-< ACROSS THE

Wis” NATION

Ontario election analyzed

The viewpoint of the Commun- _

ist Party is that the recent
Ontario election solved no prob-
lems, and may in fact have aggra-
vated some. As the party’s Ont-
ario leader, Bruce Magnuson,
expressed it, ‘‘the thing that
Stands out is that the expected
happened,”’

Issues such as the domination
of the province by big corpora-
tions, most of them foreign, the

_ lack of real industrial expansion,
the exodus of our material re-

_ sources, automation and _ the
growing prospect of unemploy-
ment, the lack of planning
to ensure a future for the youth—
all these problems remain before
the people of Ontario.

It is interesting, said Mag-
nmuson, that “‘the same group
that supported Pearson and
the Liberals in the federal elec-
tion went all out to support Ro-
barts and the Tories who served
them so well for the past 20
years.”’

“The poor result shown by the
opposition was due to its failure
to come to grips with any of
the basic issues in the province.

The Liberals, Magnuson felt,
*‘tried to run anegative campaign
of carping criticism, without any

attempt at positive alternatives.’’
One of the results of this was
the defeat of Liberal Leader

Wintermeyer.
Although the New Democrats
made some breakthroughs,

notably in Fort William, it was
evident that the big unions had
failed that party. This could be
seen in Algoma, SaultSte. Marie,
Oshawa and Windsor, whereSteel
and Auto union top leaders “sat
on their hands’’ during the cam-
paign, Magnuson charged.

A contributing factor in the
Tory vote was that party’s hand-
out of some social security con-
cessions before the election.
They came ‘part way’? in recog-
nizing the importance of this
issue and created the ‘‘illusion’’
some things were being done,
when actually nothing was being
done,

The following votes were tal-
lied by Communist Party candi-
dates in the Ontario elections.
Jim Davis, Toronto Lakeshore,
364; Charles Weir, Toronto St.
David, 220; Rae Murphy, Toronto
St. Patrick, 152; Osmo Lahti,
Scarboro West, 127; Bruce Mag-
nuson, Port Arthur, 368; and
William Devine, Hamilton
Centre, 383.

Cut arms, boost education

Canada’s multiplying problems
in education should take priority
even over national defence, said

Dr. R.B, Jackson in the major

- address at the annual conference

of the Canadian Education Assoc-
 iation in Quebec recently.

- He told the conference that

many educators and politicians
were unaware of the scope of
the problem, ‘*What we have to
face,’’ he said, ‘fis not a simple

¢crisis or emergency, but entry
into a new era or stage of devel-
opment at all levels of eoncanon,
including adult. iss

Stressing the need for im-
proved facilities, more teachers
and increased funds, Dr. Jackson
said: ‘The extraordinary change
in birthrates, has yielded about
the most fantastic age distri-

bution in our history.

“The enrollment pressures
will continue, probably get even
greater, well into the 1980s.

**It is essential that studies be
made and planning done for each
province or/and religion. With-
out proper planning, there canbe
no escape from the risk of col-
ossal waste, grievous errors, and
at least minor catastrophes in
some regions,”’

Even relatively modest funds
seemed to be lacking, the confer-
ence was told. The 1962 meeting
had adopted proposals for a study
of the vital and serious question
of school drop-outs but so far
the Canadian Association of
School Superintendents and
Inspectors had not been able to
find the $60,000 needed to con-
duct the study.

Can't stop French Canada

Quebec Natural Resources
Minister Rene Levesque recently
told a French-speaking Montreal
businessmen’s association that
no one could stop self - determin-
ation if that is what the people
of French Canada want.

He suggested that Quebec's
evolution could be called ‘*a dan-
gerous acceleration,’’ but there
is ‘fno need to lose our heads.
More than ever, our destiny is
in our hands if we want it.
Nobody can take the ball away
from us. And no one could ever
stop self-determination when that
is what the people want.”’

Levesque criticized ‘flaming

nationalism”’ or racial criticism
of non-French Canadians.

**Whether a person is English
Italian or Jew, he is a Quebecer
and has the same rights as we
have.”” He added that French-
speaking Quebecers have the col-
lective right to direct the
province’s affairs as they see fit
because they make up 90 per
cent of the population.’

