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Quebec trade union leaders, whose release from prison for their leadership of last year’s great union struggles, will be one of major demands raised at May Day rallies across Canada this weekend. They are Yvon Charbonneau, Louis Laberge and Marcel Pepin.

AND SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS

Legislative session brought substantial gains for people

By NIGEL MORGAN B.C.’snew NDP government took a number of significant steps towards fulfillment of last summer's election mandate during the first full Session of the province's 30th Legislature.

Despite its failure tocome to grips decisively with those who control the wealth of this richly- endowed province, and some ob- vious back-tracking oncertain election promises, anumber of important advances were re- corded amongst the 94 bills passed. It may have been a ‘black day,’ (as opposition leader W.A.C. Bennett de- scribed it) for the land specu- lators, insurance racketeers and the oil and mining tycoons he represents; but, itmarkeda new day for the great majority of British Columbians.

There is widespread criticism and disappointment in the labor

ginally came before the Legis- lature.

Undoubtedly, there will be dis- illusionment when the 1973 muni- cipal tax bills appear shortly with. sharp increases, and the impact is felt of the NDP cab- inet’s decision to retreat from the campaign pledge to remove the cost of education from the

‘tax on homes and the family

farm.

Tenants are bitter over what they regard as a betrayal of promises of legislative protec- tion of their rights and needed re- straints on exorbitant rent in- creases. The lack of action on proposals to bring the highly profitable telephone and nat- ural gas utilities under public ownership has likewise caused considerable concern, as did Premier Barrett’s first bud- get, which take $409 million from the consumer’s pocket for sales and gasoline taxes while recovering less than half that amount from resource income (royalties, licenses, special privileges, etc. )

On the positive side the govern- ment stood its groundon Bill 42 despite strong pressure from the land developers and real estate interests and established a five-member Land Com- mission that will work with re- gional districts and munici- palities to designate agri- cultural land reserves for preservation and_ introduce much needed planning and con- trol on land use.

The government also brought into being a new government

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auto insurance plan, Energy Act and com with power to regulate P* eum industry prices anda” Development Corporatio! stimulate secondary industtY. It made a start at least" i creasing the corporationlae raised the. royalties 0 1" amended the Mineral Land it Act to increase revenues! ; privately-owned mineral f which could get at the long! ; ing problem of railway Vat land like the E & N belt 0” couver Island. en In the area of service people, substantial incre’ welfare grants (not cha =. since 1966) were enacted: ) come subsidy program sift launched to aid the wor ig poor: a $15 million land acd i tion and research fund!0\";, lic housing was creale® creased allocations for ©” tion and health services passed; and beginnings | 9 made on anew $20 million care program for Chl retroactive home acqu?” i loans and grants dating mn 1966 were extended to B.C: tive Indians. : nah Action on labor legislal? pit the granting of collect nt gaining rights to govel iol employees was left ov! fall session. Strong publ ed! sure is going to be nee oti! ensure action on this 4” ys much needed changes ® the repeal of the sales tax: pee! A good beginning ha io% made. Much more neé

done. an

Put teeth in

The Coordinating Committee

of Concerned Organizations demonstrated again last Thurs- day evening in front of Wood- ward’s Stores demanding anend to food profiteering.

At a meeting in Burnaby Tues- day night wheremembers of the coordinating committee were present, Grace MacInnes, MP, called for any prices review board to have teeth todeal with spiralling food prices.

MAY DAY movement that the Barrett administration evaded action GREETINGS MAY DAY to repeal the previous Socred To all 2 government ’santi-laborlegis- o all our comrades lation, even though it had vigor- and friends GREETINGS ously opposed and had in fact 1973 voted against it when it ori- VICTORY SQUARE CLUB From - = TRAIL CLUB MAY DAY GREETINGS MAY DAY solidarity to our brothers GREETINGS MAY DAY and sisters of Quebec To GREETINGS Comrades From the B.C. Prov. Executive and Friends SURREY CLUB YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE EDMONDS CLUB a ey GREETINGS MAY DAY MAY DAY GREETINGS GREETINGS PEACE & To All For Peace PROSPERITY Labor and Progress Ellen Greenwell FRASER INDUSTRIAL WHITE ROCK CLUB Nanaimo CLUB MAY DAY MAY DAY GREETINGS GREETINGS To All Progressive People Everywhere To All Our Socialism is Winning Friends

TIMBER CLUB

The Padghams of Popkum

from

May Day Greetings

to the Labor Movement

TRADE UNION RESEARCH

Ph. Mu. 1-5831

Rim Ure

Kaan

pa DEG. ae TREES

HON STRIKE

prices board

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A postcard drafted by moi mittee is presently att ° ia ers and will soon be ava cit for mass distribution. © of! — to be mailed to the 8 ig ment by the thousands sets the government ‘‘whe? the prices review boat’ ‘etl it power to halt profit 1 curb price increase> hilt back prices on food, © iat housing, drugs and othe @ sities of life wherevel u

be shown to be excessiV®

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‘PACIFIC TRIBUNE——FRIDAY; APRIL 27; 1973—PAGE 10