SocialistWorker www.socialist.ca $2 no. 573 May 2015

Reproductive justice Page 2 JUSTIN HARPER Laura Kaminker shows how “feticide” laws punish women and pay lip service CANADA’S CORPORATE to children Indigenous sovereignty My COALITION Page 2-3 I support Valerie Lannon explains party cuts how the Heiltsuk na- Bill C-51 to tion defended their right healthcare to fish, andCraig Frayne erode your exposes Canada’s war on so we can cut civil liberties Honduran peasants corporate Anti-imperialism taxes Page 3 Arab socialists condemn the war on Yemen, while Jesse McLaren makes the links between Harper and migrant deaths Anti-racism Page 4-5 James Supple warns about Islamophobia in Australia, and Kim Koyama remem- bers the internment of Japanese Canadians Billions Quebec against Forget the for warfare, austerity planet, Page 6-7 not jobs or Chantal Sundaram assesses long live the strengths and weak- childcare neses of the new Quebec tar sands spring & climate Federal budget chaos Page 8 Harper follows the Lib- erals with a “balanced” budget that gives billions to corporations and the military while ignoring jobs and the climate Minimum wage Page 11 Valerie Lannon reports on the growing fight for $15 Climate justice Page 12 More than 25,000 marched in Quebec City Facts & figures Jailed for failed 0 pregnancy Number of times the fed- by LAURA KAMINKER eral budget mentions First Nations or climate change Last month, four dec- ades of anti-woman, 15 anti-abortion hysteria in Minimum wage demand the US hit a new low. that united workers in 230 Last August, an Indiana cities aross the US, 15 woman sought medical cities across Ontario and 40 attention after a premature countries around the world delivery resulted in the death on April 15 of the fetus. The emergency- room doctor called the 20 police. In April, that woman Jail term in years for poor was sentenced to 20 years in and racialized woman prison. who had a miscarriage and From The Guardian, “A sought medical help 33-year-old woman from Indiana has been charged 20,000 with the feticide and fetal Number of Japanese murder of her unborn child Canadians interned dur- after she endured a pre- ing WWII for “national mature delivery and sought security” hospital treatment. “She is the second woman 22,000 in Indiana to be charged Number of migrant who with feticide following the have died crossing the prolonged criminal prosecu- Mediterranean since the year Victory for Heiltsuk nation tion of Bei Bei Shuai, who 2000 by VALERIE LANNON lost her baby when she tried to kill herself. 25,000 On April 2, the Heiltsuk with DFO,” stated Chief the neighbouring Kitasoo/ will not consent to herring Women’s rights advocates Conservative estimate of First Nation, located Councillor Marilyn Slett. Xaixais Nation, the Council test or commercial fisheries see the decision by prosecu- the number of people who on BC’s central west “Our herring is our future, of the Haida Nation, Coastal because their traditional tors of St Joseph County, joined the Act on Climate coast, scored a huge and we must protect it by First Nations, Nuu-chah- knowledge and scientific Indiana, to apply feticide march in Quebec City victory over the federal whatever means necessary.” nulth Tribal Council, and the data show the area cannot laws against Patel as part of Department of Fisheries Greg Thomas, the chair Union of BC Indian Chiefs. sustain both traditional the creeping criminalization 75,000 and Oceans (DFO) of the Herring Industry Heiltsuk leadership also and commercial fisheries. of pregnancy in America. At Number of people who pro- and billionaire Jimmy Advisory Board, said there noted solidarity from the The law is very clear that least 38 of the 50 states have tested austerity in Montreal Pattison. are plenty of fish. But the labour movement: “We Aboriginal harvesting rights introduced fetal homicide on April 2 Through a series of Heiltsuk claim herring appreciate the leadership must take priority over laws.” militant actions, the Nation stocks are on the verge of and understanding of the non-Aboriginal interests These laws were never 135,000 and its allies forced DFO to collapse. “We don’t trust situation that the United when conservation concerns intended to “protect the Number of Quebec students back off its plans to open the the DFO science. It’s very Fisherman and Allied exist.” unborn child”. The laws on strike at the start of April herring fishery in a sensitive industry driven,” said Carrie Workers’ Union – Unifor “I stand in solidarity with are being used exactly for area in the Nation’s territory. Humchitt, a former legal ad- has shown by its recommen- the people from the Heiltsuk their intended purpose: to $12 billion viser for the Heiltsuk and a dation to its members not to Nation, who have continu- police and punish women. Budget increase for the Background logistics coordinator for the select the Central Coast as ally fought to defend herring Especially - or exclu- Canadian military over the Ignoring the demands of the spawn on kelp fishery with an area to fish herring this stocks they have harvested sively - low-income women. next decade Heiltsuk First Nation, and the First Nation’s Gladstone year, as outlined in an open for countless generations,” Because let’s be clear: the without any consultation, Reconciliation Society. letter to the Council of the said Elizabeth May, Leader US’s “war on women” is DFO opened the commer- Haida Nation, the Heiltsuk of the Green Party of also a class war. Women cial herring-roe seine fishery Resistance Tribal Council and BC com- Canada. who can afford private treat- In their own on March 22. When DFO would not listen mercial herring fishermen ment will never be subjected The Heiltsuk people have to the cautions and demands dated January 20, 2015.” The Tories? to these humiliations. On the words survived off herring fish for issued by the Heiltsuk, com- And solidarity has Tory Fisheries Minister Gail other hand, with the middle millennia and also made a munity members took direct also seen unity between Shea claimed that “openings class shrinking and poverty living selling herring-roe to action to defend herring Indigenous and non- are based on science and burgeoning throughout the Japanese markets in more stocks. They took their boats Indigenous peoples in the do follow the cautionary US, increasing numbers “Our herring is recent years. into their traditional waters streets of Vancouver and approach,” which would be of women must fear these our future and we But commercial (as to block entry by commer- Victoria. a first for the Tories, given nightmare scenarios. must protect it by opposed to indigenous, cial fishers. In Victoria, protesters their devotion to all extrac- What would policies whatever means traditional) over-fishing In an open letter to Jim held a rally outside Save- tion industries—whether intended to “protect the un- necessary.” has taken its toll and the Pattison, owner of the On-Foods, a supermarket under the ground (oil), born child” look like? Laws Heiltsuk Nation Chief Heiltsuk Nation has called Canadian Fishing Company, chained owned by bil- on the ground (forests) or that gave us: Fresh, healthy Marilyn Slett for a ban on herring fisheries the Heiltsuk wrote, “The lionaire Jim Pattison. His underwater (fisheries). food that every person could this year in what is known Heiltsuk Nation owns two Canadian Fishing Company, Pacific Wild founder and afford. Free quality pre-natal “It’s entirely depend on as Area 7. Herring fisheries gillnet licenses, but we will or Canfisco, holds a wildlife photographer Ian care. Free quality medical fiscal sleight of hand...a had already been closed in not be leasing them this large number of herring McAllister speculated as care for every person. Free total of $7.5 billion in two other contested regions year due to conservation licenses. On top of ignoring to why the federal govern- childcare for the children shell game transactions. this year after neighbour- concerns. In a community Indigenous calls for sustain- ment might be aggressively already born. Jobs that pay Without those three ing First Nations obtained with high unemployment ability, Pattison routinely pushing the re-opening of a true living wage. Clean fiscal tricks, the reported injunctions. such as ours, this decision exploits the commercial the herring trade. water. balance would be a $6.1 “We must put con- was not taken lightly. It is a fishers themselves by paying “It may have something Policies intended to pro- billion deficit -- not a $1.4 servation first. We have sacrifice we must make now the lowest possible amount to do with pipeline politics. tect children - in any stage of billion surplus.” voluntarily suspended our in order to safeguard for our for their catch. This government is test- their lives - don’t criminalize Unifor economist Jim community-owned com- future.” Fifty protesters oc- ing the mettle of coastal pregnancy. Stanford on the “balanced” mercial gillnet herring Both Chief Slett and cupied the busy downtown communities. It’s hard to Canadians take note: budget licenses for this season to Kelly Brown locked them- intersection outside DFO’s imagine the long history a fetal personhood law allow stocks to rebuild, selves in the DFO office on Vancouver office and four of peaceful demonstration was floated as a private “I have dedicated but DFO and industry are nearby Denny Island. activists temporarily locked that the Heiltsuk have member’s bill in the Harper myself to trying to unwilling to follow suit,” themselves down in the conducted, why they think government. The MP who draw great people said Kelly Brown, director Allies office itself. Protesters have they are just going to turn sponsored the bill admit- into politics.” of the Heiltsuk Integrated The Heiltsuk people also been active around the this into something, bigger,” ted that its purpose was to Justin Trudeau on Bill Blair, Resource Management received strong support local Canfisco plant. he said last week. “recognize the humanity former Toronto police chief Department. from a variety of sources. As NDP MP Nathan of the unborn child”. The who presided over G20 “We have exhausted There were been state- Cullen noted, “The Heiltsuk recent sentencing in Indiana police brutality, a series of all means of negotiation ments of solidarity from have repeatedly stated they is the direct outcome of that killings of people of colour, kind of language enshrined and the racist policy of into law. carding Reliance on fossil fuels causes another spill The bill was defeated after by BRADLEY HUGHES public outcry. “I’m a Liberal.” A ship on its way to slick due to the spill was spill until 13 hours after it obey these guidelines. Justin Trudeau on sup- pick up grain spilled not discovered by any happened. The Premier and The Kitsilano coast porting Bill C-51 that 2,700 litres of fuel into official agency. The spill the Coast Guard have been guard base in Burrard inlet Socialist Worker attacks civil liberties, Burrard Inlet. This is the was reported by a person squabbling in the media was closed last year by the much like the Liberal Bills same area that the pro- in a sailboat who happened about whether it is the re- Harper government despite e-mail: [email protected] C-35/36 did after 9/11 posed Kinder Morgan on the oil slick at around 5 sponsibility of the province many protests pointing out web: www.socialist.ca pipeline will increase oil pm. It took the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard to notify the increased response times lphone: 416.972.6391 tanker traffic from five three hours to decide that the the cities effected by spills. that would result. This base oil tankers per month spill was serious, andseven The oil reached North was the busiest in Canada All correspondence to: Socialist Worker to 34 per month. Each hours before the spill was Shore beaches, Sandy and responded to around P.O. Box 339, Station E of these will be able to dealt with. Cove, Ambleside, New 250 calls per year. Toronto, ON M6H 4E3 hold nearly 140 million This was in pleasant calm Brighton Beach and beaches Despite the time lag, fin- Published every four weeks in litres of oil. weather within site of the in Stanley Park. The City ger pointing, and fouling of Toronto by the International Socialists. Printed in Hamilton at a union shop; member of the Everything about this largest city in the province. of Vancouver has advised beaches, the federal minister Canadian Magazine Publisher’s Association spill points to the hazards of Imagine how long it will people and their pets to of Industry, James Moore, / Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. using and transporting fossil take to deal with spills that avoid the water or shoreline whose riding is adjacent to 58554253-99, Post Office Department, Ottawa / ISSN 0836-7094 / Return postage guaranteed fuels and the disregard of all occur off the coast in rough around English Bay and the inlet, described the spill levels of government to this weather. Stanley Park until further response as first class. danger. The city of Vancouver notice. It’s not clear how The kilometre long oil was not notified about the wildlife can be expected to 2 Socialist Worker May 2015 Canada vs INTERNATIONAL campesinos