Jean-Jacques Bertrand, Union
Nationale Party ‘‘Shadow - cabi-
net’? resources minister, said in
another speech that the Quebec
government’s demands could lead
to an independent constitution
for the province. ©

Jodoin critical of lobbies

The big insurance companies,
lobbying the government on its
proposed pension plan, have been
accused of making intemperate,
ill-conceived, inaccurate and
misleading statements about the
plan.

The charge was made by Claude
Jodoin, president of the Canadian
Labor Congress. He said: ‘* While

the CLC is not fully endorsing
the contributory retirement pen-
sion proposals as they now stand,
it is anxious that the plan be
passed as soon as possible and

approves the Canada Pension

: Plan in principle.”

Criticisms made by spokesmen

for the insurance companies have
given the public ‘*‘the impression
that the government’s proposal
is both unsound and contrary to
the public interest.”’

The CLC supports the idea of
an earnings-related pension plan
*‘without limitations and defects
of many ofthe private plans which
exist now,’* said Jodoin.

He added: ‘‘It is important to
go ahead with a plan as soon as
possible since any further delay
in introducing it will mean that
many older Canadian workers
will be deprived of an opportunity
to add to their old age security."’

_ sention

MARK TWAIN (born Samuel Lang-
horne Clemens) who, shortly be-

fore his death, unleashed a scath-

ing attack on religion and the role
it plays in serving reoction. His
“Reflections on Religion’’ were
printed this week, despite his re-
quest that they be withheld for
500 years.

LABOR ROUNDUP:

B.C. labor backs CLC
on autonomy positio

The B.C. Federation of Labor
has wired Claude Jodoin, presi-
dent of the Canadian Labor Con-
gress, expressing its support for
Jodoin’s recent stand on_ the
question of Canadian autonomy
in relation to the proposed gov-
ernment trusteeship over unions
in the maritime industry.

B.C. Fed secretary Pat O’Neal
congratulated Jodoin on his posi-
tion after Jodoin wired the presi-
dents of international unions (in
the U.S.A.) urging them not to
interfere in the trusteeship  dis-
pute.

Many international union head-
quarters (as reported in last
week’s issue of the PT) had been
putting presse on their locals
to reject trusieaship in an at-

tempt to save the hide of: the -

Talks in Tokyo between rep-
resentatives of Canada, the U.S.
and Japan on the North Pacific
Fisheries Treaty adjourned this
week with a stand taken. by .the
U.S. delegation which could have
far reaching affect on B.C.’s

fishing indasti.

the talks ended with-
cut termai agreement, except
that they wil: resume in Ottawa
next spring, the U.S. delegaion
came out in support of the Jap-
anese demand that principle of
voluntary absention be dropped.

The U.S. proposal would re-
place the principle of voluntary
abstention by a protocol to be
signed by the three nations wat
past fishing records in the area
be observed in the future. The
Japanese are reported to have
so far refused this U.S. compro-
mise on the grounds that Jap-
anese fishermen have no record
of taking halibut and salmon in

the_ convention area
The first round of talks were

held in Washington in June to
rewrite the treaty which went
into effect in 1953. Japan has
sevred notice from the start of
the talks that it wanted the ‘‘ab-
‘principle’ eliminated.
Under this principle Japan has
voluntarily refrained from catch-
ing halibut and salmon in the

CCW writes PM

The Congress of Canadian
Women has written the Prime Mi-
nister, all MPs, House Leaders
and members of the government
to ‘withdraw our country from
the agreement made with Wash-
ington to accept nuclear arms
for. Canada: .

_ Althougn

talks

waters of the North Pacific.

The United Fishermen and Al-
lied Workers Union in B.C. has
waged a strong campaign against
making this concession to Japan
on the grounds that it would lead
to destruction of the North Pa-
cific fisheries resource. It has
urged a~treaty which would in-
clude the Soviet Union.

Commenting editorially on the
talks in Tokyo ‘‘The Fisherman’’
said last week that, ‘‘any retreat
from abstention in our opinion
is another step on the road taken
by Canada and U.S. earlier this
year when they handed over
eastern Bering Sea halibut and
Queen Charlotte Islands’ herring
te Japan.”

The editorial adds: ‘‘We’re not
at all convinced that a retreat
1s not being made.

