SocialistWorker www.socialist.ca $2 no. 583 May 2016 Decolonization Page 2 Valerie Lannon reports on the occupations across the SYSTEM CHANGE country in solidarity with Attawapiskat Black Liberation Page 2,5 Stephen Ellis remembers Viola Desmond, while Michelle Robidoux reports on the successful mobiliz- ing of Black Lives Matter- Toronto Tax havens Page 3 Jesse McLaren connects the Panama Papers with Canada’s corporate tax cuts Quebec solidaire Page 5 Chantal Sundaram celebrates the 10th anniversary of Quebec’s left alternative party Climate jobs Page 6-7 Brian Champ challen- ges Trudeau’s policies of “clean growth” while Bradley Hughes explains how oil sands workers are demanding climate jobs Anti-war Page 9 Paula Greenberg and Faline Bobier review the anti-war documentary We Are Many and the legacy of the anti-war movement Leap Manifesto Page 11 Carolyn Egan responds to claims that the Leap Manifesto ignores workers Fight for $15 Page 12 Pam Frache explains the growing movement across NOT the country and around the world CLIMATE CHANGE Facts & figures 11 Number of youth in Attawapiskat who at- ttemped suicide in one day 25 Percentage of Canadian Members of Parliament who bothered to attend an emergency debate on the crisis in Attawapiskat 350 Number of wealthy Canadians, who still remain anonymous, who the Panama Papers reveal are avading taxes 370 Number of shell compan- ies that the Royal Bank of Canada has created to help the wealthy avoid paying taxes, according to the Panama Papers 1000 Number of unemployed oil sands workers who Iron and Earth want trained in solar panel installation by VALERIE LANNON Charlie Angus, an emergency ous studies at the University (for the roads), clean swim- said Ko’na Cochrane, who session of the House of of Winnipeg, Jacqueline ming pool. The Youth Council heard about the protest and 17 million On April 9, Attawapiskat Commons was called in order Romanow, said the govern- has asked for a harvesting drove to the INAC office. Number of American First Nation declared to “discuss the situation.” At ment forced Indigenous centre, a cinema, a youth “The population of indigenous workers who have won pay a state of emergency. the emergency debate some people onto reserves, which trust fund, library, emergency people in Canada have had raises through the Fight There had been reports 75 MPs out of a total of 338 were far away from the mental health responders, enough.” for $15 of eleven suicide at- (fewer than 25 per cent) resources that were avail- firefighters, nurses, and for the Demonstrations have since tempts in one single day bothered to show up. Justin able at the time. Indigenous Prime Minister to meet with been held outside offices the previous weekend. “Sunny ways” Trudeau went communities are still feeling their leadership. in Vancouver, Regina and Subsequently, there was to a book launch for an old the effects, she said: “The Solidarity protests began Gatineau a report of a suicide pact Liberal buddy instead. problem is that indigenous in Toronto, where around More than 150 people took among eleven people, The same day, Mr. White people have had their rights 30 people from both Idle part in a solidarity rally in some as young as 9 years Paper himself, former PM to their resources and their No More and Black Lives Toronto outside the INAC of- old. Jean Chretien roamed around traditional territories taken Matter took over part of the fice, where protesters remain There are also reports Parliament Hill. Reporters away from them, and they’ve Indigenous Affairs office in the office inside. Speakers of more than 100 suicide asked him about the suicide been forcibly impoverished. on April 13, demanding the familiar with Attawapiskat attempts and at least one death crisis in Attawapiskat and he They’ve been pushed on re- federal government take talked about the ridiculously since September in the remote suggested the solution for serves...Reserves were never immediate action to address high cost of living (because community of nearly 2,000 some First Nations people meant to sustain communities recent suicide attempts in most things have to be flown people. Other First Nations may be to leave their isolated or human beings. They were Attawapiskat First Nation in in), the poor water that dealing with recent suicides communities, because of lack meant as temporary hold- northern Ontario. One day causes rashes, poor education, In their own include Pimicikamak and of economic activity. ings cells until they could be later, a similar occupation housing and health services. Shamattawa in Manitoba. In the most condescending assimilated into Canadian began in the department’s As one speaker stated, “The words Across Canada, suicide tone possible, he stated “They culture through things like downtown Winnipeg office: government has no problem rates are far higher among want to be close