by CRAIG FRAYNE

Transnational capital depends on uprooting those closest to the land. In contrast to rural areas that have been fully swallowed by agribusiness, many Latin American campe- sino (peasant/landless farmer) organizations challenge the dominant narrative of markets, urbanization and development. They refuse to grow the handful of export crops de- manded by agro-monopolies and commodity speculators; they lead resistance to GMO seed, extractive or tourism industries that seek to patent and commercialise the com- mons; and engage in civil disobedience to defend their right to the land. This is why campesinos are being evicted, threatened and murdered in Honduras. Campesino organizations are targets because they are united and unrelenting in their struggle for alternatives to capitalist-driven uneven development that continues to be a disaster for the rural Harper and migrant deaths population of Honduras, 75 per cent of whom live on less by Jesse McLaren a demand previously only com- welcomed. joined the war on Mali on behalf of than $1.25 per day. ing from the far-right Northern According to the International Canadian mining corporations like “We found, literally, a floating League. British Prime Minister Organization for Migration, Barrick Gold (who have since hired The 2009 capitalist cemetery. Bodies were every- David Cameron wants to send “In 2014, those dying in the former Foreign Affairs Minister coup where. With the dinghies we British forces to Libya to “smash Mediterranean have tended to be John Baird). Canada sold weapons In 2008, President Manuel had to literally slalom among the gangs” responsible for migrant from west and central sub-saharan to Saudi Arabia, which armed Zalaya began moving the corpses,” said a medic ships—language that reinforces the Africa; the Middle East and North sectarian groups to undermine forward on the land reform who tried to rescue migrants right-wing UKIP and fascist British Africa, with most originating fin the the Syrian revolution, and is now process with a Decree that from a ship that sank in the National Party. French President Syrian Arab Republic, Occupied joining the dictator Bashar Al Assad would grant titles to campe- Mediterranean last month. François Hollande is mimicking Palestinian Territory and Egypt; to bomb the resulting extremist sinos who had inhabited and Over 22,000 migrants have died rhetoric of the fascist National and the Horn of Africa…Many groups. Meanwhile Harper’s worked land for more than since the year 2000 trying to reach Front in equating migrants with ter- are fleeing countries embroiled in handpicked ambassador to Jordan 10 years. Zelaya also enacted Europe, and numbers are rising. rorists, claiming that “By fighting conflict and known for widespread has been implicated in transporting other measures that enraged Last year more than 3,000 migrants these traffickers, we fight terrorism human rights abuses; in 2013, 63 ISIS recruit to Syria. the ruling class, including died, including 500 when a boat and by fighting terrorism we fight per cent lf all detections of irregular All these wars have been labeled a 60 per cent raise in the min- sank near Malta. This year 1,500 these traffickers.” arrivals to Europe by sea were from “humanitarian interventions.” The imum wage, and a proposed have already died, including more So the response to a humanitar- the Syrian Arab Republic, Eritrea, fact that thousands are risking their new mining law requiring than 1,200 this month alone. But ian tragedy becomes part of the Afghanistan and Somalia.” lives to flee the resulting violence stricter environmental regula- the dominant response has been Islamophobic “war on terror.” Canadian foreign policy is shows the true nature of Western tions, higher royalties and to blame the victim through a Mohammed Ali Malek—which implicated in all these. intervention. But instead of ending community consent. racist war on migrants, rather than the Globe and Mail described as a Somalia has long been the target wars, occupations and arms sales These measures came to address the roots causes of Western “bearded Tunisian” (as if his choice of Western imperialism—including the West is criminalizing migrants. a halt in June, 2009—with foreign and domestic policy—in- of facial hair had any relevance)— Canadian soldiers in the 1990s Harper’s domestic policy is part military patrols, tanks and cluding Canada’s. is being charged with multiple and US drones now. For more of this war on refugees. When a aircraft overhead; electricity, manslaughter, causing a shipwreck than a decade Canada occupied ship of Tamil migrants feeling the phone lines and media cut; Militarism and fascism and aiding illegal immigration. Afghanistan—which the Liberals genocidal Sri Lankan state arrived armed forces stormed the As Laurens Jolles, United Nations But criminalizing migration started and Harper repeatedly ex- in 2010 the Tories criminalized home of Zalaya and put him High Commissioner for Refugees is not a solution, it is part of the tended. Harper has been a staunch them. Despite the Syrian humani- on a plane to Costa Rica. All representative in Italy explained, problem. As Aurelie Ponthieu from defender of Israel—including tarian crisis, the Tories have hardly Latin American countries, the “If one really wants to tackle the Doctors Without Borders said, “We cutting humanitarian aid to Gaza let any Syrian refugees arrive. The EU and much of the world problem and ensure that there are are amazed to see that the huge and defending every Israeli assault. Tories have scapegoated refugees to condemned the coup, with less deaths, then the thing to do is means and resources allocated to Harper invited Egyptian dictator justify gutting refugee health care the exception of Canada and to look at providing legal avenues declaring war on smugglers are not Hosni Mubarak to Canada for the and distracting from the $36 billion the US. to come to Europe.” equally invested in saving lives. G20 meeting in 2010, supported cut to healthcare. The Temporary The Clinton State But with an economic crisis, Focusing on keeping people out by the dictator until the day he was Foreign Worker Program has been Department worked behind the 1% is looking for scapegoats. cutting their only existing routes is overthrown in 2011, and has been uesd to exploit migrant workers and the scenes to legitimize the Last year Italy cancelled its only going to push people fleeing silent towards the violence of the now arbitrary timelines and lists of coup on behalf of corporate Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue for their lives to find other routes, new dictatorship. “safe countries” have been used to interests. Canada was even program, and now migrants are potentially even more dangerous.” After arming the Libyan dictator further deport migrants. less subtle in acting on behalf being labelled a terrorist threat Gaddafi, the West launched a war Instead of criminalizing migrants of investors, by helping requiring a military response—in- Harper ‘s complicity to contain the revolution against we need to stop the criminal wars rewrite the country’s mining cluding drones. This racist response The Harper government’s silence him. In order to protect Canadian they are fleeing. Instead of closing laws and signing a bilateral will only worsen the situation for towards the latest tragedy speaks companies like Suncor and SNC- the borders and deporting migrants trade agreement with the migrants, while reinforcing the real to its complicity—both in waging Lavalin, Harper joined the 2011 we need to open the borders and post-coup government. threat of fascism across Europe. wars that drive people from their war in Libya—where the Canadian welcome them. Instead of blaming The coup government The Italian Parliament is pushing homelands and in preventing them military played the role of “Al- migrants we need to blame the 1% privatized utilities and infra- for a naval blockade of Libya, from safely arriving and being Qaeda’s air force.” In 2013 Canada who thrive on wars and racism. structure; privatized educa- tion as part of a broader at- tack on the teacher’s unions, and undermined labour laws. It devised “Model Cities”, Arab socialists condemn war on Yemen the brainchild of advisors with ties to the former At midnight, between March 26 uprisings, by applying pressure loaded with religious ideology and out by Houthi militias in alliance Reagan Administration, and 27, 2015, warplanes belonging with the help of Gulf Cooperation armed with the weapons of sectar- with the military, which is still as autonomous economic to ten Arab and Muslim (Pakistan) Council (GCC) to impose a settle- ian division... controlled by the former tyrant of zones where the constitution countries, led by Saudi Arabia, ment, which led to the departure It is clear that the primary victims Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and would not apply. It granted launched a raid Yemen, under the of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, of the attack will be the civilian strongly supported by the Islamic hundreds of hydroelectric pretext of dealing with the sectarian but kept the regime’s apparatus population, which has nothing to Republic of the mullahs of Iran. and mining concessions, Yemeni militia (the Houthi rebels) intact and untouched. This paved do with any of the parties in the These organizations also condemn mainly to US, Chinese, and believed to be linked to a foreign the way for Saleh, after a long conflict, added to the devastation the recent onslaught perpetuated Canadian investors. state, the Islamic Republic of Iran, period of hostility, to join forces of facilities, infrastructure, and the by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Rural compesino and which threatens to take control of with Houthi militias, taking control military capabilities of the people and its allies in this brutal criminal indigenous groups have been all of Yemen and overthrow the of the capital Sanaa, followed by of Yemen. This is all in a country process and calls for the cessation at the forefront of resistance elected authority represented by most of the provinces and regions considered one of the poorest in the of hostilities between all the parties to the coup and subsequent the Yemeni President Abed Rabbo of Yemen. However, the Houthis Arab region and the entire world... involved and the withdrawal of commercialization of Mansour Hadi... are now the allies of the Iranian The revolutionary Marxist all foreign military presence from Honduran territory. The During the Arab spring, the Saudi regime and carrying out the plans organizations signatory to this Yemen. consequence has been execu- Kingdom played a crucial role of the Ayatollahs, whose nationalist statement, strongly condemn the tions, forced disappearances, in quashing the peaceful Yemeni aspirations of a broader Empire is various acts of aggression carried This is shared from al-manshour torture, death threats, attacks, and harassment. May 2015 Socialist Worker 3 IDEAS FOR STRUGGLE Faline Bobier INTERNATIONAL Capitalism and precarity A recent interview with American socialist Charlie Post on Jacobin questions one of the common sense ideas among many sections of the left today—the notion of the precariat. Essentially this is the notion that there is an underclass of workers who receive minimum wage or lower, have no benefits and work part-time. According to the conventional wisdom this group is completely separated from workers who have full time employment and more secure working situations. The underlying logic of this argument is that neoliberal capitalism has triumphed over ordinary workers’ ability to fight to set the terms and conditions of their exploitation, that workers in unions with higher wages and good benefits have been “bought off” and have left the “underclass” behind, and that the only option is for this underclass to fight on alone, most often outside the traditional union structures. By extension, this theory of the precariat also posits the “labour aristocracy” as being primarily male, white and existing in the rich Western countries. Fight for $15 and a union Recent events in North America put the lie to these theor- ies of despair. On April 15 working people across North America (and the world) demonstrated and went on strike for two demands: a $15 minimum wage and fairness, including the right to form a union. Across the US in recent months we have seen low-paid Anti-racism in Australia workers (disproportionately women and people of colour) rise up against employers like Walmarts and McDonalds, by JAMES SUPPLE, AUSTRALIA whose enormous profits depend on their cheap labour. The fight for $15—which has the support of unions The racist, anti-Islam “Reclaim were met by counter-demonstrations attempts to mobilise on the streets will like SEIU and UFCW—has galvanized the entire labour Australia” rallies managed to at- across the country—although it was be resisted. Pauline Hanson and One movement in a way that we haven’t seen for decades. It is tract a few hundred people each only in Melbourne that they were Nation were beaten last time both by simply not true that there is a privileged group of workers on Easter Saturday—but they are clearly outnumbered, 800 to 500. mobilising against their public meet- in some mythical workplaces somewhere immune to the a dangerous sign that months In Canberra, there were 25 of them ings as well as pointing to the racism downward pressures of rampant neoliberalism. of Abbott’s official racism and and 30 anti-racists, while in Sydney from John Howard and his policies All you need to do is look at the incredibly low level dog-whistling is giving encour- around 120 anti-racists to their 250, that created divisions and fuelled it. of unionism inside the US to understand that whether you agement to the far right. with similar figures in Brisbane. In In Germany counter-demonstrations work in an auto plant or a McDonald’s you cannot be sure The far right organisers of the rallies Perth, 120 anti-racists confronted a that have outnumbered the Pegida about your future, about paying the rent or about the future went to considerable lengths to show protest of 400. anti-Muslim protests have thrown the of your children. a softer face—saying they were not The anti-racist counter-rallies were racists into crisis. In Canada there is a higher rate of workers in trade racist and they were not against all important to confront and expose In Melbourne, where anti-racists unions, which is a good thing, but this trend is moving Muslims—only the extremists. But the far right that is behind Reclaim outnumbered them and heckled downward with the loss of thousands of manufacturing it was their extremism that was on Australia. But we will need to organise everyone trying to get to their rally, jobs over the last few years. display at the rallies. larger numbers if they mobilise again. the Reclaim Australia organisers have As the Jacobin interview proclaims, “We are all precar- The racist protests openly targeted Like its counter-parts overseas in taken to Facebook to complain about ious now.” What does this mean? It doesn’t mean that there Islam, with official demands includ- the UK or Pegida in Germany, the their treatment. is no difference between the situation of a worker who ing banning the burqa, halal food and far right in Australia is now attempt- The far right have called a protest is in a union and has some benefits and some kind of job sharia law. ing to use Islamophobia to build its against halal food in Sydney next security and a worker who toils for minimum wage or less Sherman Burgess, who calls support. Mainstream Islamophobia, weekend. We need to confront them with no job security and part-time hours. himself “the Great Aussie Patriot” fuelled by Tony Abbott’s contempt wherever we can. If Reclaim Australia But it’s necessary to see that these workers have a com- was a speaker in Sydney, and his for Aboriginal people, his notion of tries to call rallies again, we need mon interest in defending each other’s ability to organize, racist videos have been posted by the “Team Australia”, scare-mongering bigger anti-racist protests supported to demand decent wages and working conditions and to “Reclaim Australia” Facebook pages about national security and efforts by unions, Greens and Labor Party fight back against vicious bosses. nationwide. Burgess is a member of to blame and scapegoat the Muslim members. Shamefully, while ALP the Australia Defence League and has community, has laid the basis for racist leader Bill Shorten said fears of sharia Oppression and precarity links to a range of neo-Nazi groups. ideas to become more acceptable. law were “exaggerated”, he didn’t Low-paid Black, Latino and white workers in the US are Despite the desperate appeals from Abbott’s racism has already led to condemn the racism of Reclaim fighting exactly for the right to organize unions in their the organisers to leave neo-Nazi increased violent attacks on Muslims Australia. workplaces and to demand better wages and conditions. regalia at home there were banners and mosques. Most importantly, to keep the right By so doing they are also fighting for their brothers and from the street-fighting English The nationally co-ordinated rallies on the run, we have to keep up the sisters already in unions to maintain what they have won Defence League in Sydney, skinheads are the first time in recent years that fight against Abbott—to fight his and to stop the slide of wages and conditions that has been sporting Nazi tattoos in Melbourne, the far right has drawn any substantial budget cuts, stop the Islamophobia, ongoing for the last 30 years. and a man with a Greek Golden Dawn numbers to their demonstrations. end the terror scare-mongering, free Their struggles can also shake the complacency of the t-shirt in Brisbane. Well-know Nazi Most of those present were not hard the refugees, and stop his attacks on trade union bureaucracy, who often go along with the Jim Saleam, self-styled leader of the core Nazis. The far right is attempting Aboriginal rights. notion of precarious work and the impossibility of fighting Australia First Party, attended the to draw a slightly bigger crowd of global capitalism, because it means that they don’t need to Sydney protest. bigoted Islamophobes with the aim of This is shared from the Australian organize a real fightback against the attacks on the working In Brisbane, Pauline Hanson ad- turning them into racist thugs. socialist organization Solidarity class. dressed the rally. The anti-racist counter-rallies were It is definitely true that oppression (in the form of racism The “Reclaim Australia” rallies important in sending a signal that their and sexism) means that workers of colour and women are often at the bottom of the heap when it comes to the kind of jobs that are available to them. You can see this from the participation in the April 15 rallies and from those taking the lead in the walkouts and one-day strikes of recent months. India: nuclear vs people power As McDonald’s worker Katherine Cruz said at the April After supporting US war criminal they serve corporate interests. test-fired a missile capable of carrying 15 rally in Boston, “We work really hard to make $8.75 George Bush and Israeli war nuclear weapons. and not be able to live. I feel like we should all—not only criminal Benjamin Netanyahu, Nuclear war Nuclear power heightens two McDonald’s, not only fast-food workers—everyone that Harper welcomed Indian war While the West has threatened war existential threats: nuclear war and the lives off minimum wage should make more, so we can all criminal Narendra Modi. to prevent Iran from acquiring one climate crisis. Some claim that nuclear support our families, support ourselves.” Modi was chief minister of Gujarat nuclear weapon, the biggest nuclear power is a “green alternative” but this The fight for a decent minimum wage is a fight for the during the 2002 pogrom that killed powers in the world have been quietly ignores the huge carbon emissions entire working class because the downward pressure on 1,000 Muslims. The group Sikhs for supporting nuclear proliferation in from mining and refining uranium, wages and conditions affects us all. In February 1917 the Justice tried to have him charged Israel, Pakistan and India—none not to mention the radioactive toxic Russian Revolution was launched by a group of women during his visit, and an Ontario Court of whom have signed the Non- waste that’s produced. Nuclear power on International Women’s Day who stormed the bakeries found there was enough evidence Proliferation Treaty. is completely intertwined with fossil demanding bread for themselves and their families. Their to start criminal proceedings. But Canada has a long record of com- fuels, including the idea of using it to action was the beginning of a movement of the whole class the Attorney General of Ontario plicity, supplying the uranium for the power the tar sands. of Russian workers who would eventually storm the bar- intervened. According to Gurpatwant atomic bombs that the US (the greatest ricades and begin to shape a new society where they hoped Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs nuclear threat) used to kill hundreds of People power oppression and exploitation could be ended forever. for Justice, Modi “escaped trial on the thousands in Japan in 1945. The min- But there are movements challenging Although their revolution was eventually destroyed by charges of torture under Canadian law ing itself in the North West Territories inequality, in the streets and at the the joint forces of Stalinism and military opposition by 14 only because of the Attorney General’s also killed Indigenous communities ballot box. On February 10 the Aam capitalist countries, the goal of ending exploitation and last-minute intervention.” with cancer. Aadmi Party (AAP, “Common Man’s oppression is alive and well today in the hearts and minds Harper and Modi share much in While Harper calls Iran the “biggest Party), won a landslide victory in of those fighting for their right to a decent minimum wage, common: they scapegoat Muslims, threat to world peace,” he doesn’t Delhi—crushing Modi’s BJP party by to be able to join unions alongside their sisters and brothers they ignore violence against women seem to mind giving mountains of ur- promising to end corruption, provide and to so much more besides. (while the Indian government banned anium to a violent Hindu nationalist in access to services, and improve safety the documentary India’s Daughter an arms race with Pakistan. The claim for women. Two weeks later they that exposed rape culture, Harper has that the uranium will not encourage slashed power tariffs by half and sup- refused to investigate missing and nuclear war was debunked just hours plied free water, two of their election murdered Indigenous women) and after the deal was signed, when India promises. 4 Socialist Worker May 2015 WWII internment of Japanese Canadians Kim Koyama discusses the history and legacy of internment, and the lessons for today

