Carefully studying his shoes, human resources minister Bill Vander Zalm waits as Downtown Eastside \ Residents Association president Bruce Eriksen outlines the issues at last Thursday’s demonstration outside the Legislature in Victoria. —DERA photo by Richard Schell B.C. corporations aid 5. American dictators By MAURICE RUSH Despite massive unemployment in B.C. and the constant cry by big business spokesmen that large amounts of foreign capital are needed to keep B.C.’s. economy moving ahead, major companies in the province are exporting hun- dreds of millions of dollars to Latin American countries controlled by ‘fascist and military dictatorships. The announcement last week that Noranda Mines of Canada, a major Canadian conglomerate with huge -holdings in B.C. has entered into an agreement with the’ military junta in Chile to take over and develop large copper deposits, once again emphasizes the large scale assistance Canadian and ‘B.C. corporations are giving to right-wing regimes in South America. Noranda has undertaken to bolster the Chilean economy by raising a large amount of capital for the enterprise which will be largely owned by Noranda Mines. Noranda is by no means the only Canadian or B.C. corporation taking part in the large scale ex- port of Canadian capital to Latin American countries. The big corporations send their money where there are super profits to be made and control established over foreign resources. Last year the Tribune exposed the fact that B.C.’s number one forest monopoly, MacMillan Bloedel, had entered into an agreement with Brascan (for- merly Brazilian Traction and Light _Co.), to establish a large scale forest products complex in Brazil which will require the export of AUTONOMY | Cont'd from pg. 11 and eliminate benefits for workers 63 years of age. The next Canadian conference will be held immediately prior to the 1976 convention of the CLC, in Quebee City. Delegates to the Winnipeg Conference are hopeful that the Canadian Charter will be _ issued prior to the Quebec meeting. This move toward Canadian autonomy is an important advance for the Building Trades in Canada. While it is true that the Canadian constitution would restrict membership to unions recognized by the Building Trades and Con- struction Department of the AFL- CIO, it is equally true that there would be no hope of uniting the membership of these unions in Canada on any other basis at this time. As it is, the international _ hierarchies and their roadmen see | the setting up of a Canadian _ Council as a serious erosion of their _ power and authority. That’s why they are, at best, lukewarm in their response. : | NORANDA MINES LIMITED | = PiacerDevelopments 31% | Northwood Mills 100 ] [Grandview Industries 100% | Boss Mountain Canex 100° | Northwood Building 100 = Materials Noranda Metal 100 Bell Copper Endako 7007] 2 Industries c Northwood Manufacturing 100 [ Brenda Mines Gibraltar 1% | Ocean Foundries 100% ‘Shi Division & 100% | Craigmont Mines Craigmont 45>] | Ltynn Stevedoring Canplas Industries 50% [Canada Wire & Gable 100] | _Noranda Explorations 100%} Wire Rope Industries 51% Major Noranda Group interests in British Columbia BC.Chemicals SI’: Profits drawn from these Noranda Mines Ltd. operations in B.C. are being exported to. Latin America where they are being used to bolster fascist dictatorships. hundreds of millions of dollars in capital from B.C. Noranda Mines has also entered into an agreement with the fascist regime in Brazil for development of mining resources. Conditions for workers in Brazil are among the worst in the world with labor costs counting for as little as eight per cent of produc: tion costs. It’s the attraction of low wages, cheap and plentiful labor, along with reactionary govern- ments which will protect their ‘investment and hand over to them control of native resources, which attracts these large corporations. In recent years Noranda Mines has grown into one of B.C.’s major corporations with over 9,000 em- ployees in manufacturing, forestry and mining. The company has one of the worst anti-labor records of any major corporation in the province. Bitterly anti-union, the company’s operations have been engaged in one dispute after another. Meanwhile, its — profits have climbed steadily. In 1974 its net profits were $154.8 million. In many of its operations, Noranda is closely linked with U.S. monopolies such as the Mead Corporation of Dayton, Ohio, leading U.S. paper manufacturer with whom it shares - control of such B.C. companies as Northwood Mills, B.C. Forest Products, and Northwood Pulp and Timber. The accompanying chart shows the major companies in B.C. which are controlled by Noranda Mines. From these operations through which Noranda exploits B.C. resources and its 9,000 workers, it makes millions in profits which are exported to South American countries like Chile and Brazil. There they are invested to exploit foreign resources and workers. Giant corporations like Noranda use the profits made’ from the sweat of Canadian workers to bolster fascist regimes in Latin America and oppress and exploit workers abroad. Now the Social Credit govern- mentin B.C. is using the province’s resources to further this process. Last week Don Phillips, economic development minister, announced that a five-man mission is leaving to visit a number of South American countries. ‘The purpose is to obtain capital project con- tracts in those countries,”’ says a press release from the B.C. Department of Economic Development. 1976 promises to be another year of spiralling inflation, and we at the Tribune are as aware as any of the tremendous problems that this will cause for the working people who faithfully read and support our paper. It is for this reason that we have consistently maintained the lowest subscription rates possible, even in the face of the enormous ~ pressures that inflation has brought to bear on us. Unlike the monopoly press, we have no control over the cost of newsprint, printing and mailing, and as a result our costs have risen by over 50 per cent for the last three years. 