EDITORIAL

Profits and deregulation

We haven't heard the end of the
Economic Council of Canada’s deregula-
tion report, Reforming Regulation, nor
has the federal government heard the
last about it from Canadian workers,
farmers and consumers.

In short, the ECC wants to wrench
agricultural marketing, fisheries, trans-
portation, telecommunications and
other activities away from any form of
public or government control and hand
a bigger slice of the economy to the
monopolies and multi-nationals.

Anyone who does a study of how a
capitalist government operates can come
up with examples of bureaucracy and

unnecessary limitations. Changes need’
to be constantly fought for in such in- .

stances. But that is not the purpose of the
study.
A dissenting member of the council,
Harry W. Arthurs, a professor at Os-
e Hall Law School put it quite suc-
cintly: “I believe, in short, that some of
the report’s underlying assumptions are
surprisingly out of contact with historical
fact and current social and political reali-
ties, however consonant they may be
with econometric analysis and neocon-
servative ideology.”

Neoconservative it is, on the U.S. pat- -

tern, and part of efforts to turn back the
clock of development to let the mono-
polies and multi-nationals cash in even
more. It finds its place in the theories and
policies of the right-wing cabal from
Reagan to Thatcher, and down to Joe
Clark, the process of broadening the gap

between the owning rich and the work-

ing poor — on national and international |

levels.

The ECC has no desire, it is obvious, to
curb the monopolies, to restrict in-
flationary profits, but is more inclined to
turn farmers back to serfs, and reduce
the protection of the health and liveli-
hoods of working people. Whether it is
eliminating marketing boards, easing up

"on shipping regulations, letting private

monopoly decide on transport rules it is
a backward step, bolstering monopoly
profit.

this document, the same government
that is giving $1-million to the UN’s Year
of the Disabled. The authors of the study
claim that consumers. would save billions
of dollars by handing everything over to
monopoly care. But everyone knows that
the monopolies take; they don’t give.

To turn again to Prof. Arthurs:
government regulations (which the ECC

wants dumped) reflect public concern '

about such things as: “adulteration of
food and the spread of disease; the phys-
ical and moral degredation of workers in
mines and factories; windfall profits ac-
cruing to landlords and land speculators,
while ordinary people cannot find suit-
able housing . . . irreversible damage to
the environment... widespread
financial ruin for farmers ...”

There is enough being tinkered with
in the ECC report to disturb and rouse to
protest practically everyone in Canada.

40 years ago on June 22

June 22 is a stark reminder. Forty
years ago on that date — in 1941 — Nazi
Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The
anniversary stands for several things —
the heroism and sacrifice of the Soviet

ple, 20 million of whom died in that _
war, and the guilt of the West’s im--

perialist_ governments, whose policies
have not greatly changed. ;

It stands as well for the incredible

rversion of human endeavor — Nazi
ascism.

The Nazi legions of Adolf Hitler
struck on June 22, 1941, but they had
been fed and encouraged for years by
the imperialist countries who relished
the idea of destroying socialism in the
USSR. :

The Soviet Union warned the West —

and documentation is plentiful — of the.

mortal danger of Naziism. But exactly
these powers — Britain, France, USA —
had built up Hitler, allowed fascism to
develop as an extension of imperialism,
an instrument to obliterate the world’s
first socialist state. Flourishing relations
among U.S., British and Nazi German
monopolies existed up to the zero hour.
But history records that the Nazis saw an
advantage in attacking and enslaving
western Europe before striking at the
USSR. ;

On June 22, 1941, the massive Nazi
war machine, with its racist right-wing
philosophy of extermination began its
PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JUNE 26, 1981—Page 4

drive on the Soviet Union. It ended on

May Day, 1945, when Soviet soldiers

pa the Soviet flag atop the Nazi
eichstag in Berlin.

The 40th anniversary of that attack is
noted around the globe. The lesson,
which imperialism does not want to
learn, is timely now, when plans for
world conquest, and elimination of
socialism guide the policies of the USA
and NATO. Virulent anti-Soviet lies are
fed to us daily as part of our preparation.
Unfortunately, the imperialist are dabbl-
ing in nuclear annihilation. It will take all
the people of the world to prevent such
an outcome.

The other lesson of this anniversary,
the overriding reasons for Soviet deter-
mination to prevent war, is a lesson for
the world’s peoples.

Like the Soviet people, Canadians are
developing a strong voice for peace, for
détente and disarmament. If that voice
does not yet influence Washington, it can
certainly influence Ottawa. And there is
no more positive way for us to talk to
Ottawa than by actively“circulating the
powerful peace petition — Peace is
everybody’s business!

The Soviet people never forget June
22, nor should we. They are dedicated to
preventing nuclear war, as are growing
numbers of Canadians. Humanity has
no alternative. ;

The government spent $3-million for

Flashbacks :

25 years ago...

UNIONS BACK

_ UESTRIKERS
Labor and community sup-
port for the 350 strikers at Fer-
ranti Electric is growing in the
Toronto: Mount Dennis-Weston
area as the strike goes into its
sixth week with workers braced
for a major effort by the com-
pany to smash the picket lines.
Signs of the company’s inten-

- tions were evident in the first

week of the strike as com-
pany-union lawyer, N.L.
Mathews, big wheel of the Lib-
eral party organization in Onta-
rio took over direction of the

company’s labor relations.

Officers of affiliates to the
Canadian Labor Congress in the
area have responded to strikers’
appeals with cash donations,
support on the picketline and as-
sistance in distributing

20,000 leaflets on the strike
throughout industry in the area.
Tribune,

June 25, 1956

50 years ago...

THEY SPURN
_ THE DOLLAR 4|

REGINA — About 600 un- _
employed workers met on the —
Market Square in Regina to pro- —
test against the new work test —
imposed by city council.

_The new scheme states that —
unemployed workers are tO )
work six days a week, seven ~
hours a day for $1.00 a week
credit. The scheme also states
that workers who have not been ~
in Canada five years will be de-—
ported if they refuse to work for
these “wages”.

The unemployed workers at
the meeting protested and re-—
fused to work. The speakers —
explained that this plan was fot
the simple reason of denying thé —
workers relief because they —
know that the workers will not
go to work under these cond —
tions and then the city councl)
will stamp the unemployed 3§—
lazy.

- The Worker; L
June 20, 1931

The government is a trifle sensitive about soaring food prices .
since the big demo hit them on Parliament Hill. There’s no such
sensitivity at Provigo Inc., Montreal, where 12 weeks’ after-ta* |

profit, up to April 25, was $5,

073,000. Provigo controls numerous —

companies wholesaling and retailing foodstuffs, drug, tobacc?

and general merchandise.

Editor — SEAN GRIFFIN
Associate Editor — FRED WILSON
Business and Circulation Manager — PAT O'CONNOR

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