Following Japan’s December 7, 1941 attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, racism and paranoia toward the Japanese were at an all-time high. Canada and the US rounded up all residents of Japanese descent on the west coast (20,000 Japanese Candians) and forcibly relocated the entire populations to internment camps located away from the coast.

Internment Japanese Canadians were competitive in the fishing industry and this was an opportunity for non-Japanese to steal their busi- ness and profit. All fishing boats belonging to Japanese Canadians were seized. Japanese newspapers were shut down—except for the New Canadian, which was allowed to operate in order to disseminate government edicts and other information to the Japanese Canadian community. Cameras and radios were confiscated and cars had to be surrendered. The entire community was put under curfew. Once the population was evacuated, homes, businesses, property, cars, and all possessions left behind were sold at bargain prices. Adult males were the first to be moved. They were sent to road camps where they did manual labour. Shortly after, the women Despite the wartime racism, gone, there was the challenge of Today and children were sent to the there was a growing sentiment finding homes, jobs, and trying Many of us like to think that prison camps. This separation of from the general population to re-establish a normalcy in their Canada is a “kinder and gentler” families made the ordeal espe- as the war progressed that the lives. The Canadian government nation in which we now know cially traumatic. internment was wrong. In 1944, would not trust or allow Japanese better. Yet these sentiments and The government of Canada de- with increasing pressure from Canadians to return to the west assumptions have been and clared all Japanese Canadians to the media, the Canadian govern- coast until 1949. (Also in 1949, continue to be disproven by be “enemy aliens”—this despite ment began to move Japanese Japanese Canadians would finally successive governments which the fact that the majority of the Canadians out of the camps. be given the right to vote.) display racist policies, aided by a population were of the second- There were two choices offered population which is easily swayed generation: they had been born in by the government (aside from Legacy by whichever racism is being cur- Canada and were thus Canadian remaining in the camps, which The impact of the racism of this rently promoted by the authorities citizens. some chose over the alternatives): period had lasting effects on and mass media. Both the Canadian and be deported, i.e., move “back” the community. Aside from the The current atmosphere of American governments had to to Japan—a place three quarters large west coast cities of North Islamophobia—especially since move quickly to find sites for the of the population had never America where Japanese immi- 9/11—has resulted in heightened prison camps; preferred locations been—or move further east across grants had initially settled, there discrimination against and would be far from the Pacific Canada, away from the coast. are no visible communities of victimization of Muslims, Arabs, coast, isolated, and able to ac- For most, the move east was the Japanese—no Japantown or Little and generally anyone with brown commodate entire communities. preferred choice, as they felt leav- Tokyo—not even in the largest skin or a Middle-Eastern appear- Some of the communities were ing the only country they knew cities. ance. With the “Secret Trial 5”, initially housed at racetracks in was not an option. In 1977, Japanese Canadians five Muslim men endured years of former stables—each family as- Japanese Canadians were celebrated the centennial anni- imprisonment and extreme hard- signed a horse stall to live in, with “People in Canada—particu- still required to register with versary of Manzo Nagano’s entry ship under “Security Certificates,” little privacy. Others were moved the RCMP at age 16. When my into Canada as the first Japanese which, like the War Measures Act, to ghost towns or purpose-built larly Muslims—are being mother turned 16, her family had immigrant. The year was marked allowed for indefinite detention camps, to live in tents or hastily re-settled in Ontario. She had by special events, including a without charges or trial. The built wooden shacks. taken into custody and held to travel alone by train to the national youth conference held in accusations alone stirred up fears My mother and her two nearest RCMP office. She was Toronto which drew participants and racist sentiment; more than a sisters shared a bed and would indefinitely without charge fingerprinted, and then the RCMP from across the country. decade later, the effects are still huddle together with a hot-water officer grabbed her face and It had taken this long before being felt. bottle for warmth. Bathing had or trial, and these actions are brusquely turned her head from the older generations started to Suspiciously, these cases—on to be done in communal baths; side to side to look for any iden- talk, but once they did, there was the front pages of mass media although segregated by sex, it was overwhelmingly condoned tifying marks. One of her worst a growing call for justice and for days—often coincide with a humiliating routine for many. memories was of the school day redress. Those who had been government campaigns to gain Despite being treated as the by the Canadian government. shortly afterward when her class interned—both in Canada and public support for Canadian enemy, many Japanese Canadians was interrupted by an RCMP the US—demanded an apology military interventions in the wanted to show their loyalty to Parliament continues to see officer who came into the room and monetary compensation from Middle-East, or for increased Canada during wartime. Many and walked to her desk to hand- the government. It would take security measures. young men felt the best way to new bills put forth which deliver the identification card. She 11 years before the fight was People in Canada—particularly prove their loyalty would be to was dismayed to see that along resolved. In 1988, Conservative Muslims—are being taken into enlist in the war effort. Although will curtail civil liberties, with her photo and fingerprints Prime Minister Brian Mulroney custody and held indefinitely the Canadian authorities refused was the term “enemy alien.” offered a formal apology to without charge or trial, and these to allow this, it was through a supposedly to protect us from (This intentional humiliation is Japanese Canadians and a settle- actions are overwhelmingly request from the British army to a tactic which is still used today ment of $21,000 per person.. condoned by the Canadian gov- the Canadian government that a foreign (read: non-white) by Canadian authorities against Also in 1988 was the repealing ernment. Parliament continues to Japanese Canadian men were Muslims, to spread racism and of the War Measures Act that see new bills put forth which will allowed to enlist. Britain was threat.” justify military spending and cam- allowed anyone to be detained curtail civil liberties, supposedly hoping to use the men as inter- paigns in the Middle East.) indefinitely without charges or to protect us from a foreign (read: preters, and yet—in one of the Release from the camps due process. It was this statute non-white) threat. These actions greatest ironies of WWII—many brought relief, but wartime racism which had made the internment are presented as a concern and of these men (like my father) did was still at a high, and with all possible. But the War Measures benefit to all, but in reality they not speak Japanese very well. of their property and possessions Act has simply been replaced. harm everyone.