1976 will bring yet another increasein our costs of nearly 25 per cent. : For same period of time, we have managed to hold our subscription increases to only one dollar. However, we are forced into a situation where we must raise our circulation rates for 1976. Our new rates will be $8 for a one year, $14 for two years, and $20 for three years. A six month sub will cost $4.50, and single copies 20c. Inorder to give a bit of breathing room for our many readers whose subs have currently expired, our new rates will not become effective until February 15, 1976, so that all expired subs may be renewed at the- old rates until that time. Still, even at $8 per year, the Tribune is a bargain that every working person should leap at. _ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JANUARY 23, 1976—Page 12 1 Victoria lobby | urges jobs now Cont'd from pg. 1 as alleviating the desperate housing situation.’’ Eriksen also called for the abandonment of any thoughts the government may have _ had regardirig public works projects, stressed the need for expanded vocational training programs for the unemployed, many of which he said were untrained young people still living at home. Immediately following Eriksen’s presentation, Vander Zalm left the steps, and returned inside, a move which angered a number of the already frustrated demonstrators. A small group then invaded the Cabinet meeting and were invited by Premier Bill Bennett to his office to meet with him. Eriksen said that DERA was in no way connected with the in- vasion, which he said appeared to be ‘‘pretty much of an impulsive action’, even though he could sympathize ‘‘somewhat with their frustration” over the manner in which Vander Zalm treated the protestors outside. Eriksen said that Vander Zalm was very closed minded about the whole issue. ‘‘He refused to back track on the idea of jobs for welfare people. Doesn’t he realize that it’s much more than people on welfare who need jobs? Nearly 8 per cent the work force is without jobs.”) He said that Vander Zalm attitude smacked of that of forme Socred minister Phil Gaglardi. “) June there will be a big stink a people on welfare refusing to strawberries for a dollar an ho he said. Eriksen made the point Bennett had said that his door always open to those who wanted! talk to him about jobs, but th when he returned to Bennetl office the morning following ¢ demonstration he sat for hoult and still wasn’t able to meet wil the premier. J “His statements reflected! beautiful sentiment, but we been unable to meet him despite writing over a dozen let to him which have been answel by form letters sim acknowledging receipt of letters.” : Eriksen said that DERA was mi satisfied with the government! attitude to date. “If they’ve go positive program to solve une ployment, then I want to see it they reject our proposal, w was a sound one; then let’s § their’s. 4 “But I don’t believe in government.” ICBC rate increase — protest sweeps B.C. Cont'd from pg. 1 B.C. are not going to accept this type of rate increase. “We must organize ourselves to bring the maximum of our collective strength to bear on this government. ICBC was a valuable asset to the people of this province and we must make sure that we keep it out of the hands of the giant American insurance companies,” he said. ; Noting that one of the many placards present at the meeting read ‘‘McGeer’s ICBC — A Loan Shark’s Dream,” Morgan said that British Columbians not ‘‘only do not want to live in a loan shark’s dream, but would not allow it to happen.” Other speakers warned that the ICBC rates were just the tip of the iceberg. ‘“McGeer’s fiasco is just the beginning,’ NDP MLA for MacKenzie Don Lockstead said, “we can expect this government to increase ferry fares, transit fares, hydro and gas rates if we allow this to go through without protest.’’ Speaking for the Vancouver and District Labor Council, Syd Thompson warned the government that the ‘‘working people of this province.are not going to lie down in the gutter and accept these increases. “Forever it’s the working people, the poor and the aged who get it in the neck, andin my opinion we now have a government that intends to soak it to the working people of B.C.,’’ Thompson said. “The labor movement was legislated to keep the lid on wage increases to eight per cent; and the provincial government has said that they will make sure that this applies to everyone in B.C. These are the same people who have the audacity and the gall to suggest insurance rate increases of 200 to 300 per cent. , “We are not going to accept it. We want insurance that will make it possible for ordinary people to drive their automobiles without being gouged to death,” he declared. The sponsoring citizens’ co mittee announced plans to sté another similar rally at 2 pil Sunday, in the auditorium of th Queen Elizabeth High School, 9 Ave. and King George Highway Surrey. Such meetings will tinue, they said, until they 4 successful in forcing the gove ment to retreat. r Cont'd from pg. 1 together a new realignmen progressive forces in the city. He added that both COPE the Vancouver Area Cou “might have to dissolve t selves’? to bring about th realignment. “But Harry Rankin must be centrepiece,” he stressed. ‘‘He proven his ability to defend interests of working people.” He stated however, that neith COPE nor the NDP had field! effective candidates, outside Harry Rankin, and suggested the labor council was po money into losing campaigns. “We give money to the | Area Council and we give to CO and they end up fighting another,”’ he said. Notably missing from Thom son’s remarks, however, were @ references to blame for the la unity among progressive force Vancouver civic politics. He made no mention of the f that, in every election campé Since its formation, COPE repeatedly appealed to the couver NDP for unity of act around a joint program and sla candidates — and has been Sistently rejected. In addition, NDP Area Council entered Civic election arena after CO. with the important assistan the Vancouver Labor Council, formed. Moreover, NDP _ leaders Michael Harcourt is a case in P — have themselves contribu’ the disunity by running for position organizations such TEAM.