Pearson’s cat-and-mouse game Canada’s needs must come before Liberal fortunes Hl! FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1965: VOL. 26, NO. 35 ee = Labor Day, 1965 % BNI Mae ant Labor must have bigger say in nation’s problems —SEE PAGE 12 “Is narrow partisan advantage greater and more important than the public interest? Does democracy play second fiddle to Liberal Party fortunes? These were the questions asked this week of Prime Minister Pearson as he was reminded of pledges made by his government to implement important national business before the end of this year—promises which will go by the board if a federal election is called this year. Addressing a meeting in To- ronto last Thursday on‘‘Election Prospects and Issues,’’ William Kashtan, national leader of the Communist Party, ‘said that Prime Minister Pearson seems to enjoy playing acat-and-mouse game with the Canadian people regarding an election this Fall, **One is reminded of the late MacKenzie King’s position: ‘Conscription if necessary but not necessarily conscription.’ In this case, Prime Minister Pear- son seems to be saying: ‘An election this year if I could win a majority but not necessarily so if that is still in doubt,’ **The possibility cannot be ex- cluded,’’? Kashtan said, ‘‘that the threat of aF all election is direct- ed to keeping the opposition par- ties in line when Parliament re- convenes, If that is so, it is not a very responsible attitude for ‘the government to take, **In any case, it is well to re- mind the Prime Minister and his government of his pledge to en- act collective bargaining legisla- tion for postal employees and the civil service at the Fall ses- sion of Parliament. Does he in- tend to renege on that pledge by ‘holding an election instead? *“‘The government is alsocome-. : mitted to national medicare and the Canadian people want it en- acted as quickly as possible and not made into another election issue. Neither should the Cana- dian people be asked to wait another five years befure the redistribution bill comes into effect. It could be implemented at this Fall session of Parlia- ment, unless the government is afraid that more democratic re- presentation would injure its chances for re-election. **In that case the question could be fairly put: Is narrow partisan advantage greater and more-im- portant than the public interest? Does democracy play second fid- dle to Liberal Party fortunes?’ Kashtan declared that in his view and that of the Communist Party: ‘*Parliament should con- _ Clude the business before an= other election is called, ‘However, if an election is held this Fall, we shall, of course, actively participate in it, We may nominate 15 or more candidates throughout the coun- try and will work for the elec- tion of a large progressive group to Parliament. We believe this would be in the best interests of Canada, ‘*We do not subscribe to the view that a majority government s ENJOYING CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME WITH PUBLIC. Prime Minister Pear- son's threat to call a federal election would indefinitely hold up action on vitally needed national business such as medicare, redistribution and promised labor legislation. Parliament should conclude the nation's business’ before another election. is always vital to- democratic progress. The country has had majority governments which sat on their hands and paid little attention to the public interest, On the other hand, the present Parliament with all its defects was compelled, under public pressure, to enact some worth- while legislation. A larger pro- gressive group in Parliament gives greater guarantees that this will be the direction taken after another election.” Turning to election issues, Kashtan deplored the position taken by some daily newspapers that there were no vital issues to debate and act upon were an election held. ‘This: is not so,” he stated. ‘‘The fact is that three basic issues still remain to be resolved, “First, the direction of do- mestic policy to ensure that young Canadians will have a stake and a future in Canada and that Canadians generally will derive full benefit from auto- mation: and the technological re- volution. This requires new national policies of economic de- velopment, **Second, the direction of fo- reign policy upon which the prospects of peace and the se- curity of Canada depends, Shall Canada continue to play the role of an echo of U.S. policy, irre- spective of where it leads? *‘Thirdly, the resolution of the “constitutional crisis by adopting a new Canadian Constitution bas- See ELECTION, pg. 3 —Jack Phillips photo BREWERY STRIKE. No settlement negotiations appeared in sight this week as B.C.'s brewery workers continued their strike for a decent contract into another week. Pickets above are on duty outside Carlings brewery on West 12th Ave., in Vancouver. Meanwhile, B.C. oil workers have voted to strike and sugar re- finery workers have applied for a strike vote. (See Labor Roundup, pg. 3).