Continued from page 5

but for a federal election also. No one can tell what effect a deepening crisis and the control program will have on the for- tunes of the Liberal Party. In any case it emphasizes for us the necessity of dealing with these questions and for restating the electoral policy of the Party. Indeed, everything which has oc- cured in the last period of time be it federally, in Ontario, Al- berta and B.C. indicates the need to continue on the course of no- minating and running the maxi- mum number of candidates we can in both provincial and fede- ral elections. * OS *

The overall discussion made clear that the main thrust of our

work must be on the f zht-back

of the working class apxinst the

crisis policies of monopoly. Recent strikes such as the pos-

tal employees, teachers and pa-

per workers, including settle-

ments the anti-inflation board rejected, has led some groups of workers to conclude there is no point in striking today because at the end, no matter what the workers win as a result-of their efforts, wage settlements are re- jected by the anti-inflation board.

Workers recall what Prime Minister Trudeau told a group of railway workers in Winnipeg

last October: “workers have the right to bargain and to strike be- yond the guidelines but it is pointless. The government will not give in.”

All this obviously has a nega- tive effect on some workers and may deter or slow down the in- tensity of the fight back. At least this is what monopoly and its

governments hope for.

However it is safe to predict that it will not take two to three years for an all out fight-back. The fact is that workers are fight- ing back now and the prospects are for an ever sharper and wider fight-back. :

We should therefore avoid universalizing a situation in which some workers accepted the guidelines and consider that all workers will do so. It. would be a serious mistake to dismiss the wage movement. The work- ing class is being compelled to fight back to protect its stand- ards, its jobs and collective bar- gaining rights and we must be with them and help them in that struggle.

A basic task of the Party to- day is to help deepen class and political consciousness in the ranks of the workers, to help strengthen the concept of class solidarity and class unity. The working class will limp in its struggles until and unless this

WILLIAM KASHTAN

is achieved. Our ability to. help deepen class and political con- sciousness in the working class will show whether in a real sense, our Party is exercising its

- vanguard role in today’s strug-

gles. * * *

A second feature of the fight- back Communists should focus on is the forthcoming Canadian Labor Congress Convention. This convention will be of ex- ceptional importance. It will either advance policies to streng- then the united fight-back against the crisis policies of mo- nopoly, or veer off into class col- laboration, capitulation and re- treat as a Feat of right-wing policies.

Questions which will be “up

See:

‘ For a Democratic Alternative

Unite to Stop Monopoly's Assault Against Democracy and Living Standards

The statement below, dated January 25, 1976, was issued by the Central Committee: of the Communist Party of Canada at the conclusion of its recent meeting in Toronto.

age

A concerted drive by monopoly is under way to compel Canadians to accept reactionary capitalist policies as the way out of the eco- nomic crisis. It is: accomplished by a. strident campaign by right wing politicians to push politics to the right.

The mounting attack against democracy in general, the rights of labor and the people, and on living standards is stoked by the mono- poly-owned and controlled press and media, playing upon middle-class anti-labor preju- dices and capitalist illusions held by working people.

This newest drive against democracy was begun by the Trudeau Government's Anti-In- flation Act, the intent of which is to place the cost of the economic crisis on the backs of the working people, the -small and medium sized farmers and businessmen.

The parliamentary debate on the govern- ment's anti-inflation policy was the signal for the Conservative Party to mount a refurbished drive to push politics further to the right. At the same time the Conservatives aim to profit through the political difficulties the Liberal Party must face in pressing ahead for the im- plementation of the government's anti-infla- tion policy.

e * i)

The real power behind the drive to push politics to the right is monopoly. The rivalries existing between the capitalist political parties are not so much over philosophy and doctrine, but over which party can best serve the basic interests of monopoly.

Monopoly with its tremendous economic and political power is the main enemy of demo- cracy and social advance. :

With the assistance of the state and govern- ment, monopoly sustains an unceasing attack agcinst the hard won rights of labor and’the people generally.

This is particularly the case in respect to collective bargaining and the right to strike — ‘which is what the Anti-Inflation Act and its regulations have circumscribed.

The Anti-Inflation Board (AIB) is meant to be the supreme authority in determining wage and salary rates, within arbitrarily set wage and salary guidelines under the Anti-Inflation

This is authoritarianism of a very high order.

The first task of a united labor and demo- cratic movement is to defeat Bill C-73. |

Monopoly’s plot against our democratic in- stitutions and against the living and social standards of the working people can be defeated.

cc) & e

There is a power in the land which can turn back the reactionary monopoly-state offensive, and put Canada on a new direction for eco- nomic and social policies serving the vital interests of the working people, the small and middle sized farmers and businessmen.

That power resides in the unity of purpose and action of the working class and demo- cratic forces to curb monopoly power, thus keeping the road open for democratic social advance.

Such unity requires that an end be put to policies of accommodation with the aims of monopoly, sometimes prevalent in the leader- ship ranks of the New Democratic Party and of the trade union movement. Such policies serve only to advance the aims of monopoly.

People’s anti-monopoly unity can only be solidly built when it is based on class and democratic struggle directed against mono- poly, its anti-people policies, its reactionary defenders and apologists.

The Communist Party calls upon all demo- cratic and patriotic Canadians, on the Cana- dian Labor Congress, the Confederation of National Trade Unions, the National Farmers’ Union, the, NDP and all other democratic forces, to join hands in a powerful movement against the political right and in common struggle for a new path of development for Canada.

