New leader, focus on economy at NDP c By MIKE PHILLIPS TORONTO — New Democ- rats emerged from their 9th On- tario convention here, Feb. 5 placing new emphasis on fighting the Tory government in Queen’s Park on the economic front. At the same time they elected a new provincial leader who cam- paigned and was elected on the pledge to win ‘‘credibility’’ for the NDP among the public on economic issues. The broad range of issues dealt with at the convention which opened Feb. 3, included transpor- tation policy, tax reform, agricul- tural and urban land policy, occu- pational health and safety, and in- ternal party matters such as the proposal to accept corporate do- nations which was defeated on the first day of the meeting. The party came out in favor of the immediate nationalization of INCO, and for the development of an “‘industrial strategy for economic development, central to which is the public ownership of the primary resource industries ....’" They pledged that an NDP government would bring INCO, Falconbridge, Fio Algom and Denison Mines into public own- ership as part of this strategy, and demanded the Tory government in Queen’s Park adopt and im- mediately implement such a prog- ram. Absent from the economic policy debate however was any concrete reference to the massive unemployment crisis, or de- finitive proposals to rally labor and the public behind an economic development strategy other than awaiting the election of an NDP government. Awakening Left The debate on economic policy signalled the re-emergence of a visible left current in the party, forced into hibernation by the purge of the Waffle movement by the NDP establishment in the early 70s. Though burdened with the clammy embrace of the perre- nial Trotskyist element still ‘“bor- ing’ the NDP from within, the left nevertheless sparked enough in- terest among the delegates to at- tract over-flow attendance at its caucus meetings, and it was able _to field a slate of progressive can- didates for the provincial council Going in as the underdog, Michael Cassidy emerged as the new leader of the Ontario NDP, de- feating opponents Mike Breaugh and lan Deans. which included many well re- spected activists in the labor and democratic movement. However the left current wasn’t strong enough to prevent the party establishment from winning the convention to sup- port the federal party’s ‘‘status quo”’ position on the crisis of con- federation. Delegates backed a move to re- place the call for the party’s rec- ognition of the Quebec people’s right to national _ self- determination in one resolution with affirmation of the so-called “positive option for Canada’’ adopted last July at the Federal NDP convention in Winnipeg. Spokesmen for this position, like former federal leader David Lewis reduced the whole issue of the confederation crisis to a simplistic argument that with jobs and economic security working people in Quebec would lose in- terest in pursuing their national aspirations. Demagogy, Chauvinism Demagogic remarks by _ the former leader such as his refer- ence to Montreal, Lewis’ birth- place as ‘‘a city in my country, Canada, and I intend it to remain in my country’, degraded the honest patriotic emotions of the delegates to the level of chauvinism. Supporters of na- 11th WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH 240 Canadian delegates Among the 16,000 delegates to the 11th World Festival of Youth and Students will be 240 Cana- dians, the Preparatory Commit- tee of Canada announced last week. The festival, to be held in Havana, Cuba from July 28 to Aug. 5 this summer, will bring to- gether young people from over 140 countries. The theme of the Festival — for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity — will reflect in dozens of concerts, seminars, sports and cultural events plan- ned in the festival program. The size of the Canadian dele- gation will be largest Canada has had in the Festivals’ 30-year his- tory. ‘“‘We're quite pleased that 240 Canadians will have the chance to participate in this un- ique international event’’, Anna Larsen, co-chairman of the Canadian committee commented. In Canada, the Preparatory Committee has _ branches throughout the country and in- cludes within its bi-national struc- ture, the Co-ordinating Commit- tee of Quebec. Forty-one organi- zations have joined the commit- tee to date, including student fed- erations, trade unions, youth organizations and peace groups. In addition to organizing the Canadian delegation, the Pre- paratory Committee of Canada hopes to involve thousands of young people in preparatory ac- tivities. Those interested in learn- ing more about the Festival and the work of the Canadian commit- tee should contact the Preparat- ory Committee of Canada at P.O.” Box 99, Station V, Toronto M6R 3A5. