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New economic policies needed Kashtan tells Windsor workers

Special to the Tribune

Speaking to a public meeting in Windsor as part of his country- wide ‘‘Put Canada Back to Work” tour, William Kashtan, general secretary of the Com- munist Party of Canada, cut through recent capitalist media reports that recovery is at hand — “There is no recovery around the corer’, stated Kashtan.

Kashtan recalled that the idea of recovery being just around the comer was used during the Great Depression of the 1930s as it is today in order to keep workers from getting more active. He pointed out that people might have differences in defining re- covery, but even the Globe and Mail has admitted that capital investment has not risen. More- over, the real incomes of workers continue to fall, a trend that has been made worse by monopoly- instigated public sector wage controls.

Kashtan told the meeting that economic recovery won’t take place by itself. In the 1930s, it took a war to get Canadian capitalism out of the crisis, acrisis the system itself created. In warn- ing of the danger of war, Kashtan reminded the audience that al- most every time capitalism has

volved in war. Thus, he em- phasized, the questions of peace and jobs must be closely tied together.

Stating that the government must lead recovery, Kashtan out- lined the Communist Party’s pro- gram for recovery, which in- cludes continuing unemployment insurance benefits to all un- employed workers for the full du- ration of their unemployment; re- duction of the work week, a vast multi-billion dollar public invest-

ment program, and ending U.S. .

control of the Canadian economy.

Kashtan said that within monopoly capitalist circles there appear to be differences on how to solve the current crisis. One section of monopoly opposes in- creases in government spending, which is the same as saying that they want to continue mass unemployment and to beat down the living standards of the work- ers even further. The Tories have accepted this approach, which Kashtan called “‘short-sighted and stupid’’. Tory policies, which alsc include dismantling the Foreign Investment Review Act and the National Energy Program, there- by encouraging more U.S. control in Canada, would be even worse than those of the Liberals.

section of monopoly that sees a need for more state initiative. This was reflected, for instance, in recent remarks by Ian Sinclair, head of Canadian Pacific Limited, advocating major increases in government investment. in the transportation system. But even if this section of monopoly has its way, they want such investments to come at the expense of pen- sions, family allowances, and other hard-won gains of the work- ing people.

Kashtan said the Liberals shift their policies back and forth be- tween the two approaches of monopoly. The Liberals lack the

will to take Canada out of the.

crisis. Kashtan did not foresee that the forthcoming Lalonde budget would bring any serious change in government policy. The government was obviously in- terested in listening to big buisi- ness, but not to the people.

As Kashtan’s talk stressed, the policies of monopoly are no solu- tion for the working people. ‘‘Un- less you come to grips with the basic questions, you can’t solve anything’’.

The public meeting, which was held in the University Centre of the University of Windsor and was sponsored by the Progressive

fe

WILLIAM KASHTAN

ed media coverage by the CBC and Windsor Star. Ques- tions from the audience covered a wide variety of issues ranging from the Communist Party’s posi- tion on nationalization, to foreign ownership in Canada, to Soviet industrialization. One of Kashtan’s points in particular came across very strongly: ‘“The » Soviet Union may have prob-

lems, but one of them 1 unemployment’’. : During the question perior motion moved by a Wine autoworker, Ed Kelly, in SUP of Quebec teachers in their gle against concessions ané 111 was approved. Many audience showed great in the literature table, espe@ books on economic subjects:

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CPC calls for release of Iran Tudeh leaders

The Communist party of Canada is gravely concerned bs

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had a crisis, it has become in-

On the other hand, there is a

Students’ Association, receiv-

‘Manitoba NDP convention long on speeches, short on substance

by FRANK GOLDSPINK

WINNIPEG — Amid leadership speeches long on rhetoric and short on substance, delegates to the Manitoba New Democratic Party convention, March 46, endorsed a'series of general resolutions on unemployment and stimulation of the provincial

economy. _ The convention decisions amounted to an endorsement of the NDP economic strategy to make working people pay through higher sales tax,

and higer taxes on gasoline, wine, liquor, and —

cigarettes, for a $200-million job creation fund, mainly for short-term work. — :

_ The convention was notable for its lack of criti- cism of the NDP government for failing to put forward economic plans fundamentally different from those of Liberals and Tories in the federal government or the other provinces, and for refus- ing to raise taxes on large corporations by more than 1%.

The convention approved a strong resolution on Native rights, backing a firm stand by the province for entrenchment in the Constitution and for steps to ensure Native self-government, with political and economic autonomy.

Delegates gave the government full marks for retaining current levels of health education and

social spending and for demanding preservation of _

the Crowsnest Pass freight rate.

