Defeat Harper Tories in the Parliament of the Streets

Good or bad? May 2 catapulted the NDP into second place, Official Opposition, bearing historic gains. Good. But the total seat tally enabled the Conservatives to eke out a parliamentary majority. That's bad. So what's the conclusion? Are we in a four-year holding pattern, doomed to witness the slow train wreck of a century of social benefits? Not if we choose to resist.

Socialism 2011 Highlights Solutions to “Their Crisis”

On the first sunny long weekend in May, over sixty people gathered at the University of Toronto to say No to the global capitalist agenda of austerity and environmental plunder. The occasion was the ninth annual Socialist Action / Ligue pour l'Action socialiste international educational conference. Like the three previous such gatherings, this one was co-sponsored by the Socialist Unity League (LUS) of Mexico and Socialist Action-USA.

Lubicon Cree rally opposition to pipeline spills, violation of native land rights

28,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into wetlands in the traditional territory of Lubicon Cree in northern Alberta on April 29. It was the second largest oil spill in Alberta history and the largest in more than 30 years.

After the spill, the school in the nearby Lubicon community of Little Buffalo was closed indefinitely because children and teachers were experiencing headaches and nausea. A week later the Alberta Minister of the Environment acknowledged that the province had still not conducted tests for possible ground water contamination.

Postal Workers ready to use 95% strike mandate

As we go to press, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) suspended its latest strike deadline of May 26 so that collective bargaining can continue. By law, the union is required to give a 72-hour strike notice. The Union submitted a global offer to the employer on May 22 in a bid to narrow differences and reach a settlement. Management continues to take a hard line, egged on by conservative organizations like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and is seeking major concessions.

Photos From Socialism 2011

Toronto rallies against war and the Rob Ford agenda

For the first time in about three years, protest against the wars of occupation hit the streets of Toronto, in solidarity with the actions initiated by the United National Anti-war Committee (UNAC) in the USA on April 9.  Opposition to NATO bombing of Libya was quite visible, but the dominant theme of the action sponsored by the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War was 'Canada out of Afghanistan', and 'Fund human needs not war.'

Do corporate tax cuts produce jobs?

A succession of Liberal and Conservative governments claimed that cuts to corporate taxes are the surest way to increase capital spending and job creation.

So, what happened?

Postal Workers deliver 95% strike mandate

“We hope the sky-high strike vote and the record turnout of our members will put pressure on Canada Post to negotiate,” said Canadian Union of Postal Workers' National President Denis Lemelin in a statement released April 18 on the union's web site.

Profit System Fuels World Food Crisis

Globally, more than 935 million people go hungry every day. The dramatic rise in food prices adds millions monthly to the starving mass. It precipitated the 'Arab Awakening' from Tunisia to Egypt. It sparked food riots in Bangladesh, and now confronts Afghanistan with a 50 per cent shortfall in funding for food operations.

Build on Historic Gains for NDP

Voters in Canada made history on May 2 when they catapulted the labour-based New Democratic Party into Official Opposition status. Relegated to distant third place is the former main party of business rule, the Liberal Party. Its leader, Michael Ignatieff, lost his own Toronto seat and resigned as party leader. And despite a mere 1.8 per cent increase in its share of the vote, the autocratic right wing Stephen Harper Conservatives gained a majority of seats.