stop layotts!

Raise Wages!
Cut prices!

Check the drift to depression! Fi

FELLOW-CANADIANS:

Every day the number of layoffs grows as
Canadians feel the full impact of the U.S.
recession. At first it was the 17,000 woodworkers
in B.C. Thén it was the auto workers and auto
parts workers-in- Southern Ontariv. Now workers
in almost every industry in Canada are affected
by temporary or indefinite layoffs.

Canada, like most capitalist countries, has
entered a period of recession, a particular kind
of recession in which rising unemployment

and spiralling inflation go together. Inflation
and unemployment in Canada are further
aggravated by Canada’s close economic links
with the U.S. economy and by the U.S. arms race
which continues unabated. This and monopoly
profiteering are prime sources of inflation

in the capitalist world.

The present recession will not be shortlived

like others were in the post-war period. This one
will be deeper and last longer and could turn
into a depression embracing the entire
capitalist world.

It exposes the pretense that capitalism can
control inflation and prevent recession.
Neither is true.

Inflation has made the rich richer and the

poor poorer. It has eroded living standards

and the value of the Canadian dollar. It is a way
in which wage cuts have been inflicted

on workers while guaranteeing maximum profits
for monopoly. We can see the results of the
inflationary spiral on housing, rents and
foodstuffs as well as on other essential
commodities. Now the Federal and Provincial
governments intend to raise the price of

gas and oil. Profits are at an all time high

and so are prices.

Never have so many been rooked by so few.
Government has done very little to cope with
spiralling inflation and the threat of depression.

The Budget which Mr. Turner claimed would lessen
inflation and prevent recession is doing neither.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1975—Page 4

Inflation continues at the rate of 12 percent
and it-may go higher this coming year.

Unemployment js presently 5.5 percent of the
labor force and according to Mr. Turner

will rise to between 6 and 8 percent
of the labor force in 1975.

The rate of growth of the economy may grind
to a halt altogether or fall below zero growth.

All this promises more unemployment and a
bleak future for hundreds of thousands

-of Canadians. Young people and

working women will be among its first victims.

Despite this situation Mr. Turner calls on the
working people to exercise “‘moderate restraint”
while proposing 50 percent salary increases

for MP's.

What restraint does he want the unemployed
to exercise?

What restraint does he want the workers to
exercise when inflation has undermined
purchasing power on an average

by at feast 5 percent?

What restraint does he want the workers to
exercise in plants that have completely shut down?

lf Mr. Turner is serious about the need for
restraint he and his Government should start
restraining the multi-national corporations,
the monopolies in this country, the speculators,
the price gougers — all those responsible

for the inflationary spiral. It is Liberal and
Conservative government refusal to act
against monopoly which is responsible for
undermining the home market and bringing on
economic stagnation without in any way
curbing inflation.

There is no reason for inflation,

unemployment or economic crisis in our country.
In the socialist countries there is no unemployment
or inflation and living standards rise :
year by year. The evils exist only in the lands of
capitalism where the multi-national corporations

and monopoly are in control and where
planlessness and anarchy of production prevail.
More and more Canadians are seeing the need
to bring about a fundamental reorganization

of society so that they can become

the real masters of their destiny. Socialism

is a vital question for the Canadian people.

But much can be done today to protect
Canadians from the evil effects of inflation
and-the threat of depression in Canada.

@ The home market must be expanded through
substantial increases in wages and _

cost of living escalator clauses. The aim

must be to improve living standards and ensure
workers get the benefit of increased productivity.

© Emergency legislation must be adopted
by the Federal and Provincial Governments
which would prevent plants, mines or mills