May 2015 Socialist Worker 5 QUEBEC AGAINST AUSTERITY

Chantal Sundaram assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the new Quebec student strike, and the challenges of linking with the labour movement and the left alternative party

Québec solidaire: the ballot and the street

The conference “Rage Against the System: Marxism 2015” in Toronto on April 25 ready to follow them. He feared it was a tactical error to try to do so this spring, and that the welcomed via Skype representatives of parties challenging the austerity agenda students are becoming increasingly isolated. at the ballot box that have emerged from the movement: Siriza and Podemos. He acknowledged that there is no guarantee that the fall will be a better time to win sup- Ironically, the least well-known in English Canada may have come from next door port from unions, and that the 75,000 people who rallied in the streets of Montreal on April in Quebec. 2 showed that clearly “there is something there right now,” as does the vote by teachers at 28 André Frappier, a four-time Montreal riding candidate for Québec solidaire, the relatively out of 40 CEGEPS (colleges) to engage in an illegal strike against austerity on May Day. He new anti-neoliberal and anti-austerity party that is running at 16 per cent in the polls and who deplored the decision by unions not to hold a single, large, national May Day rally in Montreal was also NDP candidate with the Jack Layton team in 2004, and a 30-year activist with the this year for the first time in three decades. Canadian Union of Postal Workers, spoke about trying to be a meaningful voice for the grow- Québec solidaire shares the challenge of the anti-austerity movement itself: to sink deeper ing anti-austerity movement in Quebec. and wider roots into all the regions of Quebec, it’s campuses, and its workplaces. André spoke on a Skype panel about radical left parties, along with militants from Greece and Spain linked to Siriza and Podemos. All three talked about the thirst for an alternative to the austerity parties on offer at election time, but also the need to maintain a living link between those alternatives and the movement that spawned them. Québec solidaire is of course not nearly as close to state power as Siriza and Podemos, and Faultlines in the Quebec student strike so does not feel the same pressure to compromise. But its challenge is to sink deeper roots in the labour movement and student movement: although it has positioned itself consistently not We are now witnessing the third strike by Quebec only as Quebec’s only anti-austerity party but also one with an uncompromising anti-neoliberal university and college students within 10 years. unions, community groups, students and the environmental Unity agenda, it has yet to displace the hold of the mainstream parties, especially in the regions This is not a new tradition: Quebec tuition fees were movement to try to unite behind a common banner. In particu- Despite this inevitable strategic debate within the movement, outside Montreal, despite the growing anti-austerity sentiment throughout Quebec. frozen at the lowest levels in Canada as a result lar, an official “Common Front” has come together to try there was nothing but unity shown on the April 2 march of André talked about the way that Québec solidaire became a force of attraction for student of successive student strikes across Quebec for to create a political front for the half a million public sector 75,000. In defiance of a Montreal municipal ordinance, the leaders of the 2012 Quebec spring movement to join the party: they brought with them a wealth decades. workers who may be in strike position in the fall. march did not declare its itinerary to authorities. Signs on the of experience from that movement into long-term involvement in QS riding associations and But in the span of a generation, and during an era that has There should be every reason why the student movement march read: this government did not give us their itinerary, other political structures. And yet, the main leadership of the student movement is officially marked the move from neoliberal “globalization” into auster- should want, this time above all, to coordinate its strategy why should we give them one? committed to a non-partisan position even in relation to radical left parties. ity, these strikes have posed an increasingly urgent question: with labour. But just at this time there is increasing fragmen- But the movement needs an itinerary, and that’s what’s And although many prominent trade union leaders have run as QS candidates, there has yet how can a student strike spark something bigger, a strike that tation within the student movement over this very issue. not clear. The tactical question of pushing for the spring or to be a real shift at the base. QS’s goal is not just votes at election time but to attract workers mobilizes the entire community and that has labour unions at waiting for the fall is only the first of many big questions and students into the active life of the party, which aims to be “a party of the ballot and of the the heart of it? Strategy before it. street.” At the start of April 2015, 135,000 Quebec students were Over the Easter long weekend, the Executive of ASSE, which What will be the measure of success? The demands of the But André also spoke of the real challenges for students today in trying to recreate the QS leaders elected to the National Assembly: on strike after very little lead-up time compared to the last had been the core leadership of the 2012 strike, simultaneous- strike are not ones that can be achieved by students alone this “Quebec Spring” movement of 2012 and to take it further when the labour movement is not Amir Khadir, Françoise David and Manon Massé student strike in 2012 – which lasted months but also took ly resigned and was removed by the membership as a result time: the reversal of Quebec’s entire austerity (and energy) much longer to build up to. But in that build-up there was a of their position that the movement should consider a tactical agenda will require a much larger social force. But how does lot of time to prepare students to make a concrete connection retreat, or a pause, in the strike movement. the movement set benchmarks for success along the way? between their immediate demand – repeal of a tuition hike – The reasons were: to wait for the fall, when all major One of the benchmarks may be the process of building The spark and the flame and the bigger picture of the commercialization of education. public sector unions might be in a potential strike position unity itself: both within the student movement and between Three years later, week two of the strike saw 75,000 people with government over the eviscerating of their agreements; students and labour. But that’s not an easy basis to win strike Another “Rage Against the System: Marxism 2015: ” they’re just starting from scratch again, no further ahead. At inability to deliver services to those who need it most, and converge in the streets of Montreal under the general banner the approaching end of the school term; and the growing votes. panel on “Quebec and Austerity” took the discussion her school, in the sparsely-populated Outaouais region, the ultimately repression against those who want to restructure it? of anti-austerity, called by a student organization but with divide between the radicalism of the movement in Montreal There are plans for illegal strikes by some faculty in the further about the relationship between the student strike vote was lost even though there were two options: the Laurence and Valerie posed a question that many students visible support by unions and community organizations and as opposed to the regions outside. CEGEPs (colleges), under the anti-austerity banner, and these movement and the labour movement in Quebec. first, for a one-week strike with option to extend, lost by a are probably asking: how do we stop repeating the past and with nothing but glowing reports in the media about the level All good reasons to reflect on strategy, but the timing was might be an important sign of what’s possible. But there is The panel included Marc-Édouard Joubert, with the significant margin; the second, for a one-day strike on May go forward? When are the victories just band-aid solutions of popular support from all walks of life. Today, how could problematic. There had been a campaign for a spring strike still no sign that the big union leadership is in any way will- Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Montreal local, and Vice- Day, lost narrowly at 53 per cent. Of the 28 CEGEPS where that seem to go nowhere and when are they ones that push us you not aim higher than before? for months, but without clear leadership other than a broad ing to throw in its lot with the students for a “social strike” president of the Montreal Labour Council (FTQ), and two teachers voted to engage in strike action on May 1, only 9 will through the wound? The fact that the next steps for the move- coalition called the “Spring 2015 Committee,” unelected and against austerity. The fall confrontation, if there is one, may militants from the CEGEP de l’Outaouais, Laurence Lauzon be struck by students. ment as a whole in Quebec will not answer these questions is Measure of success unaccountable to any of the student federations and proclaim- fall far short of student expectations. and Valerie Villmaire. At the CEGEP de l’Outaouais, a scholl of 5,000, 78 per cent less important than the fact that many Quebec students and In 2005, students succeeded in winning the repeal of a law ing to be a committee of students, workers, and the unem- Marc-Edouard believes that the formation of the Front of the student population voted, but it was only by refendum workers are asking them. transforming grants into loans. At the same time, there was ployed. It struck a chord: there was an appetite for a spring What’s next? Commun with every major public sector union in Quebec vote, in sharp contrast to the method of mass student as- Marc-Édouard, Laurence and Valerie are all committed to a massive community and labour mobilization against Jean strike. But it wasn’t even across campuses, and wasn’t tested Over the coming months there will be an attempt to keep the does present a very real prospect for a climax of struggle when semblies that was the strength of 2012. Valerie and Laurence finding ways to engage that discussion in their communities in Charest, then Liberal premier of Quebec, including a series of through months of preparation as in 2012. strike momentum going from the spring into the fall. many reach legal strike positions in September and October. felt the vote was too rushed and did not provide the time a broad and patient way. It may require creative strategies, like one-day illegal general strikes, which included non-unionized Meanwhile, the FEUQ, the other major player in the 2012 While the union leadership may not have the same appetite He talked about the union-led demonstration against austerity for debate and one-on-one conversations that took place in a picnic against austerity in the Gatineau-Outaouais region workers, and a series of local union votes in favour of an strike, is facing disaffiliation from core members like the to follow the students right now, the base of union members last November 29 as an important sign of the ability to mobil- 2012 and at some other schools this time. The university in that engages both students and regional unionists and com- unlimited general strike that was never realized. So although Universite de Montreal over the lack of “direct democracy” may see things differently, not to mention those who identi- ize civil society against the provincial budget (even though the region, UQO, which has a number of faculties on strike, munity activists who have organized many recent local pro- the students succeeded in their goal, the votes to end the through general assemblies as opposed to the “representative fied with the student movement in their neighbourhoods in some students felt that demonstration was too staged and has been holding meetings and teach-in’s every day in public tests against austerity in recent months with record numbers in strike only narrowly succeeded on many campuses because democracy” offered by FEUQ. They are not looking to join 2012. In fact, the student movement may help to pry open didn’t appear to be raising the stakes in the movement) and spaces on campus. All told, 66 campuses voted in favour of a small community. In 2012, neighbourhood organizations in the context seemed to offer a bigger fight against Charest. ASSE, but to found a new student formation. the differences within the labour movement about how to then about the student-led April 2 demonstration as an escala- “reconduction” (reaffirming initial strike votes and extending Montreal did similar things to keep momentum going during Again, in 2012, there was tremendous success in defeating As in the past, this strike was decided by democratic votes challenge austerity. tion that was able to mobilize unions and social movements. the strike.” the summer months and to engage the community beyond the tuition hike that was the focus of the strike, the repres- at the local level in student general assemblies: both in a first, In the meantime, there must be unconditional support He recalled that unions that engage in illegal strike actions Laurence, also at the CEGEP de l’Outaouais, said the debate students. sive legislation that was put in place to quell the movement, limited mandate, and in a second round of “reaffirmation” for those students facing expulsion and other discipline by face heavy fines, so it’s hard to get past the limitations of legal is not about austerity but about the tactic of the strike. The In workplaces and unions throughout Quebec there may or and the rejection of the Liberal government immediately votes to extend the strike by either another limited period or campus administrations for picketing, for those facing worse negotiations. But he said there are a number of other current student union there is firmly anti-austerity, and not trying to may not be informal networks to make that same discussion responsible. Community and neighbourhood organizations for unlimited strike. as a result of defying legal injunctions, and those who have labour struggles that show increasing pressure from the base stifle debate, but there is a sense that this is not leading to a happen towards the fall. But that will be the challenge in mak- were formed beyond student ranks, with broader demands, Positive strike votes and reaffirmation votes were not been brutalized by police in the last few weeks. Both the of unions on their leadership, and that the CEGEP teachers real social strike as opposed to trying to connect with a labour ing the Front Commun real for rank and file workers catching and popular tactics like the banging of “casseroles” (pots and completely confined to Montreal or to other urban centres, student and labour movement must stand united on this, as who voted to engage in a “greve sociale” or “social strike” movement that could be largely focussed on narrow union up with the questions students are asking. The answers can pans) on street corners at the same time every night. Waiting or to campuses or programs of study considered to be they did against attempts in 2012 to terrorize dissent, whether against austerity as a whole without the official support of demands. Students are being asked to put their faith that it will only be collective, through the experience of the months in the wings, however, were the equally treacherous Parti more “radical.” But there is a real divide between the more by legislation or police brutality. There must be absolute unity their leadership have shown another option for resistance. He lead to a broader fight against austerity, as they themselves ahead, which is not predictable. quebecois, who indexed tuition to inflation and introduced an advanced sections of the movement in parts of Montreal and on this question, regardless of any disagreement on others: it said the student strike of 2012 had an impact on what many take action against this very broad agenda without immediate What is predictable is that the ferment against austerity in austerity budget of their own. They in turn were replaced by others. Some strike “reaffirmation” votes have failed due to is key to the future of dissent, and can unit the movement on trade unionists feel willing to do, and that despite the lack of demands of their own. Quebec will not dissipate any time soon, and the important the current Liberal austerity premier, Couillard, and again the lack of information about what is going on in the movement that basis. a single large demonstration May Day will see several local Also, for the more radicalized end of the student movement, thing is to find ways to follow it and be engaged with it, within question was: what next. as a whole, the approaching summer and option of a fall One of the slogans of the massive general strike of 1968 in “economic disruptions” that are not being publicized ahead of who see that austerity is a symptom of neo-liberalism or even Quebec or from afar. Since then, the context in Quebec has been one of in- restart, and some because of a lack of a clear immediate goal France was: “students are the spark, workers are the flame.” time. capitalism, the strike tactic seems reactive and short-term (and Did the students win in 2012? They won much more than a creasing labour unrest, from massive mobilizations over apart from defeat of the government’s entire austerity agenda. It may take longer than expected by the changing cohort of Valerie began her remarks by saying that it’s not clear to it must be remembered that student strikes are not uncommon victory against a particular tuition hike or a particular govern- employment insurance cuts, to work to rule against attacks on The Couillard government is of course trying to exploit the student movement in Quebec to see this spark turn into many of her generation whether the students actually won events in Quebec). How can the movement deepen long-term ment: they won the right to ask the right questions. municipal pensions, to a brewing fight between the govern- these divisions by appealing to the “silent majority” to attend a longer-lasting flame, but in many ways it already has, and in 2012. The victory against the hike and getting ride of the consciousness? And how do you defend the public sector ment and the entire provincial public sector that may come to the local student assemblies and vote down the strike. continues to burn. Liberals was short-lived, and many are now not sure whether without defending a state that runs it with inefficiencies, an a head in the fall. And the word “austerity” is being used by

