Political demagogues and reactionary interests have | sought to divide Canada over I) the issue of Quebee and the irest of Canada. We have had f'the French Canadians libeled Win every possible manner, most f popular of course being to label hall French Ganadians as Zom- J} bies. This regardless of the fact that the beaches of Dieppe were strewn with French Cana- ndian dead; regardless of the (fact that Quebec has no mono- poly on so-celled Zombies that they are found in equal numbers, on a per capita basis, in every other province in Can- ada. Moreover; the Tresponsi- bility for the unwillingness of French Canadian to volunteer for general service liés not so much with themselves as with

|

The natural and inevitable fresult of French Ganadians be- (3 virtually forced into a posi- #cion of economic and social in- sferiority has resulted in the de- ivelopment of a feeling of re- sentment—a feeling which can only be removed by the deter- mination of organized labor and

throughout the rest of Canada to raise Quebee standards to the levels of standards in proy- imces such as ours—and to ex- send to them the hand of friend- ;ship—not as a patronizing tok- mi gesture of support—but by Hanging themselves alongside the Erench-Canadians in the fight for national equality—— which means national unity.

VEN the Royal Commission

on the textile industry set ip by the Dominion Govern- ment in 1938 felt compelled to tondenm the Quebee wage situ- ition in forthright fashion. they cite two textile com- ganies in Quebec as having ‘particularly Wad records.” One %f these, controlled by a United states company is the largest “£ the broad silk mills. Records show that this particular com- 9any, which provided employ- nent for almost an entire town

tmployees less than 12% cents jer hour. In a two week pay 9eri0d in February 1936 one juarter of all the female worl-

In the other company ‘eferred to by the Royal Com- nission 42.1 percent of all the nale employees earned less han 12% cents per hour. Since hen, thanks to the determined ight of organized labor, wages lave slowly risen but conditions e still deplorable. In Mont- eal factory labor now re- ives a legal minimum of 17 lents per hour for a work week 1p to 60 hours for females. the Fellowship For a Christian social Order cites the Banque Sanadienne Nationale with 65 Wanches in Montreal which n 1942 paid tellers with 10

progressive - thinking people_

; aT HERE has been a great deal of rot written about French + * Canada in the last few years—and still more loose thinking on the part of too many Canadians about our | French Canadian brothers and sisters.

years’ service an average of $17.50 per week for a 50 to 60- hour week. Readers will recall a case in Montreal last year where a bank manager was ar- rested for. stealing several hun- dred dollars from his bank. At the trial it was brought out that his salary was $13.00 per

week. No wonder he had -to Steal. French school teachers in

1937 were paid as low as $135 a year. Now their minimum is $400 a year.

S$

EN 1942 according to the Gan-

ada Year Book the minimum wage for a blacksmith in Van- couver was 85 cents an hour, in Montreal 55 cents. Vancou- ver painters were receiving 91 cents per hour while Montreal painters received 79 cents and considerabiy less outside Mont- real. All other trades and in- dustries bear about the same relationship between these two <ities.

@

ALONGSIDE low wages are

the inevitable scourges of disease and privation. The Gan- ada Year Book for 1939 shows the infant mortality rate per 7900 live births in 58 cities throughout the world in 1936. Bombay, India, is the highest with an infant mortality rate ef 250 per 1000. Three Rivers, Quebec, is second with 243 per 1090 to be followed by Madras, India, with 218 per 1000. In 1942 for every infant under the age of one who died in Vancou- ver, three died in the city of Quekee.

The workers of French Gan- ada do not desire to work un- der such conditions any more than a British Co'’umbia work. er and like any self-respecting individuals, resent such condiz tions.

@

(eee just grievances of the

Quebec workers have been utilized by Canadian Quislings as a logical base of operations for fascist propaganda. Two hundred years of discrimina- tion against, and exploitation of the French Canadian people constitute a fertile soil for the agitation of those who would further divide the people of Canada. These Quislings have raised the race cry. They have sought to put the blame upon the Jews, upon the other parts of Canada. They have adopted popular slogans such as “Down with the trusts!” in order to lead the French Canadians to- ward corporation so that the people of Quebec have- become confused.

e We it is true that Quebec labor has made tre-

mendous gains since the war began, with the union member- ship figure now over the one hundred thousand mark, it should be remembered that for

every organized worker in Que- bee there remain nine who are

still unorganized. Labor in British Columbia and else- where in Ganada- cannot sit

back and say “Oh well, Quebec is going ahead nicely on her

- OWn So we don’t have to worry.” This is false reasoning. Quebec

labor is not strong enough yet. The low economic standards of Quebee remain a serious threat to the hard-won wage rates of B.C. workers. To en- sure raising our own standard of living we must first bring: Quebec “wages up to ‘a decent level. The writer has lost track of the number of times he has heard B.C. employers oppose

‘Wage increases by quoting the

lower rates paid in Quebec. And

P. A. Features, March 17 — Page 13

too often, these unprincipled tactics succeed.

