coming after years of popular anger against the Liberals, including the historic defeat of the HST, the election result defied polling numbers which had given the NDP a wide lead.

     The Liberal share of the popular vote dropped slightly, from 45% in 2009 to 44% in this campaign, and Premier Christy Clark was defeated in her own riding. But the BC Conservatives took less than five percent of the popular vote, so the anticipated split of the right‑wing forces did not materialize. Decisive sections of big capital united to preserve B.C.'s traditional "free enterprise" coalition of federal Liberals and Conservatives. In particular, the energy and resource industries made enormous efforts to save the Liberal government, which is expected to repay them with support for projects to expand hydrocarbon exports.

     The coming months will expose the true, anti‑working class character of the B.C. Liberals. Despite their gamble on big revenues from resource exports, the Liberals cannot save British Columbia from the effects of the global capitalist economic crisis. Hydro charges will skyrocket, the union‑bashing seen during Campbell's years as premier will return, the rights of First Nations will be trampled, and poverty will deepen for large sections of the population. On May 15, six more schools were closed by the underfunded Cowichan Valley school district, an ominous sign of things to come. The Premier's "balanced budget" will be seen as a cynical lie, and next year's budget will launch a new round of social spending cuts.

     This situation is a powerful rebuke to those who argued that the working class and popular forces should try to ride out the storm until the NDP's return to power.

     The defeat of the NDP proves yet again that change cannot be won simply through electoral tactics. This is not to dismiss the aspirations of labour and progressive activists who worked so hard to elect a new government. Their courageous efforts over the past twelve years, and during this election, deserved a far better result.

     But this struggle was not matched by the NDP leadership, which repeatedly dampened any hopes of reversing the damage inflicted by the Liberals, instead calling for "small, realistic" changes. In fact, the NDP (like social democratic parties in other countries) largely accepts the basic premise that the capitalist system can only be adjusted, not challenged. This allowed the Liberals to set the tone for the campaign, falsely pitting "economic growth" against "the environment", when in fact the Liberal record on both issues has been dismal.

     Adrian Dix did pledge to reverse a small part of Campbell's $2 billion annual tax breaks for the corporate sector and upper‑income brackets ‑ but so did Christy Clark, to distance herself from Campbell's legacy. Dix had planned to use some of these revenues to support badly‑underfunded public schools and post‑secondary education. On the other hand, the NDP's promise to raise starvation‑level social assistance rates by a miserly $20 a month ‑ and only after two years ‑ was seen by many poor people and anti‑poverty advocates as a slap in the face. The NDP also failed to present any serious plan to build more low‑income housing, or to make strong commitments to progressive changes to labour legislation.

     This strategic failure, not so‑called vote splitting by the Greens, is the real reason for the NDP's defeat. The NDP share of the vote declined from 42% in 2000 to 39.5% in this campaign. The drop in turnout of eligible voters to below 50% indicates that many potential NDP supporters were not inspired by the party's weak platform.

     Adrian Dix will lead 33 MLAs back to Victoria, and some of these members will be powerful critics of the Clark government. The Green MLA Andrew Weaver will also be a welcome voice for the environment rather than corporate interests.

     But the key struggles over the coming four years will be in workplaces, communities, and wilderness areas across British Columbia. The Liberal attack must be met with a powerful, militant, united response, by working people, First Nations, youth, seniors, women. We cannot allow our movements to be distracted and divided by narrow electoral ambitions, nor by counter‑productive tactics of isolated individuals. Only broad, united movements can set the stage for fundamental change in British Columbia.

     The BC Federation of Labour, and other organized labour groups in the province can play a crucial and positive role in such a struggle. When the organized labour movement gets involved politically for social change in the interests of the working class, they can make a difference. Political action by labour must move beyond simply providing foot soldiers, resources and mobilization as a part of the NDP electoral strategy, although this may be a part of it. Independent political action together with its allies in community and social activist groups, raising the issues year‑round from a working class perspective, is needed. This kind of political action must break out of narrow sectarian strategies and be inclusive as a rallying point for progressive opponents to the Liberal pro‑corporate agenda.

