Communist Party

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urges

Senate should be abolished, Quebec’s rights must be granted

The following letter, sent to the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and of the House of Com- mons on Senate Reform sets out the position of the Communist Party of Canada on the basic issues in- volved. It was sent by the Central Executive Commit- tee, CPC, on June 23, 1983, signed by its general secretary, William Kashtan:

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Dear Sirs:

We note the terms of reference of your Special Joint Committee on Senate Reform, ‘‘the consideration of ways by which the Senate of Canada could be re- formed in order to strengthen its role in representing people from all regions of Canada and to enhance the authority of Parliament to speak and act on behalf of Canadians in all parts of the country”’.

May we at the outset say that the Communist Party of Canada has for many years advocated the abolition of the Senate. It is a non-elective body with powers to veto legislation adopted_by Parliament. It is an ano- maly in a democratic society.

Democratic public opinion has time and again de- manded the abolition of the Senate. Its continued existence has supported those corporate interests who saw in it a means of hindering democratic pro- gress. One has only to recall the Senate’s resistance to

social reforms to realize how true this is. Current System Helps Monopolies

Now it is proposed to reform the Senate. The press- ing need for reform arises out of the persisting crisis of Confederation, and the impossibility of resolving its contradictions on the present basis.

These contradictions find expression in deep- seated dissatisfaction in Quebec, a dissatisfaction arising from national and economic inequality, which in turn has given rise to separatist tendencies. As well there is a long-standing discontent with a federal sys- tem which made Western Canada and the Maritimes colonial hinterlands of Central Canada, sources of cheap raw materials and resources while paying a heavy price for manufactured goods. This has given rise to ‘‘alienation’’ and to separatist tendencies in Western Canada also.

It is now proposed to reform the Senate with the objective of overcoming or mitigating these contradictions.

In our view however, these contradictions cannot be mitigated by the Senate reform now being considered.

Various approaches have been undertaken to deal with Senate Reform. These range from the Govern- ment’s proposals that it appoint 50% of the Senate and 50% be appointed by the provincial governments, and its latest proposal that provincial representatives be elected. These proposals and those made by pro- vincial governments ignore the Constitution’s con- tradictions that have done serious damage to Cana- dian unity.

Recognize Self-determination of Quebec

The failure to recognize the right to self-determina- tion and equality for Quebec and the limitation of its acquired rights have caused Quebec to reject the Con-

stitution. The Native peoples, too, have not got satis- faction of their demands to be recognized as distinct

WILLIAM KASHTAN

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 8, 1983—Page 6

peoples, with the right to self-government on the terri- tories that are rightfully theirs.

Any consideration of what to do with the Senate must take into account the basic issues that are involved.

The Communist Party of Canada again wishes to bring forward its proposal, a proposal first presented to the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Bicul- turalism in June 1964. This was further developed in its Brief to the Special Mixed Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on the Constitution of Canada in May 1971, and most recently in documents

_ adopted by the 25th Convention of our Party in Feb-

ruary 1982. ;

Basically what our Party proposed and continues to propose is the acceptance of the voluntary union of equal nations — English speaking Canada and Quebec — within an independent, sovereign bi- national state.

Two Houses Needed

In line with this we propose a parliament that would consist of two Houses: one, like the House of Com- mons today based on representation by population but elected by a system of proportional representa- tion. The second House, which would replace the Senate, would be composed of an equal number of elected representatives from Quebec and from En- glish speaking Canada, the latter representatives being in equal number from each of the nine English speaking provinces, plus guaranteed representation from-the Native peoples. Each House would have equal rights to legislate, but both Houses must adopt legislation before it becomes law. The structure would protect three democratic principles — equality of rights of nations regardless of their numerical size, guaranteed rights of distinct peoples to representation in parliament, and majority rule.

Such a solution to the anomoly of the present Se- nate could re-establish sufficiént confidence among our peoples to make possible the more fundamental constitutional changes we propose.

Such measures in our view must go together with economic and social reforms such as the right to ajob, to collective bargaining, to strike, to medical care, to education and housing, the elimination of all mani- festations of racism and discrimination. This would give an economic foundation to the democratic con- stitutional changes called for.