On the touchy issue of reproductive health, the leadership, including a number of leading NDP women, backed away from the fight for expanded and universal reproductive health care including abortions with a resolution which limits the pro- vince to staying within the confines of current fed- eral law on abortion. Labor kept a low profile at the convention.

Labor Low-key The Manitoba Federation of Labor’s low-key

statement on long-term growth, adopted by the convention indicated that the trade union move-

ment is still reluctant to criticize the NDP, for fear -

of embarassing the government.

In one of his speeches to the convention, Pre- mier Howard Pawley picked up on the wording of a slightly stronger resolution and said there should

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MARCH 18, 1983—Page 4

be emergency action by the federal government

and all the provinces ‘“‘declaring war on un-

employment.’’ But he continued his series of strong hints to the labor movement to restrain their demands during this time of economic crisis. He

_ Tepeatedly stressed the words ‘‘co-operate’’ and

“collective responsibility’’ and praised the Man- itoba Government Employees Association for the concessions they recently granted to the province in its current contract. Pawley said that all Manito- bans must “‘make sacrifice for the common good.”’

In their speeches neither Pawley nor Federal leader Ed Broadbent nor British Columbia leader Dave Barrett offered concrete proposals for effec- tively turning around the economy or for giving the NDP a leading role in the fight against the multi- national corporations and monopolies which are the cause of the economic crisis.

But all three insisted the NDP is the political savior of working and farming people, and urged delegates to redouble efforts for the success of NDP candidates in the next federal election. Man- itoba now has seven NDP MPs, five conservative and two Liberal.

Nationalization Issue There were challenges to the leadership on sev- eral specific issues. Once again delegates de- manded that anti-scab legislation be made a top priority and asked that the government reverse its

1981 campaign commitment not to pass such alaw. _

Economic Development Minister Muriel Smith said the government has to stand by its election promise but agreed now might be the time to re- examine the issue. :

A call from the floor for nationalization of Grea- ter Winnipeg Gas, the privately owned gas distri- bution monopoly, was greeted enthusiastically but opposed by three Cabinet ministers who persuaded delegates to water down the resolution and take- overofthe gascompany. 8

And one delegate accused Pawley and the

cabinet of ignoring the problem of plant shutdowns

and runawyas, saying the government has the power to check irresponsible actions by big busi- ness but refuses to use it.

reports that the general secretary of the Tudeh Party of Irall Nomredin Kianori and other communist leaders have been 2! rested on trumped up charges as part of an attack on left ani progressive forces in Iran. a In a press statement March 8, the CPC Central Executivé Committee warmed that Kianouri and other Tudeh Party leader are in danger of losing their lives. a The CPC statement continues: Among those arrested are thos who have already spent 25 years of their lives in the Shalt‘ prisons. Sa The Tudeh Party which has a long and honorable history Iran, has been among those forces in Iran which have fought consistently against the Shah and what he stood for. They hav no less consistently striven to rally support for consistent antt imperialist policy linked to the struggle for democratic reform 1 Iran itself. The Tudeh Party has been and remains a firm suppo™ ter of the Iranian anti-imperialist revolution. _ d One cannot help but conclude that some right-wing forces 1 Iran are out to undermine the anti-imperialist content of thé revolution by beheading that political force’ which has com sistently supported the Imam Khomeini in the struggle to com plete that revolution. To attack the Tudeh Party is in effect 10 attack the revolution. y The Communist Party of Canada condemns the arrest of thé Tudeh Party leaders. We urge their immediate release. We call upon the government, parliament and all democratic public opin" ion in Canada to raise its voice in condemnation of the repressio® unleashed in Iran against progressive supporters of the Rev lution and to demand the release of the arrested leaders of the Tudeh Party.

Debate on bishops’ report

By STAN DALTON i

TORONTO — About a thousand people were treated to a lively 4 interesting debate Feb. 16 concerning the recent controversial do ment: “Ethical Reflections on the Economic Crisis’’ authored by e# Catholic bishops.

The forum at the St. Lawrence Centre had a panel made up Gregory Baum, Catholic theologian and social commentator, W2 Majesky, president, Labor Council of Metropolitan Toronto, Dr. To Clarke, co-ordinator, social affairs office, Canadian Council Catholic Bishops, as well as Laurent Thibault, executive vil president, Canadian Manufacturers’ Association. |

Expressing full support for the document, Baum said: ‘‘I’m amaZ that it avoids any mention of nationalization of our resources”’. In! statement he argued forcefully for the need for economic plannt pointing to the widening gap between the rich and poor, resulting, added, from lack of consideration for the poor in government econot policies. :

Thibault, who tried to blame the cirisis on ‘‘bad choices”’ made. workers and the poor; and ‘‘irresponsible behavior’ through taki too-long coffee breaks, lunch breaks”’, etc., was soundly booed and, a result, had difficulty getting his ‘‘message’’ across.