(The following article is from the June 1-15, 2009, 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.)

People's Voice Editorial

Whenever public ownership of Canada's energy industry is raised, timid voices ask: "Wouldn't the Americans send in the Marines?" Such responses prove that most Canadians understand the brutal nature of U.S. imperialism, but without control of this critical resource, working people will never be in a position to build an economy that meets our needs.

     The experience of other countries is relevant, including some which are much smaller than Canada. For example, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said on May 25 that key sectors of the economy, including oil and mines, must be in government hands. Correa has reversed Ecuador's traditional meek surrender to U.S. corporations, pressing the mining and oil companies to adopt new contracts more favourable to the people of Ecuador, but without moving so far to nationalize foreign transnationals. Now, Correa says he will push for more state control in the oil industry via

new contracts. At a joint news conference with Correa, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his country's drive to nationalize strategic economic sectors would continue. In recent weeks, oil service companies and iron producers have been taken under public ownership. Venezuela and Ecuador have also established a joint fund for investment in energy projects.

     Much of the world is moving rapidly to public control of the most crucial natural resource of the 21st century. How long will private ownership of oil and gas in Canada continue, depriving Aboriginal peoples of meaningful control of their traditional territories, and guaranteeing that exports to the U.S. will continue even if Canadians are freezing in the dark? The time has come to stand up for Canada by acting more like Ecuador and Venezuela.