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