EDITORIAL Puerto Rico North? Ontario’s Liberal Premier David Peterson warned last week that, ultimately, the US. will assume control of Canada’s economic future if a free trade deal goes through. And that, Peterson warns, “could mean a harmonization of social policies, tax policies and ... harmonization of our currencies.” The talks are going so badly for Canada that federal Liberal leader John Turner has called on Mulroney to pull out altogether and not even wait for the so-called Oct. 5 deadline. Obviously there are many shades of difference on this issue. The U.S. demand that Canada open its investment market completely to foreign (U.S.) penetration, even phasing out the Tories’ toothless Investment Canada agency, shows the extent of Washington’s goals. The Americans want the auto pact and cultural matters to be “on the table” as well as trade issues. They’re interested in Canada’s social policy network. In short, the U.S. agenda is to create a compliant northern neighbour with its resorces, labour force and investment markets all “adjusted” to serve the United States. Political and military ties will also be tightened, of course, as Canada becomes a “sphere of U.S. vital interest.” Eventually we could become a northern Puerto Rico. As Peterson puts it, the argument will become: “We’re all the same now, why don’t we get our dollars together?” ‘ Another rather broad hint of U.S. intentions toward their “best friend“ is the refusal to agree to the establishment of a binding mechanism to settle disputes should we have a trade deal. That’s “just totally unacceptable as far as we’re concerned,” said U.S. senator Jack Danforth. This was seconded by Texas senator Lloyd Bensen, chair of the powerful Senate finance committee. Bensen told reporters the U.S. will not set up a “different and unique” procedure for Canada from that applied to all U.S. trading partners. The procedure, of course, is the U.S. decides what’s best for itself. Even a staunch backer of free trade like Donald Macdonald charged the Americans want to “own the referee.” He also urged Canada “to get up and walk away from the table” if an independent dispute body isn’t formed. That’s why it was all the more amazing that at this 11th hour, when the free trade talks were self-destructing, the NDP’s trade critic Stephen Langdon puts his party into reverse gear, urging we “make the best out of a bad situation.” Is this simply a case of caving in on his own initiative, or is this anew NDP position? Whatever, we must ask: Wouldn’t this be the time to widen the opposition to free trade, insist the talks end, urge that Canada expand and diversify its trade patterns and not be - continually subject to U.S. blackmail? The privatization axe The other edge of Mulroney’s double-edged axe for Canada is privatization, which, along with a so-called free trade deal with the U.S., is a Tory dream come true. Privatization and Canada-U.S. “free” trade are two peas in a Tory pod. Just as Mulroney opens Canada’s door to U.S. economic takeover, privatization hands over on a silver platter Crown-owned — read “publicly owned” — corpor- ations. Anyone who thinks Canadians will benefit from giveaways might look at what the sales of de Havilland to the U.S. Boeing Corp. and Quebec Air to the “private sector” have caused: concessions demands and union-busting. Privatization is a trough for corporate hogs to wallow in. Picking off juicy, profitable bits of Canada’s postal service is one example. Pocketing billions in tax breaks is another. Sabotaging Canadian control of oil and gas through the giveaway of Petro Canada is another. Mulroney’s U.S. friends privatize health care, sanitation, garbage collection, police services — even prisons. In that country everything can turn a buck. Canadian corporate greed is no different and, using their buddies in Parliament, they will grab everything that’s not nailed down. As the saying goes, the dollar has no patriotism. Neither do Tories. The Canadian Labour Congress is right in battling the Tory privatization and deregulation onslaught. It’s the left bower of free trade and , as such, deserves the same opposition. FIRIBUNE Editor — SEAN GRIFFIN Assistant Editor — DAN KEETON Business & Circulation Manager — MIKE PRONIUK Graphics — ANGELA KENYON Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5 Phone (604) 251-1186 ISSN 0030-896X Subscription Rate: Canada — $16 one year; $10 six months Foreign — $25 one year; Second class mail registration number 1560 Peo ple and Issues el a fis was when the Committee of Pro- gressive Electors marked its existence with a yearly garden party. But the decade has seen the rise of the labour- backed civic coalition — a rise despite the temporary setback of the 1986 fall election — to a position of prominence. That being the case, COPE’s leaders fig- ure it’s time for something a little bit bigger this summer. Therefore the first annual COPE Summer Festival is set for Aug. 23 in Vancouver’s John Hendry — Trout Lake — park. We’ve been told the festi- val is going to be something to talk about long after it’s over. Details are sketchy at this stage — there will be more when the Tribune resumes publishing after the summer break — but we’re informed that “top notch” B.C. entertainment is being sought for the event. We’ve also been asked to stress that this is not a picnic, but a full-fledged banquet, with many fine ethnic foods and B.C. salmon offered for a modest price. There’s also a real plus, and a long overdue one for progressive events, in the supervised children’s play area and entertainment offered. On the politically significant side, the festival is to be the beginning of the fall political fightback against the developer- oriented policies of the ruling Non- Partisan Association, and particularly on the key issue of a ward system for Van- couver. So we urge all our readers who will be in town to make the Sunday, Aug. _ 23 COPE Summer Festival the priority on their calendars. * * * he duties of being both an accoun- tant and a leader of a jazz band would probably fill most lives. But in the case of Bruce MacDonald, 82 years of living were not complete without invol- vement in the peace, solidarity and pro- gressive movements. Sadly, those years ended in Burnaby General Hospital on July 16. Born in Montreal in 1905, Bruce’s early work years were spent with the Marconi (radio) company and later in banking institutions. Like many others, he moved westward during the Thirties, eventually settling in Vancouver. He finally took up residence in Vancouver, to which he returned permanently after serving in the RCAF during World War — Il. if In Vancouver Bruce followed his | training as an accountant, setting up 4 | business and unwinding in the evenings playing piano in his jazz band. The Trib- une was the beneficiary of Bruce’s mus!- cianship, as he would donate his earnings from the band to the paper. A supporter of the Communist Party — and the Canadian and Pacific Tribunes; | Bruce — as his longtime friend Bea | Ferneyhough attests — was, up to 4 — year before his death, a participant in the annual Vancouver Walk for Peace, anti- — apartheid picket lines and those in sup” | port of the revolutionary forces in | Central America. : ek TSS f the many working class communi- — ties in British Columbia, Terrace stands out as a town rich in labour his- tory. But unfortunately, there are gaps 19 the record and these must be filled, a not€ — from carpenter Paul Johnston informs us: Paul is heading up the Northwest Car- penters History Project, sponsored by the Kitimat, Terrace and District Labout Council. Late last year the councl released.a modest booklet on the region's labour history, under Johnston’s author- — ship. Now the council wants to do 4— major history, but it needs help. The project wants to hear from peoplé active in the unemployed movement dur ing the Thirties. Two key areas of con- | cern are the work of the Employed : Unemployed Council and the strike bY | relief camp workers at Prince Rupert 19 | 1937. : : Allinformation can be sent to the pro- ject, P.O. Box 743, Terrace, B.C., V8G_ 4C3. ee 4 PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 22, 1987 ene eee ee ee hee eit I pe