A multiculturalism for Québec
If Canada's policy is Multiculturalism, that is, the allowing a distinct group of people to maintain their ways of living within the larger majority culture, has been a cornerstone of home policy for so long, then why has it not been conceded that the province of Québec, encompassing the distinct nation of the Québécois, should not be offered reasonable accommodation in terms of their own application of multiculturalism and related policies?Should the distinct nation of the Québécois, anchored on the territory of the Québécois territory, in that itself actualises tens of thousands of new arrivals every year, not be given a reasonable amount of autonomy in the areas of culture, integration, and language assimilation?
The Québécois population has, with what some would say good reason, rejected the doctrine of multiculturalism, claiming that it undermines the fragile Québécois identity already threatened on all sides by international conglomerates, media, culture, etc. They see it as essential that immigrants integrate and accept the values that the Québécois hold dear. In fact, there is a government project where as when one enters Québec as an immigrant one signs a statement of common values such as
- The primacy of the French language
- A free and democratic society
- A secular State
- A pluralist society
- A society grounded in laws and rights that garauntee equality
- Gender equality
- The excercise of rights is not to be to the harm of others and should be for the general well being
Just how far should immigrants be pushed to gain knowledge of thier adopted country's language, what should be made available, and how should community languages are accomodated. Québec, though progresive in many areas, and a very accepting and welcoming place, takes a more hard-line approach towards language than in the ROC.
The answers are not hear, but what do you think? Should Québec be allowed to excercise its own multiculturalism, within the Canadian multiculturalist project?
Libellés : Accommodements raisonnables, Politique, Québec, ROC
par Borges à 10:42
New Labour: Go Back to Basics!
This country is facing disaster. Finances are wrecked, cuts are coming, services will suffer. There is no way out of this impasse within the market framework, that has been made clear. PM Brown, Leader of the Opposition David Cameron, Chancellor Darling and Shadow Chancellor George Osborne all assure us that we can get through this if we pull together and find some sort of political consensus.Labour is dropping in the polls, trailing far the Conservatives, neither the government nor the Official Opposition have revealed how they intend to finance the country in the future, and neither is willing to talk straight about the cuts that either government will be forced to make under the current system.
They do not realise that no working-class will give up their rights and privileges, not for any political scheme, not for any public debt. The Winter of Discontent was a clear indicator of the British people in the face of crushing economic defeat. It was ironic that this was during a Labour government. 30 years down the line we find ourselves in a similar situation.
Labour has started to pre-empt the election campaign by launching a non-manifesto «Building Britain's Future» with no less than 14 competences under proposal, including a massive housing building program, a legal obligation for the government's child poverty commitments, healthcare «entitlements», jobs or training for all school leavers etc. Honestly this gives one hope that perhaps the government is listening to the concerns of ordinary Brits who fear their jobs, their homes, their health, their children's opportunities, lost.
However this does not go far enough .The Labour Party is still no longer committed to the nationalisation of the public services that are essential to everyone's well-being. The large scale industries, all public sector enterprises, must be but under democratic workers control, so that they can be held accountable for their actions and so that the public may decide how thier money is used. Only in this way can we work our way out of the crisis, when we start putting the well being of the many rather than the profits of the few, first.
Schools- Public and well funded
Healthcare- No place for private sector
Child poverty- Eliminate now
Unemployment- Massive program of public works
Infrastructure- Massive program of public works
Education- Progressive restructuring of the education system to make sure it is fair, effective, and the valued asset that it is.
Banking and Industry- Nationalise the essential sectors of the economy under workers control
These demands should not shock any Labour supporter, they are the core of what the Labour Party was found on...
par Borges à 12:25
End the Monarchy now! Reform the Senate immediately- Abolir la monrachie! Réformer le Sénat maintenant!