     This is why it remains critical to build a much larger and more influential Communist Party in British Columbia. The Communist candidates presented a comprehensive platform to put people and the environment ahead of corporate greed. As expected, the low vote for Communist candidates reflected the difficult choices faced by working people desperate to defeat the Liberals. But much larger numbers of young people supported the Communist Party in the Student Vote BC project. This shows that our policies for fundamental change do have wider support. The time is coming when Communist MLAs will be on the floor of the Legislature to fight for the rights and interests of the working class.

     To all our friends who campaigned and voted for change on May 14th, only to face bitter disappointment, we say: the struggle to block the corporate agenda will continue in British Columbia. Our party will continue to fight shoulder to shoulder with others for poverty reduction, social housing, improved labour legislation, a higher minimum wage, full equality, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and other vital demands. We welcome you to join our Party, to help us build a powerful People's Alternative to the neoliberal agenda, and to work for a socialist Canada, where exploitation, oppression and environmental destruction are replaced by economic justice, social equality, and a sustainable future!

Harper, Ford: against the corrupt criminals, the real question is organizing resistance

Editorial by People's Voice Newspaper

Rarely has the gap between the pompous rhetoric of right-wing politicians and the sleazy reality been so vast. Both Stephen Harper and Rob Ford gained office as supposed enemies of corruption and crime, and both now stand revealed as utterly corrupt criminals.

The Prime Minister is deeply entangled in a web of payoffs and backroom deals involving his fired chief of staff and a gaggle of buffoonish Tory Senators caught scamming the public with phony expense claims. The only downside to this news is that the PM may yet force his patronage appointees - Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau - to take the fall. But the stench of this scandal will cling to Harper, since it infuriates much of his own voter base who have long been suspicious of the unelected Senate.

Rob Ford's downfall - for surely he cannot survive his latest debacle - is more bad news for the political right. It's true that there is a certain classist and racist twist to the mayor's situation; if Ford had been filmed swilling expensive Scotch with "business leaders" in expensive suits, few would bat an eyelash. But after constructing his image of a down-to-earth fighter for the "little guy", Ford has now betrayed even his most loyal believers.

The task of the left, however, is not to focus on these tawdry spectacles, since the anti-working class agenda is not the product of individual politicians. Scandals can help to erase the phony "populist" image of hypocritical right-wing leaders. But the real question is how to mobilize resistance against big capital and governments (Conservative, Liberal, and even NDP and PQ) which follow the neoliberal model. This requires a conscious effort by the labour movement and its allies to build unity around a real People's Alternative to corporate domination. There are welcome stirrings of interest along such lines, but much more needs to be done.

Rural Canada under attack by Canada Post Corporation

R. Mark Hamilton

The Canada Post Act (1981) mandates the maintenance and expansion of our public post office. Canada Post is a public service that belongs to all of us, connecting communities both large and small, from isolated locations like Pictou Island to downtown Vancouver. The services provided by Canada Post are invaluable for individuals and businesses, even in this "digital age," especially in rural areas.

Contrary to what many have been led to believe, Canada Post Corporation has made consistent profits, year in and year out. For a full sixteen years, the post office returned handsome dividends to the federal government, costing the taxpayer nothing.

For the first time, Canada Post announced a financial loss for the year 2011. It claimed that this was due to a major and continuing decline in letter mail volumes. Certainly, letter mail has declined, but not at the exaggerated levels presented by the Corporation.

The real reasons for the loss in 2011 differ from what Canada Post suggests. During labour negotiations, Canada Post locked out their workers, and invested billions into new sorting machinery. If letter mail is truly in a historic decline, why invest so much into machinery to sort an ever diminishing volume of mail?

Despite plenty of fear mongering, Canada Post once again returned to profits in 2012, claiming that this rebound was due to cost savings achieved through the last collective agreement. The mistakes of management were paid for by the postal workers themselves, in direct cuts to benefits such as sick leave and two‑tier wages for new hires.

Based on a report issued by The Conference Board of Canada, a corporate think tank, Canada Post projects a return to a loss position for next year and into the future. This biased report was funded by Canada Post, and Deepak Chopra, the current President and CEO of Canada Post, sits on the Board of Directors of the Conference Board.

Canada Post and the Harper Tories are using such "studies," and the gradual decline in letter mail, to justify dramatic cuts in both jobs and services. Rural Canada and Quebec have been hit especially hard. Small villages and towns have seen local post offices close or reduce their hours.