6 Socialist Worker May 2015 May 2015 Socialist Worker 7 ANALYSIS

BUDGET Harper and Oliver deliver Bay St. budget

The lapdogs at the Canadian Taxpayer Federation were quick to praise the Tories for having the “discipline to get back to a balanced budget.” But this discipline was imposed entirely on the 99% and our planet, in order to benefit the 1%. To hide this wealth transfer the Tories had to resort to their usual doublespeak, as part of balancing the budget—which Finance Minister Joe Oliver says is “the only way to ensure long-term prosperity for Canadians.” But the Tories neither balanced the books in any arithmetic sense, nor did they release a budget in terms of an accurate portrayal of costs and cuts to people and the planet.

Corporate doublespeak The Tories are delivering spending and cuts with double- speak in an attempt to hide their true meanings: * a $750 “Public Transit Fund” that will promote privatization * $1.2 billion tax cut for “small business” that applies to any corporation making less than $10 million annually * $8 billion “universal childcare benefit” that does nothing to ensure universal childcare and that will primarily benefit those without childcare costs * $12 billion increase in “defence,” which will be used to launch offensive campaigns around the world like wars that The roots of Al Shaabab have emboldened extremists in Libya and Iraq, or training by HASSAN MAHAMDALLIE (including of Nazis) in Ukraine * “savings” by increasing the TFSA contribution to $10,000, which will disproportionately benefit the rich and The killing of 148 students at UIC Meantime the US was cultivating cost the federal government as much as $15 billion annually Kenya’s Garissa University Fast forward to late 1990s. Out of former Somali warlords and corrupt * $27 billion in health care transfers to the provinces over College by Somali Islamist the chaos and suffering of the Somali politicians at various “peace confer- the next five years, which is actually a $36 billion cut insurgents Al Shabaab marks the civil war, made worse by a botched ences” before anointing them as the latest episode of bloodletting UN and US military intervention transitional government in exile. Rival ‘Balance’ in a cycle of violence into which (the Black Hawk Down saga), arose factions had their militia weaponised The Tories hide all these gifts to Bay Street in the language the region has been locked for various Islamist groups. They formed by the US and supported by mercenar- of “balancing the budget,” a trick learned from Liberal Paul some time. the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), ies who weren’t that interested in Martin when he savaged public spending in order to reduce Frequently, commentators have and set up a rudimentary (albeit distinguishing between civilians and corporate taxes and inflate military spending in the 1990s. announced Al Shabaab to have been brutal) system of government based insurgents. Unifor economist Jim Stanford exposed the latest corporate finally routed by African Union on existing clan structures overlaid by Despite the fortune poured into arithmetic: AMISON “peace-keeping” forces and Sharia courts. Somalia to halt Al Shabaab most “It is entirely dependent on a fiscal sleight-of-hand. There US military strikes, only to see the For the first time in a decade there people, particularly in the south, is a $1.4 billion reported surplus. But that’s only because the group bounce back and launch attacks was some kind of stability and the continue to live in dire poverty. Life government diverted $2 billion out of its normal $3 billion inside Somalia and across the border beginnings of civil society in the areas expectancy is around 50 years, among contingency reserve (apparently things are so stable in the into Kenya. run by the UIC, covering the capital the worst in the entire world. world economy these days there’s no need anymore for so Mogadishu, south and central Somalia. The escalating brutality that accom- much symbolic “protection”). They siphoned $2.1 billion History The UIC contained moderates as panied the Ethiopian/US occupation from the GM shares. And then perhaps most offensively of There is an historical precedence. At well as hardliners, but we can only – detention, torture, civilian deaths, all, they raided $3.4 billion from the annual operating sur- the turn of the 20th century Somali na- speculate as to whether elements could drone strikes, special forces operations plus of the EI system. (That surplus is created by the denial tionalist Sayyid Muhammad Abdullah have formed the basis for a renewal etc – served as a recruiting sergeant of benefits to over 60 per cent of unemployed Canadians; Hassan led a 20-year holy war against of Somali society. Post 9/11, Bush for Al Shabaab. It turned into an the appropriate response, especially with growing layoffs British colonialism. Hassan’s aim decided that the UIC were the equiva- African version of the Taliban – battle- around the country, would be to fix that problem -- not raid was to unite the different clans, kick lent of Al Qaida – they weren’t – and hardened, experienced in hit-and-run the EI cookie jar.) That makes a total of $7.5 billion in shell out the colonists and achieve self- had to be crushed, without putting tactics and now ideologically aligned game transactions. Without those three fiscal tricks, the determination. Dubbed “the mad US boots on the ground. As in the with Al Qaida, and more recently Isis. reported balance would be a $6.1 billion deficit -- not a $1.4 Mullah” by the British, he was in fact early 1900s “friendly” warlords were There is also a large Somali popula- billion surplus.” a military genius adept at guerrilla armed, this time by the US to take on tion in Kenya, originally refugees warfare and inflicted heavy casualties the UIC but were defeated. pushed over the border since the civil Budget for people and the planet on the British. In 1910 the British, But in 2006 its leaders made the war period of the late 1980s onwards. Not only is the budget not balanced, but it’s hardly a budget. desperate to avoid their own soldiers mistake of provoking Ethiopia, the Young Somalis particularly are looked Despite the hundreds of pages in the document, what’s most being killed, launched a proxy war to sub imperialist power in the Horn of upon by the Kenyan government as shocking is what’s not included. As CUPE summarizes, get rid of him once and for all. Africa. potential terrorists and harassed by the “There’s nothing to address the real priorities of working They armed “friendly” clans, who police and the army – driving some Canadians: instead of taking on Hassan descended Al-Shabaab of them into the arms of Al Shabaab. * Nothing to create good jobs, reduce inequality or boost into bloody feuding and banditry, The US gave the nod to the Ethiopians This process was accelerated when the economy. tipping Somalia into utter chaos. to invade Somalia on its behalf, bomb- Kenya joined Ethiopia in 2011 and * Nothing to improve retirement security or public This resulted in a terrible famine ing from the air and then occupying also invaded Somalia. pensions, such as the CPP, or to improve Employment that by 1912 had killed a third of the what was left of Mogadishu with In one sense Al Shabaab is only a Insurance. population. Hassan’s forces were only 14,000 troops. They drove the UIC out reflection of the policy by the US and * Nothing to improve public health care. finally crushed in 1920 when Winston into the bush where some regrouped, its regional proxies, that violence is * Nothing to increase the availability of affordable child Churchill, Britain’s secretary of state returning in more extreme form as somehow the solution to the tragedy care for families. for war and air, ordered the newly al-Shabaab. The brutality of the facing the long-suffering Somali * Nothing to increase tax fairness or reduce inequality.” formed RAF to bomb the insurgents. occupying force and the insurgency it people and the families and survivors provoked saw the civilian population of the Garissa massacre. Then there’s the climate budget that the Tories continue tipped into a huge humanitarian crisis. This is shared from SW (UK) to unbalance through their billion dollar subsidies to the tar sands. There’s no accounting for the economic costs of climate change—which are projected to cost $5 billion Revolutionary greetings from Kobanê in 2020 and up to $91 billion per by 2050—let alone the current damage that can’t be reduced to dollars in what’s With warm regards of workers of hierarchical organizations. and to struggle shoulder by shoulder being done to Indigenous communities through tar sands from Canton of Kobanê, the Now, through heroic battles of our against domination and oppression of and fracking. While the more than 500 pages of the budget Canton of revolution, resistance comrades in “protect units of people” capitalism. mentions oil more than 100 times, there is not one mention and martyrs, on first of May, the (YPG) and “protect units of women” We, the workers and association of of First Nations or climate change. commemorating day of struggle (YPJ), terrorists are driven out from the Canton of Kobanê, commemorat- There is $80 million for “safety and environmental protec- and resistance of Workers the city, but attacks on suburbs areas ing workers’ and oppressed people’s tion and greater engagement with Canadians,” but this is against tyranny and oppression, and blocking of the canton’s roads is libertarian and egalitarian struggles all given to the National Energy Board—infamous for rubber- and exploitation of capitalism! still continuing. Our resistance has over the world, and appreciating your stamping pipelines, ignoring safety and environmental The revolution of Rojava, was a entered a new more difficult phase and support and solidarity with our resist- protection and disregarding the free, prior and informed historical departure point in workers’ that is the phase of restoring social life ance against terrorist attacks, invite consent of First Nations. And the budget continues cuts to and oppressed people’s struggle in the to Kobanê, under attack and econom- our worker comrades, syndicates, the Coast Guard, despite the recent spill in Vancouver. middle east and all over the world, to ical and logistical siege, such situation trade unions and all the libertarians, The only way to ensure long-term social and economic repossess the political authority; and in which more than 80 per cent of the to participate the practical solidarity prosperity for the 99% is to balance the climate budget with it was the revolution of women, youth city’s structures and vital infrastruc- with the revolution of Rojava and the good green jobs and support for Indigenous communities and workers to establish a new system tures have been destroyed. resistance of Kobanê, and invite you leading the climate justice movement. This requires disci- based on transition of power to people The history of class struggle shows to join us in this historical situation plining the 1% and their political representatives. as the true owners of it. that the union of the workers has no to protect the achievements of the As well as our resistance against geographical boundaries, as we rec- revolution! ISIS-terrorists and their international ognize our resistance against savage Long live libertarian struggles of supporters is not only to protect our terrorism and its international spon- people around the world! people’s human life and dignity, but sors, as the resistance in representation Long live international union of the also is the resistance to defend the of all people throughout the world. workers of the world! achievements of revolution and self- International solidarity of workers, is demonstration-system which is based the historical necessity and a material This is shared from the Administration on radical democracy and elimination field to defend the class achievements of the Kobanê Canton 8 Socialist Worker May 2015 LEFT JAB REVIEWS John Bell Jason Kenney, Warlord Welcome to the first The problem for Warlord installment in a new Kenney is that a majority of occasional series star- Canadians (55 per cent accord- ring Canada’s unloveable ing to an April poll) oppose Warlord, Minister of going to war in Syria. And Defence Jason Kenney. only a dwindling minority (39 Unloveable is, in Kenney’s per cent) support extending the case, not an insult but a military intervention in Iraq. statement of fact. He is on To convince Canadians record having sworn an oath of the need to bomb Syria, of celibacy, only fitting for Kenney told the press: “There a man who is more Catholic are only five coalition partners than the Pope. But more about doing air strikes against ISIL his religious fervour in future terror targets in eastern Syria. episodes. On to Kenney’s lust The United States is the only for war. one of those five that has precision-guided munitions. Iraq That is a capability the Royal Since his appointment to the Canadian Air Force has, so Defence portfolio in early one of the reasons our allies February, Kenney has been have requested we expand reveling in Canada’s holy our air sorties into eastern Good Kill exposes drone terrorism crusade against the Saracens. Syria is because with those In the beginning, Canada’s precision-guided munitions MOVIE ill-defined military adventure our CF-18s