(The following articles are from the May 1-15, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

As of April 21, this year’s People’s Voice Fund Drive has raised a total of $22,450, or 45% of our $50,000 target. That doesn’t yet include the full value of the May Day ads printed in this issue, which will take us closer to 50% when we sharpen our pencils and complete the calculations.

In the last two weeks, Ontario has jumped into the lead, with $10,639, or 53% of their provincial target. That puts them ahead of B.C. now in second place with $9646, or 48% of the west coast goal. The Maritimes and Newfoundland remain at the 40% mark, but Alberta is gaining, with $785 turned in, or 39% of their target.

People’s Voice is one of the few publications in Canada which makes it a top priority to mark May 1, International Workers Day. This issue of the paper helps to promote May Day rallies and Nearing the halfway mark MayWorks events across the country,  activities which are pointedly ignored by the corporate media. The PV Editorial Board sends a special “Thank You” to all the labour and democratic movements which placed greetings, and we pledge to keep fighting for the interests of the working people you represent!

This month we also focus on two key political battles: the demand to free six leaders of the K.I. First Nation, jailed in northern Ontario for resisting corporate encroachment on their traditional territories (see page 8), and the fight to defeat Bill C-50, the Harper government’s reactionary changes to immigration policy (pages 5 & 16). As always, our position is “an injury to one is an injury to all.” Unity of all working people, whether Aboriginal, Canadian, Quebecois or immigrant, is necessary to roll back the corporate attack!

The paper in your hands will be distributed at many of these May Day and anti-C50 rallies and activities, so we also want to thank the hard-working PV supporters who take out bundles of the paper. Your efforts are crucial to help build the struggle to defeat the  Harper Tories and their ruling class masters, and to win workers for the cause of peace, democracy, equality, and socialism!

Some successful fundraising events have already been held, and more are coming up. Please do your part to help us keep publishing, by attending one and bringing a friend!

On Sunday, May 4, at 3 pm, Hamilton readers will host Sam Hammond at a special screening of labour film classic Salt of the Earth, plus dinner for a bargain price of just $12. It takes place at Solidarity House, 779 Barton St. East, but seating is limited. Advance tickets only, call 905-529-1461 or email solidarityhouse@cogeco.ca.

The annual PV Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast will be at 5435 Kincaid St. in Burnaby, Sunday, May 11, starting 10 am. For only $10 (or $5 for those under 12) get all you can eat - pancakes, sausages, and much more - plus the company of old and new friends and supporters. Don’t be late: last call for pancakes will be 12 noon.

Vancouver’s 16 Annual People’s Voice Victory Banquet is scheduled for 6 pm, Saturday, June 7, at the Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Avenue. See our next issue for information on tickets.