(The following article is from the April 16-30, 2010, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers and  overseas readers - $50 per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)

This year’s PV Fund Drive is now in high gear, with another $9,207 raised since our previous issue. That brings the total to $17,422, or 34.8% of our $50,000 target for 2010.

So far, it’s a close race, with Alberta leading the way. Our supporters in the wild rose province have achieved 39.7%, with $1350 out of their target of $3400. Ontario is second, with $7577 sent in, or 35.1% of their target of $21,600. Just behind the leaders is British Columbia, with $6620 towards its goal of $20,000, or 33.1%, and then Manitoba, at 30%, with $740 out of the goal of $2400. Saskatchewan readers have sent $200, or 25% of their $800 goal, followed by Newfoundland & Labrador, with $80 sent in, or 20% of their goal of $400. Supporters in the Maritime provinces have raised $75, or 6.5% of their $1200 target. Another $800 has been sent by generous supporters in the United States and beyond. Thanks to everyone for your contributions so far!

This issue of People’s Voice has a couple of examples to prove why the working class press is so important for labour activists and other progressives. If any readers in English-speaking Canada have seen mass media coverage of the magnificent labour struggles in Quebec, reported on page 7 of this issue, we’d like to hear about it. Similarly, if readers outside British Columbia have seen reports about the attempt by Catalyst to drive down the wages of Vancouver Island pulp and paper workers (see page 4), let us know. Seriously, please send in copies of any clippings about these stories - we are quite certain that only People’s Voice is presenting coverage of these critical topics to working people across Canada!

Contributions for the PV Drive will be collected at the next Left Film Night, Sunday, April 25, 7:00 pm, at 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver. The movie will be Life and Debt, a powerful documentary about the impact of capitalist globalization on Jamaica.

Remember to mark Sunday, May 9 on your calendars. That’s the Burnaby Club’s annual Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast, starting 10 am, at 5435 Kincaid Street. It’s just $10 (or $8 for readers under 12) for all the fabulous food you can eat. For details, call Anna at 604-294-6775.

As a mark of appreciation for your generosity, we are once again offering supporters complimentary gifts. For each $100 in donations, you can choose one of these black and white portraits, mounted on card, matted and ready for framing: Che Guevara, Clara Zetkin, Augusto Cesar Sandino, Bhagat Singh, Gall (Sioux), Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Louis Riel, Jeanne Corbin, or Gladys Marin. Other choices include music CDs or a copy of our 2010 Women’s Socialist Calendar. ●