carry, we can be in Iraq was purported to more impactful in the strikes Movie: Good Kill job as a drone pilot, killing in the de- drugs.” When he accidentally kills a consist of a six-month foray we make against ISIL.” Director: Andrew Niccol serts of Afghanistan from the deserts child his commander instructs him to to train somebody to do One problem: Kenney’s Reviewed by: Jesse McLaren of Nevada. block it from his mind saying “you something, and that it all was argument was complete Drone warfare is increasingly re- just gotta keep compartmentalizing… supposed to end in April. At bullshit. While American Sniper glorifies moving those doing the killing form I don’t want you getting gun shy.” the time of his promotion to Sadly, both Saudi Arabia the Iraq War, Good Kill exposes the environment of war at the same When this fails he retreats from his Warlord, Jason Kenney all but and the United Arab Emirates the brutality of drone warfare time as it is expanding the list of pos- family into alcohol, unable to explain admitted that these terms–six possess “smart” bombs. from Afghanistan to Yemen. sible victims—now in countries not or justify his job, while asking to be months, do some training, in Worse, even the somnambu- Writer/Director Andrew Niccol has even declared war zones, and targets reassigned to his former riskier job as and out–was not enough for listic Parliament Hill press made a number of dystopian films based on patterns of behaviour and a fighter pilot. him. corps knew it was bullshit, and about individuals trying to escape “pre-emptive self-defense.” While his more racist colleagues “I think our orientation on called Kenney out. societies dominated by repressive Recently Obama apologized for have no problem killing, he finds this is pretty clear, we want to Did Kenney admit his technology. the “fog of war” that resulted in the support from a newer soldier (Zoe play a significant role there. mistake and apologize? Hey, In Gattaca, Ethan Hawke tries to mistaken drone killing of two Western Kravitz), who gets the most anti-war The precise nature of our con- didn’t I tell you up front that make it to space, in a society where hostages in Pakistan. But drone war- lines of the film and encourages him tribution in the past six months Jason Kenney is more Catholic DNA imperfections are used to restrict fare has allowed the US to bomb towards the most difficult option: would not necessarily be the than the Pope? That makes career opportunities. In The Truman Pakistan at will, without formally be- resistance. basis of an extension, we have him even more infallible. No, Show, reality TV has become an entire ing at war, and Obama did not apolo- Of course Hollywood can’t bring to look at that very carefully, the fault lay with the military city watching Jim Carey, who gradual- gize for the countless Pakistanis killed itself to make a truly anti-war film. but our basic position is clear: brass. The Warlord explained, ly realizes his world and tries to es- through dones--both intentially and Good Kill reinforces myths of the we think Canada has a role to on the floor of the house, that cape. In In Time, lifespan has become unintentionally. passive Muslim women in need of play in fighting this terrorist he “wasn’t given accurate actual currency, and a working class But despite the attempt to sanitize violent white saviours, and nostalgia organization.” information” by DND. Justin Timerlake fights to overturn its murder through technology, it still has for “good war” before drones. But Note to Generalissimo Jason Kenney is unable to unequal distribution. But in Good Kill, an impact on those pushing the button. by Hollywood standards it’s a good Kenney: repeated use of the be clear about Canada’s deep- the dystopian world of drone warfare Ethan Hawke identifies with those he alternative to the glorification of war, word “clear” in the midst of ening involvement in the “war is already here. is watching, but his only interaction showing instead the terrorism of war gibberish does not make it so. on terror”, because any such with them is carrying out orders to kill and the potential of soldiers to resist. As the deadline for this clarity would put him starkly Game of drones and count the body parts. As a result Faced with war resisters, the mil- excursion to Iraq neared, the at odds with most people Niccol shows the absurd reality of he goes through the series of options itary hope that drones will remove the “clear” nature of the involve- across Canada. He has to use drone pilots, wearing flight suits while available to soldiers. human element, but even this tech- ment became even murkier. gibbersih instead of argu- they sit safely in their cubicles, assas- nology can fail. To paragraph Bertold Canadian Sgt. Andrew Doiron ment. When that fails, he uses sinating people with the push of a but- Spectrum of resistance Brecht, “General your drone is a was killed by “friendly fire” outright lies. When caught in ton and then returning to the comfort He initially adopts a cynical attitude powerful vehicle, it can unleash death on the front lines of the Iraq the lie, he lies again to shift of their homes. Ethan Hawke plays a to the futility of war: when a cop asks from the sky. But it has one defect: it war. Doiron was killed by the blame onto underlings. former fighter pilot who becomes in- “how’s your war on terror going” he needs a pilot.” Kurdish allies–and three creasingly dissilusioned with his new responds, “kinda like your war on others Canadian soldiers Ukraine wounded–when they showed This in not an isolated incident up unannounced at a check- for the Warlord, it is his modus MOVIE point and responded to a hail operandi. Remember how, in Arabic instead of English. in March, Kenney breath- The Kurds report that the lessly informed the House unmarked car carrying the that Canadian frigates in the Austerity and the process of struggle Canadians was coming from Caspian Sea, part of NATO’s the war zone, not the rear. And intervention in Ukraine’s civil Movie: Two Days, One Night simple style, the viewer feels right all the world’s problems. Not so in their actions were in clear vio- war, had been “buzzed” by Director: Dardennes Brothers next to the main character on her this film. lation of protocols, resulting in Russian planes and confronted Reviewed by Jesse McLaren struggle to win back her job. Instead it shows the process of the shooting. by warships. It was front page struggle, both internal and collective. In response Jason Kenney news, and somehow justifies After a woman returns from a Capitalism and austerity Cotillard has just returned from stress was less than clear, as usual, sending Canadian soldiers to medical leave of absence due Though focused on one person the leave and being told her coworkers saying that Doiron’s death had train and advise the Ukrainian to stress, she discovers that themes of the film are universal: voted against her, and needs encour- “nothing to do with combat.” military. her boss put her fate to a vote: the capitalist drive to exploitation, agement from family and friends to Isn’t it odd that getting shot to What didn’t make front rather than welcome her back squeezing profits out of workers and fight. She battles her own self-doubts death in the middle of a war page news: NATO officials her co-workers voted to each firing them when they’re no longer and needs to build her confidence zone has nothing to do with said nothing of the kind ever receive a 1000 Euro bonus. needed; the way in which bosses pit over time, with peaks and troughs. combat? Kenney promised an happened. Kenney lied again, Having won a recount, she now workers against each other, which Through this process she discov- inquiry, but the terms and the to promote the war. has the rest of the weekend- disproportionatly affects oppressed ers the analogy the revolutionary timing of said investigation So now 200 Canadian -two days and one night--to groups like women, racialized groups Leon Trotsky made years ago: every were left vague. soldiers are headed to Ukraine. convince her co-workers to and disabled people; and the faulty workplace has one reactionary where Dmitri Yarosh, head forfeit their bonus so she can choices of austerity that demand one worker who will always scab on their Syria of the neo-Nazi Right Sector have her job back. section or another of the 99% make coworkers and can never be won Predictably the six-month party has just been appointed This is the plot of Two Days, sacrifices without ever questioning over, one progressive willing to fight deadline for Canada’s involve- special advisor to the chief of One Night, the excellent film by the profits of the 1%. from the start, and three in the middle ment in Iraq came and went, Ukraine’s military, and fascist the Dardennes brothers, which won The fact that this happens at a who can be won to either side. with the Tories using their units are known to be inte- an Oscar nomination for Marion workplace making solar panels is a Cotillard finds immediate sup- parliamentary majority to grated into the army. Asked Cotillard. reminder that while changing what port from a few, violent hostility extend the mission. But that whether Canada would end up The writers/producers/director society produces is necessary to from one, and a large number in the wasn’t enough for Harper and giving training and advice to duo have made a number of films solve the climate crisis, this has to middle. She has to win the argu- his Warlord: they had to get fascists, Kenney said: “We’re about working class life in Belgium, be combined with changing how ment for solidarity over narrow their war on in the nightmarish not going to be in the business including immigration, unemploy- production is organized and who self-interest, a process that not only quagmire of Syria as well. of training ad hoc militias. We ment and anti-fascist resistance. controls it. develops her own self-confidence And with the extension of the will only be training units of In their latest film they show the and experience but also changes war, the feeble pretense of this the Ukrainian National Guard impact of austerity on a small com- The process of struggle others in unexpected ways. being a training mission was and army recognized by the munity, and the process of struggle In a typical Hollywood film there At the end the lesson is not one of kicked to the curb. This was to government of Ukraine.” of one woman trying to win her job would be one evil enemy and one immediate victory or loss, but of the be active warfare starting with The Warlord lies again. The back. born hero who in one rousing speech individual and collective potential of air strikes. Unlike previous new budget rewards him with Filmed like a documentary in a rallies everyone to victory, solving struggle. Iraq airstrikes, the target was $11.8 billion in additional not a dump truck. military spending. May 2015 Socialist Worker 9 WHERE WE STAND The dead-end of capitalism The capitalist system is based on violence, oppres- Activist calendar sion and brutal exploitation. It creates hunger beside plenty, it threatens our sustenance through unsafe and unsustainable farming, and kills the earth itself with pollution and unsustainable extraction of oil, minerals, animals, trees, and water. Capitalism leads to imperial- movement events ism and war. Saving ourselves and the planet depends on finding an alternative. A system that is killing the planet May Day Events Capitalist profits depend on extracting the world’s WE > TAR SANDS blood and bone. The devastating impact of capital’s assault on the planet affect the world’s most vulnerable ACTION FOR JOBS, JUSTICE populations and threaten the long-term meaningful Vancouver: 5pm Clark Park existence of humanity. Capitalism cannot regulate the AND THE CLIMATE catastrophic effects of climate change. We stand for climate justice, including the concept of “just transi- Toronto: 5pm Nathan Phillips tion” for affected workers. Ottawa: 4pm at Human Rights Socialism and workers’ power July 3 - 5 across Canada Any alternative to capitalism must involve replacing the system from the bottom up through radical collective Monument action. Central to that struggle is the workplace, where capitalism reaps its profits off our backs. Capitalist monopolies control the earth’s resources, organized by 350.org but workers everywhere actually create the wealth. A Events across Quebec: new socialist society can only be constructed when workers collectively seize control of that wealth and plan its production and distribution to satisfy human visit http://nonauxhausses. needs, not corporate profits—to respect the environ- visit 350.org/july ment, not pollute and destroy it. org/2015/04/12/1er-mai- for more information Oppression Within capitalist society different groups suffer from calendrier/ specific forms of oppression. Attacks on oppressed groups are used to divide workers and weaken solidar- ity. We oppose racism and imperialism. We oppose all immigration controls. We support the right of people of colour and other oppressed groups to organize in their own defence. We are for real, social, economic and pol- itical equality for women. We are for an end to all forms of discrimination and homophobia against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. We oppose environmental racism. We oppose dis- crimination on the basis of religion, ability and age.