Canada Post also provides decent jobs in rural areas which often have few employment opportunities, and the post office is still a hub of activities in many communities. Rural mail delivery has a long and proud history. Rural and Suburban Mail Couriers (RSMCs) deliver mail to residents in every corner of the country, in all types of weather.

One prong of the attack has been made under the guise of health and safety. Canada Post has sent so-called safety inspectors to evaluate mail boxes on rural routes. Out of a feigned concern for employees, Canada Post has declared many such mail boxes to be unsafe. Residents who may have received mail for decades at the end of their driveway have had their mode of delivery changed to a community mailbox, which can be kilometres away. Many rural routes have lost significant numbers of points of call, costing jobs and forcing seniors and those with disabilities to travel to get their mail.

In December of last year, Canada Post made changes to how local mail is processed. Until then, local mail would be cancelled and sorted in its office of origin, and usually delivered the next day. Now mail is being sent to urban centres to be sorted, and returned to the local destination address. Canada Post has tried to maintain that these changes do not impact delivery standards, but the truth is otherwise. For example, almost all mail in the provinces of Nova Scotia and PEI, will be sent to Halifax to be sorted, returning later. The deterioration of service was immediate, as were job losses, with huge numbers to come as more workers retire and more services are cut.

A new smaller, retail model is being implemented by Canada Post. All postal outlets are to be reviewed, and many of the first targets are in rural Canada. In Nova Scotia, some of the offices to make the first list are Truro, Yarmouth, Pictou and North Sydney. This new model involves the downsizing from the standard two wickets, to one single wicket. This prevents relief staff from assisting when necessary, and creates long wait times for customers. The postal clerk is left to work out of a hole in the wall, with the products hidden behind the counter.

While there are challenges facing the post office, the solution is not to be found in reducing jobs and services, but rather through an expansion of services. Canada Post has the ability and infrastructure to reach every household in the country, actively competing with private courier companies. Postal banking and financial services are another promising avenue for revenues. Many postal administrations around the world have successfully moved into banking, like Germany, New Zealand and China. Canada Post should do the same. An expansion into banking would be a great asset for rural areas, many of which no longer have access to banks.

Rural Canadians deserve to have mail delivery. But there is a clear agenda by the Corporation's management and the Harper Conservatives to dismantle and destroy Canada Post as a public service. The decisions point in the direction of privatisation, which would be a disaster for postal workers and the public.

Stay informed and participate in local actions organised by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. Tell your Member of Parliament and Canada Post that you want an expansion of services! Canada Post has an online site where you can provide your thoughts on the future of the post office. This site may be accessed through www.canadapost.ca.

Your public post office delivers for now!

R. Mark Hamilton is a member of CUPW and a YCL activist in Nova Scotia.

Canadian-Cuban friendship network reaffirms solidarity

A young Canadian activist learns about Cuban history
on the 21st annual Che Brigade

From May 18-20 delegates from across the country participated in the Sixth Convention of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), reaffirming their commitment to deepen and strengthen the Canada-Cuba solidarity & friendship movement.  Held in the Toronto City Hall, representatives from 21 member organizations were joined by observers and special invited guests, including the President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship Amongst the Peoples (ICAP), Kenia Serrano Puig, His Excellency, the Cuban Ambassador to Canada Julio Garmendía Peña,  the Consul General of Cuba to Canada Javier Domokos Ruiz and other Cuban and Canadian guests.

      The Convention began with a tribute to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías. Delegates rendered homage through a poignant poem by Cuba based anthropologist and journalist Susan Hurlich read by internationally known playwright and actor Brian Gordon Sinclair, and a moving video of the profound personal relationship of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, centred on the song El Regresso de un Amigo (The Return of a Friend) by Cuban singer  Raúl Torres.  During the course of the Convention, delegates also stood for a moment of silence to mark the passing of Marvin Glass, a founding member of the CNC and co-chair from 2002 to 2008.

      Following the tribute to Hugo Chavez, ICAP President Kenia Serano,  and His Excellency Ambassador Julio Garmendía Peña emphasized the importance of the Canada-Cuba solidarity movement to Canada-Cuba relations, and the role it can play  in strengthening and deepening these relations, ensuring they remain based on mutual respect and equality. Serano also highlighted the importance of the upcoming Third World Conference in Solidarity With Cuba to be held in  Havana from October 27-31, 2014. Messages of greetings were also received from La Table de Concertation de Solidarité Quebec-Cuba and the United States National Network On Cuba, warmly wishing the Convention success.