“To carry on the Tokyo nego-
tiations while continuing to turn
a blind eye to the only real

_ solution seems not only stupid

but highly dangerous.”

Pointing out that the USSR
should be a party to the North
Pacific Treaty, the editorial says
“there is something ~ farcical
about the proceedings at Tokyo
since they are leading in only
one direction — away from the
protection desired and needed by
Canadian and U.S. fishermen.’’

The editorial ends by warning
that
grave danger—a growing danger
—and all we’re getting from our
government is a_ slow treaty
leading ultimately to a complete
defeat.”’

“The fight is far from finished,”’
concludes the editorial.

Adenauer stays

BERLIN — Dr. Adenauer,
scheduled to retire this week,

behind scene

in fact intends to remain in
office behind the scenes to
spike any moves toward an
East-West detente.

People close to the 87-year-
old Chancellor say he con-
siders that he is the only hand
cunning and strong enough to
block the rising world demand
for a relaxation of tension.—
beginning with the German
question,

“Der Alte’? they say
believes that W. Germany is
within an ace of succeeding
in his darling dream to get
control of nuclear arms.

This is regarded as ab-
solutely essential for any fu-
ture attempt to annex theGDR
and regain the ‘‘lost territor-

-mechanization;

“our key fisheries are in

SIU in this country.

Jodoin stated in his wire that
there was widespread resentmen
against such tacics in Canada
“just as there would be resent
ment in the U.S.” if Canadia
unions tried to influence the leg
islative process in America.

e

The 26th annual regional - con:
vention of the Internationa
Woodworkers of America opened
last Tuesday at the district audi
torium, 13th Ave. and Commer
cial Drive, in Vancouver.

A number of important resolu-—
tions were before the conventio
as the ‘PT’ went to press. In-
cluded among these were:

® Withdrawal of support from
candidates who advocate the im
position of tariffs and quotas 0
lumber exports to the U.S.; ©

® Instructions to the regional
council to combat the growing
threat of automation and jo

® The re-admittance of union!
“such as the Teamsters and Op-
erating Engineers” to the CLC;

© Endorsation of the nuclear
test ban treaty and a call to ‘con-
tinue talks around the conference
table for the complete abandon”
men of nuclear arms,” as well
as demands that the Liberal gov-
ernment re-consider its agree-
ment with the U.S. on nuclear
arms; A

© Condemnation of the CPR 4
for its policy in withholding © |
timber which it has been granted
in the past and a call to revieW
all such grants;

e A whole series of resolutions
on unemployed benefits, work-
men’s compensation, anti-labor
legislation, and other social prob- —
lems. y

Last Tuesday, the 175 dele-
gates to the IWA convention de-
cided to unite with allied unions
in the woodworking industry t0
strengthen their collective bar-_
gaining position. ;

They will ask the Pulp & Sul-
phite Workers, United Paper Ma-_
kers, Lumber andSawmill Work-
ers, Shingle Weavers and the
Oil, Chemical and Atomic work- —
ers to participate in a joint
union council.

Under the council, whose siZ®
and structure would be worked
out after the other unions have
indicated their desire to joil,
all negotiations in the industry
would be co-ordinated. Thecom=
bined strength of the unions re-
presented would amount to aP~ i)
proximately 45,000 workers.

Till now, unions have negotia~
ted separately, allowing giant —
corporations to impose unsatis-
factory settlements on one grouP
of workers, knowing that astrike
would not shut down all opera
tions.

Next week’s issue of the ‘pr’
will carry a full report of the —
convention.

Last weak. we mistakenly Te
ported the founding convention °
CUPE as being opposed to “
Norris trusteeship proposals.
tually, delegates went on ae
as being opposed to governme?
trusteeship over bona fide unions
and called upon the CLC to 45
sist Canadian seamen to establish
a democratic trade union.

;

West Coast longshoremen a?
voting this week on a proposd
to implement the agreement con
cluded some time ago betwee?
the union and employer grouPS:
Although the points of agreement
have not yet been incorporate
into a contract, the ILWU ¢
committee is recommending ef :

ies’’ in Poland, USSR and they be implemented ‘on Octo
Czechoslovakia, 21. :
ei Sa _ October 11, 1963—PACIFIC TRIBUNE