Such a new path of development must be.

based on a policy of full employment without inflation. To achieve this goal will require democratic planning based on democratic na- tionalization of the United States multi-natio- nal corporations in Canada; and the Cana- dian corporations, banks, and credit system; on public ownership of natural resources in-

' cluding energy resources; and on policies of peace, detente, disarmament and trade. ]

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FEBRUARY 6, 1976—Page 10

=

Working class must use all forms of struggle

in front”, so to speak will be the defeat of the wage restraint program, defence of collective

bargaining rights, the right to

strike, policies of full employ- ment, effective economic and political action, detente, disarm- ament and independence. The question of alliances, of forms of struggle, of leadership may also be at the centre of atten- tion.

Our Party has called and will continue to call for the use of all forms of struggle that are most advantageous to the work-

_ ing class and trade union move-

ment at a given time including that of general strike, “study sessions”, “sit ins” and so on. We should be prepared for sharp turns in the situation. What is evident is: that the left

and progressive forces need to

unite their efforts behind forw- ard-looking policies which can help the working class and trade

unions advance their interests, “

combining this with an effective struggle for detente, disarma- ment and Canadian. indepen- dence.

A third feature of the fight--

back should be the effort to bring about united May day ral- lies in every. industrial centre in the country. This year because of the issues involved, which in- clude the defence of labor’s rights, the fignt for jobs, detente and disarmament, and interna- tional solidarity — conditions may be right for such united rallies. Work should begin imme- diately on this, the aim being parades and meetings with spokesmen from the trade union

movement, NDP and the Com : munist Party. 4

The question of a democratit — alternative to the crisis polic’ of monopoly and governments 1 particularly important today. —

Some militants seem to think that the repeal of Bill C-73, thé) | wage restraint program, should) be the main focus of all ou work and the basis for. united action. There can be no questiol of course that the repeal of C-73 must occupy the major tention of all democratic fore but that in itself will not eli ate the crisis afflicting Canad today, or the drive to the right | inherent in the present situati

The crisis, the report correch | ly emphasized, is more than ! cyclical crisis. Therefore mofé radical reform measures are

quired. 4

The struggle against the arive j - -to the right is a political strug’ gle, not a more limited econ mic struggle.

This calls for, as the report stated, democratic nationaliza tion and democratic planning; a 5) well as the achievement of 4 democratic coalition centre?) | around the fight for full employ | ment without inflation. Wha!) | other alternative is there to thé a crisis policies of monopoly? |

The struggle for a democrat | alternative is our special contrh) | bution to the development of 4

really effective struggle by thé trade union movement, the NDPy the’ Communist Party and all) other democratic forces against monopoly, all of it leading to 4 change of direction in policy; and a change of government.

pa

Edmonton Communists:

"use oil money..."

‘Rescue social services.

Continued from page 5

certain current social services. To place the question in this way is to openly attack the living standards of working people and their families in this city. Al- ready we have begun to feel the pinch of reduced services, steep rises in the utility rates, and the impending drastic rise in homeowners taxes.

“But the residents of Edmon- ton, and the City Council, know that there is no need to escalate municipal taxes or drastically cut services. In this city, and in

all of Alberta, there is an alter-.

native program to be followed. The positive proposal outlined by the Mayor of Edmonton, Ter- ry Cavanagh,,:to have the annual interest derived from Alberta’s Heritage Trust Fund turned over to the Alberta municipalities, would remove the need for either tax increases or service cuts.”

Will Shift Tax Burden

- “Under this arrangement the |

Communist Party points out, Edmonton, Calgary, and the other municipalities would each receive a third of the annual interest, about $50,000,000. This is an excellent proposal, which receives Our support, and we are certain that the overwhelming majority of Albertans will press the provincial government to re- consider the mayor’s plea.

Initially, as the Communist Party observed in a press release, Premier Peter Lougheed had re- jected the Edmonton mayor’s suggestion.

“In our reply to the City’s request for suggestions from citi- zens on this issue,” the press release says, “we point out that

. Services.”

the mayor’s proposed method | would shift the tax burden td the funds derived from the gian! | resource monopolies operating i”) Alberta. This is a necessary an¢ | progressive step, one whicll | would eliminate the need eithel) to increased taxes or reduce city

As the submission to the Com) missioners declares: F

“These giant multi-nation resource monopolies are the rea source of the crisis of unemploy’ ment and inflation in Canada an® | Alberta. One of the manifesta) tions of this crisis is the muni) cipal financing problem in ou! cities. So, to place the questiO? | in terms of either eliminatind | — social services or increasiné municipal taxes on homeowne!®i only places more of the burdel of the crisis on the working pe? ple, already the victims of infl@” tion and unemployment.

Cut Corporation Profits

“For these reasons we totally) reject the idea of cutting: ba' 7 on social services and_liviNb | standards in Edmonton. This ! also why we support Mayo) Cavanagh’s proposal to utili | the interest from the Heritag® |

: 7 ‘ |

Trust Fund. We call for a cul back of corporate profits, and % | shift of the tax burden to thé monopolies, in the interest ‘, saving the social services af | living standards. of Edmont0” nians.””

The Edmonton committee || the Communist Party is callin) | “for mass pressure to force Lougheed Government to rever> | its position on this issue, and fof | decisive rejection of further cu” backs of social services and Pp grams in Edmonton.”

©