Several young Brigadistas fresh from three weeks working on the 43-member Che Guevara Volunteer Brigade, along with brigade coordinator, Dave Thomas, enthusiastically talked of their experiences in Cuba. In addressing Canada-Cuba relations, John Kirk (Dalhousie University), provided an overview of the long established Canadian ties with Cuba. He expressed concerns about the Harper regime’s attitude to Cuba, which contrasts sharply with the high esteem in which  Canadians hold Cuba.   A message of support from Carolyn Bennett (MP for the the constituency of St. Paul's in Toronto) was also read to the delegates.

Jorge Garcia Orgales (Global Affairs Department, United Steel Workers) and Dave Bleakney (National Representative, Canadian Union of Postal Workers) discussed Canadian Unions & Cuba Solidarity, stressing the importance the unions place on Cuban solidarity and, in particular, on the campaign to make sure all Five Cuban Heroes being held in U.S. jails are freed. They outlined their  close collaboration with Cuban unions and emphasized the need for closer cooperation with the CNC. Local CNC organzations were encouraged  to continue collaborating with unions in order to develop closer working relationships.

      Extending over two sessions, the discussion of the ongoing economic and social measures being adopted in Cuba proved of considerable interest to delegates and observers. Isaac Saney (Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s Universities) gave a detailed elaboration of the unfolding renovation and updating of the Cuban economy, followed by Miguel Figueroa, (National Leader, Communist Party of Canada) who spoke on his recent visit to the island.  The Cuban guests enriched the discussion, stressing that these changes were taking place within the process of the renewal and continuity of the Cuban revolutionary and socialist project.

Extensive reports by the CNC executive and CNC member organization were presented covering the two and a half years since the Fifth Convention. The reports illustrated the breadth and depth of Canada-Cuba solidarity activities from Vancouver to Halifax.  Highlights of the accomplishments are the CNC's fundraising hurricane and earthquake relief for Cuba and Haiti, which raised over one million dollars, the  tour across Canada of Cuban Dr. Jorge Balseiro and the People's Tribunal and Assembly held in Toronto last September 21-23.  The scope and diversity encompassed a variety of arenas, from political work with parliamentarians, municipal councillors and unions to cultural performances, plays and festivals to ongoing information meetings, pickets and leafleting.

       CNC delegates resolved to continue their efforts to mobilize Canadian public and political opinion to end the U.S. economic blockade of the island and to challenge and break the wall of silence and disinformation erected around the Five Heroes. Delegates adopted  several resolutions,  which reaffirmed their commitment to continue the struggle to free all of the Five Cuban Heroes unjustly incarcerated in the United States for defending their country from terrorism. Special attention  was also paid to other areas of ongoing work including among others, the highly successful Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade and Cuba For Haiti and Hurricane Relief Campaigns.   The Convention also committed to support the upcoming symposium Africa's Unknown War: Apartheid Terror, Cuba & Southern African Liberation to be held at the University of Toronto on September 27 & 28. 2013, and to ensure vigorous Canadian participation in the Third World Conference in Solidarity With Cuba to be held in Havana from October 27-31, 2014.

     Delegates elected a new executive to implement the Convention's decisions and realize the work plan for 2013-2015: Laura Chesnik,  Julio Fonseca, Vincent Guihan, Elizabeth Hill, Peter Noble, Isaac Saney and Saleh Waziruddin.  The executive subsequently selected Elizabeth Hill and Isaac Saney to continue as  co-chairs. Isaac Saney was also re-appointed National Spokesperson, with Laura Chesnik resuming the position of Secretary and Elizabeth Hill that of Treasurer.

      The exciting and full three-day program reflected the rich and dynamic Canada-Cuba solidarity & friendship movement, which has been in existence for more than fifty years. A movement rooted in the overwhelming respect of Canadians for Cuba’s right to independence and self-determination, and a profound admiration for what the Cuban people have accomplished despite facing the unceasing aggression of the United States.  This respect and admiration have forged unbreakable ties of friendship and solidarity between the people of Canada and Cuba.