Accordingly Hneglish-speak- ing Canada must take the fol- lowing steps with respect to Quebec:

Firstly organized labor in French Canada must be sup- ported in its demand for wages, hours and working conditions similar-to those obtaining else- Where in Ganada. Secondly the government must be encourag- ed to continue in its plans for the removal of social and eco- nomic inequalities in Quebec. Thirdly, there must be planning by the government, in coopera- tion with labor unions and other groups te launch a widespread educational campaign regard- ing the real issues of this war

Assist Quebec Labor

By PRIVATE BERT MARCUSE..

in order to counteract the false and confusing propaganda of the Fascis™ groups in Quebec which though representing a small minority of the popula- tion are, through the inaction of the rest of Canada, influenc- ing a majority of democratic and liberty-loving French Gana- dians

Finally we must never lose sight of the fact that Ganada is only as strong as the unity of the French and Eneglish- speaking nationalities who make up her people as a whole. This means the acceptance of our special responsibility to Give assistance to our fellow: eitizens in French Canada, so that together we may erase Fascism abroad and 4 home and make Canada the great demo- cracy she can be.

Continued From Page 12

A New Hope For The Future

ithe United Nations to break ozf relations with these coun- tries. The conference had bare- ly heard its discussion on this question when it became ac- Guainted with the decisions of the Crimea conferencé sof the 3g Three, which was proceed- ing simultaneously at Yalta. The delegates at once recogeniz- ed the historic character and significance of the Grimea de- claration and unamously, wath the greatest ovation of the entire 12-day sessions, pledged itself to fight for it against all possible opposilion. The governments of the United Na- tions have now the guarantee that the full weight of the gn- icns will be mobilized in sup- port of their peace policy. Workers of every nationality, coler and creed, assembled in this, the most important and by far the most representative trade “union conference in all history, unanimously endorsed the decisions of the Crimea Con- ference. Enormeus forces were thereby mustered for the final defeat of fascism and the set- tlement of the peace.

“Final victory over the ene- my must be won as quickly as possib'e,” said Vassila Kuznet- sov, chaitman of the All-Union Central Council Trade Unions of the USSR, in a rousing eall. “For this purpose,” he pleaded, “all our might must be hurled at the wounded fascist beast, who has been driven into his. lair and is exerting his last strength.”

De'egates agreed it was im- possible to exterminate fascism completely by military efforts alone. To achieve this, the mo- ral and political rout of fascism is essential. It is «therefore absolutely necessary to estab- lish postwar conditions in which Germany will not have the chance to prepare for and launch a new war as she did after 1918. Complete disarma- ment, the severe punishment of war criminals, and extension of full democratic rights for the people are also essential. To achieve this aim, the further strengthening of the unity of the democratic countries and their close collaboration in the War and postwar periods are of decisive importance.

Hitlerite Germany has caused

-mankind, and particularly the

working people, countless pri-. vations and suffering. The Nazi barbarians introduced the special techniaue of mass an- nihilation of man. They in- vented gas weapons; they built mechanized furnaces where they burnt millions’ of innocent people—men, women and chil- dren. They put into use savage weapons against the civil popu-

‘lations, such as flying bombs

and rockets. Especially terrible were the atrcecities perpetrated by the fascists on Soviet soil, against the Jewish people and the labor leaders.

The conference was unani- mous in agreeing that workers and trade unions must render every possible aid to our gov- érnments in the relentless strug- gic against all pro-fascists, re- aclionary elements trying to siow up the’ supplies to the front and thus help the enemy.

We must expose their uncer- mining activities. The: mebili- zation of workers through the Wusted Nations fer ever-in- creasing war production, is closely bound up with the de- tence. of our must impcrtant economic interests.

Workers and trade unions cf the liberated countries, who must fight for the formation in their own nations of arms di- rectly to participate in the arm- ed struggle against the German fascist invaders, are confronted by important tasks. Worlcers and other progressive ele- ments in liberated countries, whe have passed through the severe school of the liberation struggle, must ‘fight for the complete destruction of every last vestige of fascism and its intluences; the creation of a stable rear and the ze-birth cf democracy; which assures the active participation of the peo- ple in the political and economic administration of their respec- ive countries.

J BeBe Aas agreed that Al- lied Nations must strength- en, even more, the friendship which is necessary for the vVic- torious conclusion of the war and the establishment of a stable and lasting peace.

On behalf of the 60 million workers whom the World Labor Conference represented, we pledged ourselyes to work un- ceasingly to supply the armed ferces of the United Nations with their needs until the day when the enemy lays down his arme in final defeat.

We further pledged ourselves

to fight for the protection of the rights of the men and wo- mer in the armed services and to safeguard their interests un- til theix return to civil life.

In brief, then, this was the World Conference of Mabor. As Chairman George Isaacs, in bidding the delegates goodbye, pronounced in moving, poetic words in his typical Cockney accent:

“And new we close our his-

torie deliberations. Outside it is growing. dusk and in the words of an old English hymn “the shadows race across the sky.” But actually, -brothers, inside Here it is dawn—dawn of a beautiful new day for labor and for the world. What we have done here is historic. It marks the turning point in the an- nals of labor. It will be re- membered for years hence. What differences we have had merely emphasize the great degree of unity we have achieved. Bring, my brothers, the good wishes of British labor to your valiant country- men in the various corners of the world from whence you come. Victory is near and what we have accomplished here will guarantee that it shall remain with us for- ever.” :

The ovation he received came from the hearts of every dele- gate. They knew they had made history; they had by-pass- ed many stumbling blocks. They left with a confidence they would reach their goal. I certainly share that confid- ence. The World Labor Gon- ference charted a course to achieve the summit of man- kind’s aspirations — freedom, prosperity and peace.