The point of departure of such constitutional

‘changes would, therefore, be the explicit recognition

of the basically two-nation character of Canada, each nation having the right to self-determination up to and including the right to secession, and to economic, cultural and linguistic equality, as well as the right of the Native peoples to self-government on the terri- tories that are rightfully theirs.

While upholding the equality of both nations, the right to self-determination of both nations, the Com- munist Party of Canada at the same time opposes the secession of Quebec, a demand advocated by the separatists.

No Contradiction

There is no contradiction here. There must be no confusion about the right to secession on one hand and its expediency on the other. We take our stand on the basis of what is in the overall interests of the working class of both nations and of the people as a whole. A big and strong state formed on a voluntary, truly democratic basis is the best assurance of defeat- ing those interests who want a weak Canada so as to sap its industrial development and its ability to play an effective role in world affairs. It is no secret to anyone that U.S. imperialism is out to use separatism in Quebec and alienation in Western Canada to advance its own interests and undermine Canada’s inde- pendence. Its interests lies in a Canada subordinate to its aims, not a strong, independent Canada.

Recent events emphasize the validity of this concern.

The Communist Party of Canada does not believe that the contradictions besetting Canada can be re- solved through Senate reform. The solution to the crisis of confederation and its contradictions lies in a basic restructuring of the economy and its reflection in those basic constitutional changes which could truly unite the country. We believe our proposals made a significant contribution to the attainment of these objectives.

_ try and mining machinery without complete recapitali

Labor urges municipal economic intervention

By MIKE PHILLIPS

TORONTO — Not only should municipal government pla) a direct role in building up Metro Toronto’s economic healt

' but it should also be a strong advocate at senior governmel! levels for progressive economic policies to help lead this cout try out of the current depression. :

These were the dual messages of a comprehensi\ economic report released June 27 by the Labor Council 0 Metro Toronto

The report, an economic alternative program as well as# critique of a similar report commissioned by the Metro To ronto Council on industrial development, identifies t areas for industrial development, and challenges the myth # the private sector as the so-called ‘‘engine’’ of the elusivé economic recovery.

“The real problems with Canada’s manufacturing secto! have to do with poor management and the lack of critical new investment in addition to (corporate) global restructuring ' the report declared.

“Thus an economic strategy that attempts to rely excl: sively on the private sector as the engine of growth is doom to failure ... We have reached a critical new phase where more active public sector is required to assure the full costs® corporate decision making are accounted for in thes?

decisions.

_ a

TRIBUNE PHOTO — MIKE PHILLIPS

WALLY MAJESKY Included among the report’s recommendations are: pal e that Metro build 150,000 low-cost housing units would also stimulate spin-off jobs in industries allie construction such as furniture and appliances; ‘0 e that Metro create municipally-controlled land banks if buy and renovate industrial buildings which could be used public-controlled industries suchas waste recycling, and ot expanded public services, or leased to private industries keep jobs in the community; bo! In targetting on industrial development for Metro, the ee i council focussed on several categories. Input industries f housing, transportation, road and service systems sho’ (0 expanded to create jobs, while new initiatives are take? " create new industries based on existing municipal servic such as garbage collection. {5 Basic industries, such as machinery, electrical produ auto, clothing and textile, food processing and printing ame others are also targeted for government interver gh a

Massey-Ferguson as an example the report argues, cou converted to the product of construction equipment, OF 0) oft instead of shutting down in two years as M-F big shots ba promised, sending Massey workers to line up with the res” Metro’s 252,000 unemployed. | Recognizing that Metro or any municipal government ¢ a singlehandedly create desirable economic conditions for covery the report emphasizes that lobbying senior gov" Ajo! ments for progressive changes in policy have to be ‘"@ m component of any municipal economic strategy. - sb ‘Local governments should join labor and other grove i calling on federal and provincial governments to direct md industrial development policies towards the assumpur di greater public responsibility in important investment © sions. oft ‘This would require the greater use of crown corporal, joint public-private ventures, and direct subsidies with $ employment level conditions attached to the subsidy me. than generalized tax concessions,”’ the labor council T&F said. 5