Canada, Quebec, Indigenous Peoples Canada is not a “colony” of the United States, but an imperialist country in its own right that participates in International Socialist events the exploitation of much of the world. The Canadian state was founded through the repression of Indigenous peoples and the people of Quebec. We support the struggles for self-determination of Quebec and Indigenous peoples up to and including the right to independence. In particular, we recognize The politics of Antonio Indigenous peoples’ original and primary right to decide their fate and that of their lands, heritage, and Gramsci traditions. Socialists in Quebec, and in all oppressed nations, work to give the struggle against national op- The contours of pression an internationalist and working class content. imperialism today Internationalism The struggle for socialism is part of a worldwide struggle. We campaign for solidarity with workers in other countries. We oppose everything that turns workers from one country against those from other countries. We support all genuine national liberation movements. The 1917 revolution in Russia was an inspiration for the oppressed everywhere. But it was defeated when workers’ revolutions elsewhere were defeated. A Stalin- Anti-war study group ist counter-revolution, which killed millions, created a new form of capitalist exploitation based on state ownership and control. In Eastern Europe, China and Sunday May 3, 5pm Monday May 4 @ 6:30 pm other countries, a similar system was later established by Stalinist, not socialist, parties. We support the North Toronto OISE – 252 Bloor St West – struggle of workers in these countries against both private and state capitalism. call 647 869 7651 for details Room 3311 Elections and democracy Elections can be an opportunity to give voice to the struggle for social change. But under capitalism, they can’t change the system. The structures of the present parliament, army, police and judiciary protect the ruling class against the workers. These structures cannot be simply taken over and used by the working class. The Fight on every front: working class needs real democracy, and that requires join the International Socialists an entirely different kind of state—a workers’ state based upon councils of workers’ delegates. Do you oppose exploitation, war, Reform and revolution oppression and climate chaos? Every day, there are battles between exploiter and exploited, oppressor and oppressed, to reform the system—to improve living conditions. These struggles Do you want to be part of building are crucial in the fight for a new world. To further these resistance movements to all these struggles, we work within the trade unions and orient to building a rank and file movement that strengthens symptoms of capitalism, towards workers’ unity and solidarity. a revolutionary transformation But the fight for reforms will not, in itself, bring about of society? fundamental social change. The present system cannot be fixed or reformed as the NDP and many trade union leaders say. Nor can the system regulate itself to pre- Then join the I.S. today! vent environmental destruction and climate injustice. It has to be overthrown. That will require the mass action email [email protected] of workers themselves. Tuesday May 19, 7pm or visit www.socialist.ca The Revolutionary Party Steelworkers Hall: 25 Cecil St, Toronto To achieve socialism the leading activists in the working class have to be organized into a revolutionary socialist party. The party must be a party of action, and it must be democratic. We are an organization of activists com- mitted to helping in the construction of such a party OPEN SATURDAYS, 12-3pm through ongoing activity in the mass 427 Bloor Street West, suite 202, Toronto ; 416-972-6391; www.facebook.com/resistancepress organizations of the working class and in the daily struggles of RESISTANCE workers and the oppressed. PRESS If these ideas make sense Students to you, help us in this project BOOK ROOM Austerity and join the International & Socialists. ideas for struggle Resistance