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—F EBRUARY'17, 1978—Page: 4 onven tion tional self-determination for Quebec, like former NDP MP John Harney, noted that adopting such a position wasn’t a rejection of confederation, as his opponents argued, but rather meant sending a message to Quebeckers ‘‘that New Democrats want to hold the country together, but on an equal basis . . . for English-speaking and French Canada to come together to build a new confederation.” Harney has publicly supported the convening of a constitutent assembly, with equal representa- tion from both nations to draft a new constitution recognizing Canada’s bi-national character. The close three-day leadership race provided much drama for the convention, but did not over- shadow the policy-making pro- cess. Cassidy’s focus on _ the economy appealed to the majority of delegates in the final analysis, though enthusiasm for the cam- paign was slow to build and there was a very large bloc of uncom- mitted votes right up to the Friday-night bear pit session with the three candidates. Cassidy Momentum Delegates reacted strongly to what they felt was a failure by Mike Breaugh and Ian Deans to address the issues seriously enough in the bear pit session. Cassidy spent the least amount of money on his campaign, but had the best organized machine which helped his campaign tre- mendously during the second day as the momentum behind the NDP finance critic began to grow. His support by such well known left personalities in the party as James Laxer and John Harney was explained to the Tribune by a delegate who preferred to remain un-named, by the fact that of the three, Cassidy was “‘the least likely to put the boots to the par- ty’’ —anot-so-veiled reference to the party. establishment’s past tendency to decapitate any de- veloping serious left-wing trend within the NDP. Cassidy’s leadership victory and the renewed emphasis on the economy as the prime arena of struggle, reflected in the policy adopted by the convention, could indicate a positive shift by the NDP in the direction of greater working-class pressure on the Tory big business government in Ontario. If this shift is in fact carried through it will be welcomed and supported by all progressive forces in the provinces including the Communist Party. ST. CATHARINES — Angry Columbus-McKinnon strikers frustrated after two and a half months of strike without negotiations picketed thé Canada Trust offices in downtown St. Catharines where the manag® ment bargaining team is in hiding. The picketers in an effort to bring thelf | case to the public marched with signs demanding that the management team begin meaningful negotiations immediately. . — SETTLEMENT REACHED AT DAALS COLLINGWOOD — Workers at Daals Specialities Ltd. have voted to accept a new collective agreement. The workers repre- sented by the United Auto Work- ers Union will receive an increase of 50 cents an hour in the first year - of the contract and 50 cents more in the second. Daals makes car safety equipment, mainly seat OFL CONDEMNS SAFETY LAWS QUEENS PARK — A break- through in occupational health and safety laws is being sacri- ficed to the interests of industry, the Ontario Federation of Labor (OFL) told a legislative commit- tee. The OFL said that the prop- osed health and safety legislation “stinks of the government’s sen- sibility to managements concern with production and its authority. “Industry and government have made guinea pigs of work- ers,” the OFL told the commit- tee. ‘‘They have tumed human beings into experimental animals of the working place. And gov- ernment is asking you to legislate a continuation of that experi- mentation. LABORHITS’ PENSION CO.’s TORONTO — The Ontario Federation of Labor (OFL) ac- cused the $30-billion private pen- sion industry of being irresponsible and selfish in its opposition to inde- xed pensions. In a brief to the Royal Commission on the Status of Pensions the OFL said that not raising pensions to match the cost of living increases is allowing ‘‘th- ose sectors which benefit from in- flation to expropriate the earned rights of pensioners.’’ The brief called for an increace in the Canada pension plan benefits to 50% of pre-retirement earnings. tional Metalworkers Federatio# WORLD ALUMINUM CONFERENCE | | MUNICH — Union delegates | from 12 aluminum-producing— countries agreed at a meeting her®_ to join forces against the multi-na= tional aluminum companies. Thé meeting was the Third Interna: World Aluminum Conference. 4 nine-member -delegation repre sented the United Steelworke!$ of America. The conference also called fof efforts to ensure unionization i developing countries and stat” dardization of wages and fringé benefits as the best defense. fot security of all aluminum workers: LONGEST STRIKE IN UMW HISTORY WASHINGTON — The 39-ma!_ bargaining council of the United Mine Workers has postponed cot" sideration of a tentative contract agreement. The strike, involving over 160,000 workers, is now in it tenth week — the longest strike the history of the UMW. Minef? spokesmen have accused the big oll monopolies which dominate - thé coal industry of using the strike i# an attempt to drive the price of ol up. CUTBACKS HIT HOSPITAL BUDGETS TORONTO — The decision the Ontario government to rt strict hospital budgets to a 4.5 increase will mean staff layoffs reduced services and even fewe! changes of bed linen, hospital of ficials say. ‘‘It’s harsher than thé reality suggests’ said James McNab, President of Toront? General Hospital. ‘‘We’re look ing at wage and prices increase’ of 8% so where does this leavé us.”” The new. hospital budgé! represents a total shortfall of $28-million between what hosp! tals need and what the Ministry of Health is prepared to spend.