to the land. residential schools.” “We have officially occupied selling LCBO products at the Indigenous peoples than They are nostalgic about the INAC in Winnipeg in support same price there as here, but others, as are contributing fac- past” but that “people have to Attawapiskat youth of our brothers and sisters not the same for food and “People have to tors such as extreme poverty. move sometimes.” He went and solidarity across Turtle Island!!!!” everything else.” move sometimes.” All of this is the horrific on to say, as countless col- The list of demands of the organizer Raquel Lavallee As one speaker at the -Colonial response from ongoing legacy of coloniza- onial governments have done youth themselves is simple posted on Facebook. Toronto solidarity rally said, former Prime Minister tion perpetrated since day in the past to cast themselves and straightforward and First Nations across “The government cares when Jean Chretien in reac- one by Canada’s settler ruling as the cure for an Indigenous nothing more than youth Canada need better funding you care. Things change when tion to suicide crisis in class, while corporations like problem, that “there’s always in most places want, and, and a commitment from the the mass of people push and Attawapiskat the DeBeers diamond mine tragedies of that nature that in economically better off federal government to address push… Keep listening to the near Attawapiskat, exploit the occur, and the government has situations, receive. Things like the poverty, overcrowded communities and what they “The government planet. to do its best to cure it.” more recreational facilities housing, and other issues, the say they need.” cares when you He was blasted by with staff, better education, a protesters in Winnipeg say. care. Things change Colonial response NDP MPs in the House of community greenhouse gar- “It’s time … to honour our when the mass of At the insistence of Commons and by many den, traditional teachings, a commitments of healing and people push and Attawapiskat’s NDP MP others. The chair of indigen- recycling centre, dust control reconciliation in Canada,” push… Keep listen- ing to the commun- ities and what they say they need.” Black Lives Matter shows how to win -Indigenous speaker by MICHELLE ROBIDOUX the SIU and the Toronto of Ontario’s Special of the carding regulations, outside occupation of INAC Police Services work under Investigations Unit (SIU), and all the ways that our office in Toronto, on import- By combining mass mo- provincial jurisdiction. and calling for the officers Black people continue to ance of solidarity bilizing, tactical crea- Sooner of later, Wynne responsible for the killing of face violence at the hands tivity and a constant will have to answer to her Andrew Loku to be named. of those who should be We are skilled push for achievable constituents. In light of her City councillors Mike protecting us…One of our workers: electricians, demands, Black Lives silence, we decided to come Layton and Kristyn Wong- key demands is specific- iron workers, pipe Matter-Toronto has to her and remind her of the Tam put forward a motion ally seeking a complete fitters, boilermakers, challenged anti-Black faces of those victimized calling for the Province overhaul of the province’s carpenters, and racism and showed how by institutions under her and the Minister respon- Special Investigations Unit, many more trades, to win change. watch. Their blood is on her sible for Anti-Racism “to to be done in consultation and we could After nearly two weeks of hands.” ensure police services and with families of victims of easily transfer our an unprecedented tent city As Wynne refused to meet investigations are fair and police violence, the Black knowledge to the occupation outside Toronto with them, Black Lives transparent.” The motion communities throughout the green economy.” police headquarters, Ontario Matter led a march from was adopted unanimously. province, and the commun- -Liam Hildebrand, oil Premier Kathleen Wynne their police headquarters Activists then unfurled ity at-large.” sands workers and founder and Toronto Mayor John occupation to Queen’s banner-size copies of the In the wake of these Tory continued to remain Park, where Wynne finally SIU report into Andrew mobilizations the Coroner’s of Iron and Earth, which silent on the police killing emerged to briefly speak Loku’s death. On leaving office announced an inquest Socialist Worker is asking for transition to of Black people. So Black with them and acknowledge the council chambers, into the death of Andrew renewable energy Lives Matter-Toronto took systemic racism. the protest moved to the Loku, and activists have e-mail: [email protected] their demands directly to mayor’s office. The mayor also won the promise of web: www.socialist.ca them. Tory was nowhere to be seen, but community consultations.