10 Socialist Worker May 2015 [email protected] SOUTH KOREA STRIKE TORONTO RALLIES FOR $15 AND FAIRNESS STICKING WITH THE UNION by KYUNG-NOK CHUN, SEOUL Carolyn Egan Some 270,0000 workers in South Korea took part in a one-day general strike on Friday of late Austerity in Ontario April. A huge fight is brewing in education. Smaller class They are members of between the provincial sizes have been shown the Korea Confederation government, teachers to improve learning. I of Trade Unions (KCTU). and the Ontario public remember very well classes Some 100,000 took to the sector. with over 40 students when streets nationwide. The Liberal government I was in public school and Strikers included teachers tried to put a progressive we don’t want to go back and public service workers. gloss on its campaign in to those days if we are They defied threats by the the last provincial election. interested in quality educa- state that it would prosecute The NDP chose not to rally tion and the attention that any government employee around issues such as a $14 individual students deserve. who took part in the walkout. minimum wage and voters The teachers are fighting President Park Geun-hye turned away from them, for the community. They wants to make it easier to particularly in Toronto went into the profession sack workers, cut over- where they lost three seats. because they care about time pay and public service This led to a majority the students and that’s why pensions. Liberal government with they are striking. The government has been by VALERIE LANNON Kathleen Wynn as premier. hit by a series of scandals. Public sector Prime minister Lee Wan-koo In three separate actions advanced notice for all our dreams has turned into Budget cuts workers was forced to step down this workers in Toronto rallied shift, a minimum number of a nightmare, with high The true colours of the The same is happening week after being accused of on April 15 for $15 and sick days, the same benefits tuition costs and precarious Liberal Party are now being to public sector workers accepting bribes. He was in fairness, which launched for part-time/temporary/ jobs. We are told we are seen and it is pressing who are employed by the office for just two months. the campaign across casual/contact as permanent being unrealistic and of- hard to deliver a “balanced government. Spending is Last week’s general strike Ontario as part of a full-time workers, and an fensive. But what is really budget” by 2017, doing increasing by only 1.4 per is the opening shot of a long global day of action to end to contracting out. And offensive is precarious away with the deficit in a cent which is really a freeze hoped for fightback. raise the minimum wage. about 250 energetic people work and the low minimum ruthless manner. when inflation is taken into The usually more mod- In the US with fast food from union, non-union wage. We need to build a This is the method and account. OPSEU has been erate Federation of Korean workers walked off the job and student backgrounds society that is stable and the mantra of neo-liberals calling rallies and demon- Trade Unions (FKTU) has in 230 cities demanding attended today’s rally in equitable.” all over the globe, and in strations pointing out the withdrawn from talks over $15 and the right to form front of the office of the Jim Deutsch, a member this province the govern- effects on public services. the attacks on workers. a union. As McDonald’s Ontario Ministry of Labour, of Health Providers Against ment wants to cut $2 billion There is the possibility of There are now plans to worker Katherine Cruz said organized by the Workers Poverty noted, “Income has from the budget this year. an all out strike later in follow up the strike with a at the rally in Boston, “We Action Centre. a huge impact on health, This is of course on the year and the effect on joint KCTU and FKTU rally world really hard to make and neoliberalism increases the backs of the people of the community has been in late May and another gen- 8.75 and not be able to Toronto rally inequality.” In supporting the province through cuts front and centre in their eral strike in June. But big- live. I feel like we should Outside the Ministry of the $15 and Fairness cam- to services, and to those campaign. ger, more drawn-out strikes all—not only McDonald’s, Labour, OFL President paign, Deutsch condemned who work for the province The other piece of the are needed. not only fast-food work- Sid Ryan pointed out that the minimum wages paid in through layoffs, privitiza- neo-liberal agenda that we Revolutionary socialists ers—everyone that lives hundreds of thousands of health facilities. tion and wage freezes. are seeing is the priva- and union militants have to off minimum wage should people make only minimum Jim Anders of OPSEU Along with other sectors tization of public assets, push to translate the anger make more, so we can all wages, so labour supports reminded the crowd, “An this will have a devastating a hallmark of neo-liberal at the bottom into initiatives support our families, sup- this campaign. He looked injury to one is an injury effect on health care spend- governments. The Wynn that can pressure union lead- port ourselves.” to Seattle’s success with to all. So support this ing, particularly effecting Liberals intend to sell off ers to act. The actions included a the $15 minimum wage campaign because every hospitals in the province. their majority share in die-in at a McDonald’s in campaign, and said this worker will benefit, and the The Ontario Health Hydro One, which will New York to say that black rate should be the absolute bosses can’t divide us. The Coalition has is pointed line the pockets of private CONFERENCE lives matter and workers minimum. campaign is also important this out in recent policy business and undoubtedly lives matter, with minimum David Anderson, from to make it easier to join a papers and announcements lead to higher costs for the Around 130 people took wage disproportionately UNITE H.E.R.E. Local union.” of drastic changes. The consumer. part in Rage Against the affecting people of colour. 75 spoke about how some Marta Jaramillo, a new Ontario Nurses Association CUPE is taking this on. System: Marxism 2015, There were solidarity ac- youth work to survive, immigrant to Canada and has shown that over 60,000 Public ownership must be the annual conference tions in 40 cities around the while some work in order a member of the Workers nursing hours have already maintained and CUPE is of the International world, including protests to go to school and improve Action Centre told the been lost. fighting this with strong Socialists in Toronto in Dublin and London their lives. Either way, the crowd about her first job in community support. Once In the opening plenary and strikes in Italy and minimum wage is too low. Canada where there was no Teachers an asset like this is gone, on Friday night, “Stopping Amsterdam. Deb Henry is a UNIFOR protection, and where the The provincial govern- it’s gone for good. Harper’s Agenda,” In Ontario workers member who works at boss said her complaints ment is also taking on the We have also just been Indigenous activist Vanessa launched the $15 and a Metro supermarket. would mean she wouldn’t Ontario Public Service through two tough strikes Gray exposed the environ- Fairness campaign, with She read out the formal get another job. After she Employees Union (OPSEU) by education workers at the mental racism of tar sands, over a dozen actions in 10 definition of “precarious”, was fired, she made a and the teachers unions. University of Toronto and social justice activst Shaila cities across the province. showing how it perfectly claim with the Ministry The Ontario Secondary York. Teaching assistants Kibria-Carter warned about In Toronto there were describes the life of many of Labour, which took her School Teachers Federation and contract workers the threat of Islamophobia, three actions today. SEIU workers. She stated, “We side. “But the boss still (OSSTF) has already called took on both universities labour activist Rob Fairley workers rallied outside need decent, stable and hasn’t paid. Often there are for rolling strikes, after because of the impact of the stressed the importance of McDonald’s headquarters enough hours of work. no penalties.” months of negotiations cuts to education. They felt the Save Canada Post cam- in solidarity with workers Instead there are no guaran- Socialist hip hop artist that have gone nowhere. their students were feeling paign to undermine Harper, in the US, and McDonald’s teed hours so how do you Mohammed Ali got the Teachers in Durham and the brunt of the attacks and and reproductive justice staff brought out smooth- plan your life or get another crowd going with his rap Sudbury have already of course their working activist Carolyn Egan dis- ies in support. At Pearson job? There is a struggle to about precarious work. struck and others are conditions and wages were cussed the World March of International Airport find child care because of The rally ended with prepared to go out. They being affected as well. women and the July climate workers with Unifor, the unpredictable hours. It notice that some folks were are concerned about rising These were hard fought justice mobilizations. CUPE, Teamsters and used to be normal to have going inside the govern- class sizes which will have strikes that made gains. The opening panel also PSAC united to demand full time jobs and this ment building to present a major effect on the quality We have to continue fundraised for Vanessa $15 and fairness. Leaflets should be our right.” a clock to the ministry, of education and of course to provide the solidarity and her organization at the airport explained Alastair Woods from the “ because it is time for will lead to job losses. necessary to push back and Aamjiwnaang and Sarnia that for airport workers Canadian Federation of change!” Teachers have taken job win when public sector Against Pipelines. fairness means proper Students said “Following Visit 15andfairness.org action in British Columbia workers fight back. The saturday plenaries because of the deterioration opened with activists from Spain, Greece and Quebec Anti-fasicsts trounce PEGIDA in Montreal solidaire discussing anti- austerity movements and by Yasser Harrak if those who created the people with no protest signs. radical left alternatives. “Judaization” illusion in the The call for a PEGIDA pro- There were then a dozen Another blow to the last century and victimized test ended up being a suc- discussions on struggles Conservatives’ bet on millions of people are try- cessful anti-fascist rally. against exploitation, op- the politics of fear and ing to resurrect today cre- From the protesters you pression, imperialism and division. Another blow ating a new illusion called could hear condemnations of climate chaos, and a lunch to diverting concerns “Islamization”. what was said to be a “call for panel discussion on the NDP about standard of liv- The March 28 anti-Islam hatred” by the Conservative and “strategic voting.” ing to accepting unfair event set the time for 3.00 Party of Canada, including Saturday night featured wealth distribution be- pm in the corner of Pie-IX Jason Kenney’s Facebook the Toronto premiere screen- cause of xenophobic and Belair street in Montreal. hate stories and Stephen ing of “Fennario: The Good fears. By 2.30 pm, the area was Harper’s ISIS recruiting Fight,” with Q&A with play- PEGIDA’s anti-Islam pro- dominated by those who scandal. The 167 European wright David Fennario, fol- test in Montreal flopped, came to denounce the fas- right wingers that promised lowed by socialist hip hop while anti-fascists organized cist organization. They were to show up ended up being with MC Mohammad Ali. a mass counter-rally. mostly French Quebecers, four. On Sunday, 30 partici- Fascist movements sell students and socialist activ- PEGIDA found no place pants joined interactive illusion and live on tra- ists. No one had shown up in the minds and hearts of workshops on skills for gedy. There is no surprise for PEGIDA except four people in Montreal. socialists. May 2015 Socialist Worker 11 SocialistWorker CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW On April 11, tens of supported Energy East, the thousands joined the movement has burst a leak Act on Climate march in their positions—but for in Quebec city, territory different reasons. of the Huron-Wendat, The Liberals, the twin demanding climate party of Canadian capital- justice. ism, have said that Energy The previous week the East lacks “social licence” climate justice movement in and would like to convince Quebec scored a victory in Bay Street they are the party stopping TransCanada from that can win it back. using Cacouna as a terminal The NDP, associated with for its Energy East pipeline. the labour movement, have Days previously an oil spill opposed some pipelines in Vancouver highlighted the from a jobs perspective. As urgency of transitioning off their motion to the House of the oil economy. Commons a few months ago On April 11, tens of thou- said, “the proposed Port of sands marched in Quebec Gros-Cacouna oil terminal, City ahead of a meeting of which will be used for the the Premiers. Police gave an sole purpose of exporting estimate of 25,000 people unprocessed Canadian oil, but there were likely 10,000 will have a negative impact more, an endless sea of on the Canadian economy humanity. through the loss of well- Organized by dozens of paid jobs, will constitute an organizations it includied unacceptable environmental 100 buses bringing people threat to the St. Lawrence from across Canada and ecosystem, including the Quebec. beluga whale population, and therefore, is not consist- Quebec ent with the principle of Quebec’s history of resist- sustainable development, ance to national oppression and must be rejected.” has made it the site of the helped build the climate united the 99% for climate Alternatives Ontario premier Wynne This shows the NDP can largest social movements justice movement in Quebec justice. As a speaker from As Stephane Guilbault from and Quebec premier be pushed to oppose the across Canada. against the Energy East the Femmes Autochtones Equiterre said, tar sands Couillard have agreed to a pipelines, but also highlights In April 2001 Quebec City pipeline. du Quebec explained, “The proponents claim the climate cap-and-trade deal that will their contradictory position was the site of the largest The April 11 protest took earth doesn’t belong to us, justice movement says no to do nothing to stop global of counterposing the export anti-globalization protest in place in the context of the we belong to the earth. We everything. “But we say yes warming, while the BC of unprocessed oil with the Canada, when 70,000 people latest student strike, but need to breath clean air to public transportation, yes premier skipped the meeting domestic refining and use. from across the country also of rising indigenous and drink clean water. We to retrofitting buildings, yes to speak to the World Bank This reinforces the false protested the Free Trade sovereignty movements. need you and you need us. to jobs before profits.” and IMF about her carbon dichotomy between jobs Area of the Americas. We say no to tar sands, and There were contingents tax--an equally ineffective and the environment, and In 2003 Montreal had the Indigenous pipelines.” from the labour movement, strategy to deal with a crisis ignores tar sands expansion. largest anti-war protest of a As a member of the There were Indigenous including Steelworkers from rooted in capitalism. Local refineries are devastat- quarter of a million people, Huron-Wendat nation said, groups from across the Toronto, and speakers from The mass climate march ing for Indigenous com- which helped stop Canada welcoming the demonstra- country, including the Yinka the FTQ, CSQ, CSN and exposed these inadequate munities like Aamjiwnaang, from going to war in Iraq. tors, “I remember a march in Dene Alliance on the west others. As the speaker from measures and also targeted tar sands expansion drives Then in 2005 a mass 2013 for Idle No More when coast and comunities from the FTQ said, “economic the Harper government, climate chaos regardless of student strike stopped an we had 71 people. Now we ground zero of the tar sands. development can’t happen with “Stop Harper” placards whether the oil is exported atttack on education. are 25,000.” At the end of As Melina Massimo- without regard to everything throughout the crowd. or not, and green alterna- In 2012 students went on the march people held up Laboucan explained, “If else. We need to say no It was a real missed tives promote far more jobs strike again, and made links red squares (the symbol of Energy East goes ahead thre to the tar sands and stop opportunity for the NDP, than the oil industry. with other social move- the Quebec student move- will be more destruction, climate change. We want who should be exposing If the NDP campaigned ments. On Earth Day, April ment) to form a human more poisoned water, more sustainable development both Liberals and Tories and to divert the billions 22, of that year 300,000 thermometer representing violations of Indigenous that supports communities, calling for green jobs not tar invested in tar sands into protested austerity and at- the rising temperatures. rights. We need to stop so that workers aren’t held sands. green alternatives, they tacks on the environment. Like the People’s Climate tar sands, stop Energy hostage. We need to invest But the climate justice could be a megaphone for Since then former March last fall (which East, stop Kinder Morgan in green jobs and support movement is shaking up the movement and expose student strike leader brought 400,000 people to pipeline, and win a better communities through this federal politics. While the both Liberals and Tories as Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois has New York City), this march world for all.” transition.” Liberals and NDP initially puppets for Big Oil. Never miss an issue. Victory against Energy East delays pipeline Adding to recent climate addition, the proposed ter- against the port driven by a about whales—otherwise Mail in this form with a cheque or money order made payable to justice victories, mass “Socialist Worker”. minal in Cacouna, Quebec number of Quebec environ- TransCanada would cancel opposition has stopped would devastate the local mental groups. There was a the terminal for Energy Or complete the form online at TransCanada from using www.socialist.ca/subscribe beluga whale population that federal NDP motion against East in Red Head, New Cacouna, Quebec as is already endangered. the port. Even Quebec and Brunswick, home to the a terminal to take tar Albertan Premiers have said endangered right whale. Prices per year sands east through the Opposition (CAD dollars): the port needs to be away The Tories and Liberals Energy East pipeline. Fearing similar opposition from belugas. And clearly are driving full-steam Regular subscription: $30 Four months ago mass that has stalled other Quebec public opinion towards climate chaos—in- U.S.: $50 protests drove Kinder pipelines, TransCanada clearly not onside with the cluding supporting tar sands Other international: $60 Morgan from taking tar hired a public relations firm project.” and pipelines at the federal sands west through Burnaby to fabricate “grassroots As a result, TransCanada and provincial levels, while Mountain, at least for now. advocacy” to support its announced it will not use trying to criminalize oppos- Then last month the mass pipeline. But this failed. Cacouna, but will try to ition through Bill C-51. The movement against Keystone As Andrea Harden- find another port—which NDP, under pressure from XL pushed Obama to veto Donahue from the Council will delay the pipeline by the movements, is slowly Name: the pipeline trying to take tar of Canadians summarized, two years. TransCanada shifting its position. sands south. “Thousands were mobilized claims that “our decision The delay in Energy Address: Attention then shifted to to march several times in was certainly not made East comes at a time when TransCanada, which want to Cacouna against the port. because of opposition,” as if oil prices have fallen and use its Energy East pipeline Dozens of municipalities oil executives miraculously oil companies have fired Phone: to pump more than a million are calling for a review grew a heart for beluga hundreds of workers. At the barrels a day of tar sands oil or rejecting the project. whales. same time there’s growing E-mail: east. Like the other pipeline Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois’ Clearly the opposition awareness of the need and proposals this would expand crowd funding effort for did work—otherwise possibility of a just transi- Mail to: Socialist Worker, PO Box 339 tar sands that destroy a local grassroots group TransCanada wouldn’t have tion to green alternatives— Station E, Toronto, ON Canada, M6H 4E3 Website: www.socialist.ca / E-mail: [email protected] Indigenous communities and opposing the pipeline hit tried to manufacture its own which create far more jobs accelerate climate change over $300,000 in a matter of movement. And clearly and don’t destroy the planet that destroys the planet. In days. A successful injunction TransCanada doesn’t care on which we depend.