Auto import rules temporary aid,
urge task force take long view

This Statement on the Federal Task Force on the Canadian Motor
Vehicle and Automotive Parts Industries was issued by the Central
Executive of the Communist Party of Canada on May 25, 1983.

The proposal by the Canadian
auto task force to require car makers
Wipse Canadian sales exceed 28,000
an a year to assemble and/or
mee parts in Canada up to 60 per
he Of the value of sales, offers

Me protection to the hard-pressed

anadian industry, particularly
ee Japan, which accounts for
_ 98€ to 30 per cent of Canadian auto
Sales,

The Canadian content require-
ment proposed by the federal auto

y

task force should be introduced by
the federal government, not because
it solves the problem of our ailing
auto industry, but because it pro-
vides some short-term advantage
which will help protect the jobs of
auto workers and the economic lives
of the communities involved. It will
also abate, somewhat, the spin-off
effects of the auto crisis in other re-
lated Canadian industries.

However it will not provide a long
term solution, any more than the
U.S.-Canadian auto pact, which
while it had the immediate affect of
stimulating employment, in the
longer term set the stage for the pre-
sent deep-going crisis.

The iereats of Canada will be
served, as the Communist Party has
stated since the auto pact was intro-
duced, by the development of a
Canadian auto industry, and a Cana-
dian car. Unless steps are taken in
this direction, alongside the legiti-
mate proposals being advanced by
the task force, the end results will
eventually bring the same type of
crisis now existing, multiplied by
Japanese, alongside U.S. control
over a Vital Canadian industry.

However there can be no mean-
ingful recovery for the Canadian

auto industry which is not predicated
on overcoming the _ present
economic crisis in Canada. It is naive
at best to pretend that some re-
covery in the auto industry will pull
Canada out of the present slump.
Contrariwise, the auto industry, pro-
tectionism or not, will continue to
decline unless overall actions are
taken by Ottawa and the provinces
to end the crisis and put Canada back
to work.

In opposition to the present lavish
proposals of the federal and provin-
cial governments to prime the big
business pump with public monies to
overcome the crisis, they should in-
stead place these giant corporations
under public control and ownership,
and produce policies for the re-
covery of our country. That the auto
task force failed to address itself to
this question is itself testimony of the
incapacity of present governments,
and present policies to tackle the dif-
ficult problems facing Canada. It is
indeed time for new policies and new
governments in Canada.

The labor and democratic move-
ments in Canada should support the
recommendations of the task force
and call on the federal government to

‘enforce them. Likewise they should

make it clear to the government that
they see these proposals as patch
work and not remedial to the main
problems, which can only be solved
on the basis of the kinds of proposals
being put forward by the Communist
Party. P

World assembly to pursue lasting peace -

No tears for
the ‘poor’ CPR

By K. CARIOU

REGINA — During the current parliamentary de-
bate over Transport Minister Pepin’s proposals to
scrap the Crowsnest Pass freight rates for moving
grain, statistics will no doubt fill the air. Observers
who have not made any detailed study of the issue will
find the arguments difficult to unravel. And the rail-
ways, the federal Liberals, and other enemies of
working farmers will harp on a constant theme to
befuddle the public: to wit, how is it possible for the
railways to continue moving grain at the Crow Rate,
which was set so long ago, without losing enormous
sums of money?

When studying the arguments, Tribune readers
might and want to keep a few grains‘of salt handy.
And a look at some facts might help readers over-
whelmed with sympathy for the CPR!

Does it make sense to move 1980’s grain at 1890’s
rates? It does when one considers technological ad-
vances. In 1983 one train with a three-person crew can
move 12,000 tonnes of grain, the same tonnage moved
by 51 trains and 225 crew in 1907. ;

One figure consistently used is that grain movement
makes up 19% of the railway’s workload but that only
4% of the revenue comes from farmers’ payments.
But using the more accurate gauge of car-loadings
rather than bulk weight, grain accounts for only 9.5%
of the workload. And government subsidies raise the
revenues to a total 12% accrued from moving statut-
ory grain.

