ES A ete I hI OR ge Mt oh hha EA

EDITORIAL

Canadians on the march

Canadians of all ages, occupations and geographical locations are on the march, many literally — even more figuratively. They are workers, farmers, people in small businesses, middle income people, homeowners (and home losers), seniors, consumers.

They are on the march against the in- justices destroying their standards of liv- ing, threatening to destroy hope for the future. The government of big business can afford multi-billion dollar war prep- arations, but only ruination, coast-to- coast for millions who want to work and raise families in peace and prosperity.

What is more, the belt-tightening is ordered by the transnational cor- porations and their foremost admin- istrative body — the Reagan regime.

Our federal government tries to face two ways at once. It refuses to chop sky- high interest rates for fear of corporate “patriots” pulling out to the USA to in- vest. It will not, without the sharpest insistence, stop this flight of wealth which was sweated out of Canadian workers.

With its other face it speaks piously of its “Canadianization” plan for oil which, on its own would deserve critical sup- port. But what is happening in the pro- cess? Ottawa caved in to Alberta and the multi-nationals, handing them billions in profits and blackmail money in exchange for a share to the Trudeau Liberals.

What about the people of Canada, los- ing their homes, their health care, educa- tional opportunities, jobs, and the right to a peaceful future? When the out- rageous oil price increases hit every sec-

tor of the economy, how much more will they lose?

The federal housing minister fails miserably by telling Canadians who are

being evicted by the hundreds to “hang .

on” until the federal budget “saves” them. Is Ottawa also going to talk away a 36% jump in farm bankruptcies in a year, and a rise of 19.5% in business fai- lures in one week in September, over the same week in 1980? .

Ottawa plans to cut $1.5-billion from transfer payments to provinces, who in turn are throttling municipalities, who can only grind the money out of working people. Yet, Ottawa’s costs for Reagan’s war build-up are now a staggering $6-bil- lion a year, with build-in increases.

The corporate-government gang-up has already gone too far with this wreck- ing policy! Canadians need immediate relief from high interest rates — not a Royal Bank hoax that multiplies its vic- tims’ indebtedness. We ‘need a morato- rium on mortgages; and genuine rent controls. We need exchange controls to halt the corporate robbers hijacking our money. We need price controls at the

expense of profits. We need a roll-back

of unjustified price hikes, including energy.

Canadians have cause for powerful protests. Nor do they need the rhetoric of the Clark Tories, whose policies, like those of Thatcher and Reagan, we've seen: everything for bloated big business and the boot for the people.

The protests of today will need to be multiplied. Otherwise the slashing of liv-

_ Ing standards will accelerate.

U.S. intrusion unwelcome

Sanctions, countermeasures, retalia- tion — these are the words the ally to the south is slamming at Canadians for tak- ing even baby steps toward a self-respect- ing policy on resources and foreign ownership. :

The most recent affront from Myer

Rashish, U.S. state under-secretary for. warns Canada to

economic affairs, “formulate its policy consonant with .. . responsibilities” the USA considers global.

The offensive outburst attacks the federal government's policy of 50% Canadian ownership of energy re- sources. Imagine! The USA will not condone Canadians owning even half of their own energy resources! One can guess how smaller, less developed coun- tries fare in the eagle’s claws.

It’s not as if this were socialism. The Trudeau Liberals have never suggested that, ordinary Canadians. should own those resources, under democratic con- trol; nor have the New Democrats for that matter. Simply Canadian ownership — corporate or whatever. And for this we get an outrageous performance accusing Canada of “irreparable dam- age” to relationships.

The real damage, as far as Canadians are concerned — and they should unite as one against it — has been the snatch- ing up over the decades of Canadian re- sources, at bargain prices and _ tax- PACIFIC TRIBUNE—OCT. 2, 1981—Page 4

assisted, by U.S.-based transnationals. The added damage to relations is this rude U.S. intrusion into Canadian affairs.

Gone are the billions in profits, but at least the remaining resources belong to us — and no attempt to intimidate Cana- dians or their institutions can be toler- ated. The demand is arising from all walks of life for an end to this theft.

Rashish is not alone. Not long ago U.S. Ambassador Paul Robinson stuck his nose into Canadian affairs, telling Ot- tawa that “a larger percentage of the Canadian gross national product could be directed toward ... defence.” Is the ambassador also going to dictate social

service cuts in line with those of his boss >

in Washington?

In the same “straightforward” man- ner, Robinson called the Foreign Investment Review Act “the ugly child” of the national energy program. Such

meddling should stem the government's ©

recent tendency to cave in on its promise to strengthen FIRA. .

Canada’s ruling class has already kow- towed to U.S. imperialism to a degree ruinous to Canada, on monetary, economic, foreign and military policies — policies which have led to plunging living standards for workers.

It’s time to reject both these policies and the increased U.S. bullying, and unite to compel policies for the Canadian

people.

“The load’s too heavy. We'll have to throw some more workers overboard.”

‘with

Flashbacks

25 years ago... 50 years ago...

“YOU’VE KNOCKED AGAINST A ROCK’

. Premier Strijdom skulked somewhere out of sight, but the shattering roar, “AFRICA” from the gigantic women’s pro- test rocked the country.

The unprecedented move- ment among South African women came _ following . a government order that Black women as well. as men must now carry the hated pass books.

Twenty thousand women from all over gathered in Pre- toria and for every woman pro- testing there were thousands more in their home towns and villages. The marchers burst into song: > “Strijdom, uthitta

abafazi, uthinti imbokotho” —

“Strijidom, You've tampered the women, You've

knocked against a rock.” ‘ Tribune, September 24, 1956.

Profiteer of the week

FIVE WORKERS FACE COURTS

Five workers appeared before Judge Denton and a jury Sept. 24 on charges arising out of a | May Day demonstration.

The. five, Emil Rosenthal, Harry Sugar, Ed Rienkerman,

Karl Pontianen and Sam Goss | -

are charged. under Section 98 that: “they were members of an unlawful assembly . . . which had begun to. disturb the peace tumultuously and were thereby rioters.”

Police witnesses told the court they were attacked by the crowd when “we tried to move them on.” “Every time I got inside the crowd my helmet was knocked off,” said PC Armstrong, admit-. ting in the box that police inter- ference caused the disturbance. — The trial continues. :

: The Worker, September 26, 1931

While the militant coal miners of Nova Scotia are battling on the picket line for. their lives and living standards, the bank of the same name is living it up on high interest rates. For nine months ended July 31, Bank of Nova Scotia had net profit of $170,137,000, up from $159,324,000 in the same period a year earlier.

Figures used are from the company’s financial statements.

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

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