FEAR
AND LOATHING
IN OTTAWA - Editorial
(The
following article is from
the February 16-29,
2008
issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles
can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in
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People's Voice Editorial, Feb. 16-29, 2008
Yet again, a federal election seems imminent, just two years after
Canada's last trip to the polls. Unable to gain traction in recent
opinion surveys, the Harper Tories hope to engineer their own
parliamentary defeat on "favourable" issues - perhaps the so-called
"law and order" legislation (despite the reality of falling crime
rates), or their appalling claim to be the only party which "supports
the troops" (condemning more to die in the interests of US imperialism
in Afghanistan).
A Tory victory would be a nightmare for
working people, and for all who defend peace, equality, democracy and
sovereignty. With a majority in Parliament - which he could win with
less than 40% of the popular vote, thanks to Canada's antiquated "first
past the post" system - Stephen Harper would be free to impose his
ultra right agenda, heedless of public opinion.
For example, consider the latest statements
from the National Farmers Union (see page 7), condemning the Harper
government's "reign of terror" over the public service; under a
Conservative majority, all voices of opposition within the structures
of the state would be silenced.
And then think about the consequences of a
Harper majority for every key area of public policy: faster integration
with the US empire, utter disregard for international law, four more
years of stalling on climate change, rollbacks for equality rights,
full support for Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, new attacks
on Medicare, ever-higher military spending, Aboriginal rights
completely ignored, elimination of the Canadian Wheat
Board. But as we have said before, this scenario can be
prevented by mass action. The Tories remain unpopular because their
corporate agenda is opposed by most Canadians. North America is sliding
into recession, compounding Harper's problems. We urge every people's
movement to jump into the coming campaign, aiming to defeat the Tories
and to elect MPs who support a genuine people's agenda.
Found
at:
http://www.peoplesvoice.ca/articleprint12/07_FEAR_AND_LOATHING_IN_OTTAWA_-_Editorial.html