Finally, one look at Canadian Pacific Railways’
profit ledger should remove any lingering doubt that
the Crow Rate is about to cause the railway to col-
lapse. In 1977 the CPR raked in $247-million net in-
come, including $65-million from rail operations. By
1981 those figures skyrocketed to $486-million and
$127-million respectively. Stock market investors
know full well what effect the Pepin proposals will
mean for the CPR — a vast, taxpayer and farmer-
financed upgrading of the railway’s ability to move
coal and minerals from its mines. The proof that the
business. world knew? By the day following Pepin’s
Feb. 1, announcement that he would bring in legis-
lation to kill the Crow, CPR total stock value jumped
$135-million, and continued to rise, Common stock of
Canadian Pacific Limited closed at $37.25 on'the To-
ronto Stock Exchange on January 31; by May 19,
buoyed by Pepin, it was up to $45.50. ~

Most of the figures in this article are presented by
John Gallagher in his new book, ‘‘To Kill The
Crow’’, just issued by Challenge Publishers of Moose
Jaw, Saskatchewan. It’s a book well worth reading for
its wealth of hard information on this vital issue.

include women, youth, students, trade

TORONTO — The World Assembly
for Peace and Life, Against Nuclear
ar, will take place in Prague, Czecho-
Slovakia, from June 21 to 26, 1983.
anadian organizations — churches,
trade unions, peace groups, pro-
€ssionals, political activists, artists,
Women’s organizations, and others —
Make up a delegation of between 60
and 80. Up to this moment, reports Gor-
OWers, executive director of the
anadian Peace Congress, which is co-
°rdinating preparations in Canada,
Nglish-speaking Canada has con-
Tmation from upwards of 40 people, and
Tench Canada more than 20. a
t The purpose of the Prague gatheringis
© engage in ‘“‘common action to liberate
hoanity from the danger of a nuclear
Olocaust, to defend peace and life on
Our earth.”
iebose words from the Appeal of the
Nternational Working Group (pre-
Rory committee), spokespersons
Yom 71 international and national
*rganizations, which met in Geneva in
a bruary, lead off a program rich in ex-
anges, meetings and discussions with
Peace proponents of a multitude of in-
terests and convictions from around the

world, from East and West, from all con-
inents.

a The year 1983,”’ says the Appeal, “‘is
a crucial one for all humanity, above all
because of the dangers arising from the
deployment of medium range missiles in
Europe. The negotiations now proceed-
ing in Geneva and elsewhere must make
substantial progress if the threat of nu-
clear war is to be lifted. The arms race,
involving the growing waste of the
world’s resources must be halted and
nuclear weapons banned.” ss

It promises at the Assembly an “open
and frank dialogue on all the threats to
world peace. It will facilitate joint co-
operation at all levels by all who wish to

ene te.”’

Pais enough, the agenda offers an
array of opportunities for dialogue such
as would require a booklet — and they
have produced one — to contain all the
variations. :

Main topics proposed include:

e The danger of nuclear war, the
threat to life, and ways to prevent it.

e European security and dis-
oF rhe pape race and how to stop and
reverse it, its economic aspects.

Sp

PRAHA 83

e The danger of war in the Middle
East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

e Social and ethical aspects of the
arms race; and economic co-operation.

Besides a chance to see some of
Czechoslovakia, there will be a Wo-
men’s Centre operating throughout the
Assembly; and a Youth and Student Vil-
lage throughout.

Meetings of special interests groups

unionists, educationalists physicians,
writers and artists (cultural workers),
elected representatives, religious circles,
lawyers, scientists, journalists.

In addition there will be discussions on
the mass media, military industries con-
version, communications.

Sportsmen, veterans, businessmen
and others will also have a chance to
meet their counterparts; while there will
be many cultural events.

*‘Every movement for peace and dis-
armament, all groups and individuals, ir-
respective of ideological, political or re-
ligious convictions, must join together in
the common struggle,’’ the Appeal says.

“All questions and problems can be
discussed with the aim of resolving the
present tense and dangerous _inter-
national situation.’’

Appealing for the survival of the
world’s material and intellectual heritage
— of which the Assembly site, Prague
has its share — the Appeal declares:

‘‘At the World Assembly in Prague we
can reach a better understanding, we can
Strengthen mutual trust, security and
co-operation, the only basis for lasting
peace.”

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JUNE 3, 1983—Page 5