Theses on the class struggle in Canada: Political Perspectives 2013The political situation across the Canadian state is characterized by subterranean moods of discontent that burst out in sporadic explosions. All of these movements are manifestations of the underlying crisis of the system. To help arm workers and young people in the fights to come, Fightback is publishing our political perspectives for 2013.
Is crisis coming to Canada? New figures warn of Europe-style collapseOnce known for providing its workers with a relatively stable standard of living, one European country after another is pushed into crisis and austerity, provoking social explosions across the continent. The Canadian ruling class, on the other hand, has taken a certain satisfaction in asserting that this country is above the European fray. Do these claims actually have any weight? Or, does the Canadian economy have the same underlying weaknesses that have brought European capitalism to its knees? How close is Canada to a Europe-style meltdown? |
Upcoming Events DEC 13 Marxmas Toronto 2013
DEC 13 Noël Marxiste/Marxmas 2013
Ted Grant CentennialThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ted Grant. To mark the occasion, Fightback is helping to launch a new political biography of Ted, as well as holding book launch meetings in Toronto and Montreal that will cover Ted's contributions to Marxist theory in the post-war period. Click here to see information about the events, as well as how to order your copy of the book.Featured Links
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Featured AnalysisA socialist view from the 2013 federal NDP convention Venezuela: The presidential elections and the tasks of the revolution Ontario NDP must not be fooled by Liberals' new face: Vote down the Liberal budget! Labour leaders must defy illegitimate laws in fight against austerity Internationalism and class unity on display at Marxist Winter School 2013 XII Canadian Marxist Conference held amidst largest mass movements in Canadian history |
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Another wave of factory closures across Ontario and Quebec reveal how capitalism is ultimately a failed system. Despite millions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies from government, ultimately paid by working-class people through their taxes, companies are pocketing all of this free money and still putting more people out of work, all for the benefit of making greater profit. Capitalism is a dead end; both governments and the leadership of the labour movement need to stop propping it up.
Over 3,000 people in Sydney, Nova Scotia came out to protest the closing down of the Veterans' Affairs office on Cape Breton Island. This decision was justified, in the government’s eyes, by the high death rate of veterans, as well as by the need for austerity and public sacrifice in hard economic times. The veterans of Cape Breton do not need lessons from Ottawa on the importance of sacrifice or the hardships of a struggling economy. This is a colossal slap in the face to tens of thousands of veterans from a government that loves to claim that it supports soldiers.
Nelson Mandela is no more. At about 8:50pm on Thursday, 5 December, Nelson Rohishlahla Mandela passed away peacefully after a long illness. The news was announced by President Jacob Zuma to a worldwide audience. He was 95 years old.
As a generation of young students and workers look to enter an uncertain labour market, many are promised that internships are the answer to securing employment after graduation. Thousands of young people are pushed into accepting unpaid internships, convinced that this is the only way to gain the valuable work experience they need to advance in their field. However, the reality is that many of them are forced into long hours of doing menial tasks of little value to their education. In some cases this amounts to unpaid internships being used by employers to gain free labour with the promise of future careers that fail to materialize.
The BC NDP's loss in May came as a huge surprise to many, both in and out of BC. The party was expected to sweep the election, and many workers hoped that the party would undo much of the damage caused by over a decade of austerity under the Liberals. Instead, the party finished a disappointing second, failing to win over most of the working class that it was supposed to represent. Why did this happen? According to the BCNDP Election Review panel, it was a series of communication errors and poor campaign choices. But we need to dig a little deeper here to see what is really going on.
In the run-up to the December 8 municipal elections the campaign of speculation, hoarding, profiteering, overpricing and sabotage of the economy has intensified. The Venezuelan government of President Maduro has denounced that there is a “slow motion coup” being implemented. The Venezuelan people are again facing a crucial battle. The December 8 municipal elections will not just be a normal electoral contest, but a major clash between the revolution (which has the democratic support of the majority of the Venezuelan people) and the counter-revolution.
Young people, students, trade unionists, and all those wanting to fight the system, looked with inspiration to the struggle of the Quebec students in 2012. Hundreds of thousands came out on the streets to oppose austerity. In the aftermath of this movement, thousands more are looking for an answer to the global crisis of capitalism. There is a ferment and questioning amongst the youth who are looking for clear ideas. In this context Marxism can make a rapid advance, and indeed has been advancing, especially on university campuses.