In a recent poll conducted by a Canadian Television company CTV reveals that over 65% of Canadians want the monarchy done away with. This shows the completely progressive nature of the Canadian people who want nothing to do with an out-dated remnant of feudalism which persists in the modern capitalist Canadian federative state. The Queen and her representative Michaelle-Jean, not to mention the provincial governors, who do nothing but represent a long ago broken link between the United Kingdom's monarchy and her Parliament.However the Monarchy is not the only feudal remnant in the Canadian political system, and that is the appointed Senate, which has much power, and yet is completely unaccountable to the people that they are making the laws for. The Senate should be reformed completely and modelled on more democratic lines so that the officials are elected, by what form the voting to be made taken by Canadians.
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Dans un sondage récent révélé par le chaîne de télévision canadienne CTV démonte que 65 percent de canadiens veulent l'abolition de la monarchie. Cela démonte la nature progressive de la population canadienne qui n'en veulent rien avec une relique féodale archaïque qui n'a pas de lien avec la fédération capitaliste moderne canadienne. La Reine et ses répresentants comme Michaelle Jean, et les gouverneurs provincuax, coûtent cher la population canadienne.
Or, la monarchie n'est pas la seule rélique féodale dans le système politique canadien, et cela est le Sénat appointé, qui a beaucoup de pouvoir, mais est complètement inexplicable au peuple pour ceux qu'ils font les lois. Le Sénat doit être reformé complètement et modelé sur un principe plus démocratique pour que les sénateurs soient élus, par quelque forme choisie par le peuple canadien.
par Borges à 10:32
Brown betrays the working class with latest Healthcare proposals
The New Labour government of Gordon Brown has unveiled its latest commitment to the destruction of the National Health Service, that is the commercialisation of critical treatments disguised as a gesture for patients rights. The new responsibilities of the National Health Service include:- An operation within 18 weeks of patients first seeing their GP
- A free health check-up for all at the age of 40
- Treatment from an NHS dentist
- Die at home if they suffer from a long-term medical condition
- See a cancer specialist within two weeks
- Be treated in accident & emergency departments within four hours.
In fact, the British Medical Association, which is holding its annual conference in Liverpool this week, will be tabling an industrial-action motion which could provoke strike action over the governments proposals to widen private sector involvement in the health service. While the doctor's leaders are begging for them to back down, the physicians mood is militant and they can see clearly that what these new plans mean is the beginning a large-scale corruption of the NHS by the private sector.
The NHS was a hard-fought gain made by the working class and pioneered by its political organisation, the Labour Party. That was over 60 years ago. To see a Labour government opening up the health service to market forces in a way which Lady Thatcher would never have dared is truly outrageous and a clear betrayal to the working-class base of the Labour Party. And yet this is just one in a string of anti-Socialist, anti-working class measures taken by the New Labour government.
What is needed is a return to the principles of the NHS, to an equitable society, to socialism!
Libellés : G.B., Socialisme
par Borges à 10:53
Get used to minority governments... and you can blame the Bloc!
In times past minority governments were seen as a rare event in Canadian political history, lately, they seem more like the rule. In the past decade we have seen 3 minority governments, with a fourth one likely after the next election. In fact, political commentators are now projecting that minority governments will govern the country for a majority of the time, mainly due to the neutralising effect of the Bloc Québécois, and the unity of the Conservative Party (as opposed to its divisions during the first years of the Bloc, which guaranteed the Liberals of Jean Chrétien 3 consecutive victories).Québec has 75 ridings and the Bloc regularly wins a majority of these, sending a progressive, though souverainiste, voice to Ottawa. Though forever condemned to a back-seat role in Canadian politics precisely because of their constitutional position and more importantly their localised level of support (only Alberta residents support the Bloc outside of Québec), the Bloc Québécois nevertheless has succeeded in making its influence felt in the House of Commons, providing support and leadership on a number of issues that are important not only to the Québécois but to Canadians as a whole.
Currently Bloc is polling at around 38 percent in Québec, the Liberals at 35 percent, and 15 percent for the Conservatives, 10 percent for the NDP. Compare that to Ontario, with its 106 members in the Parliament, where Liberals and Conservatives are neck and neck in the polls at around 40 percent each, with most of the Conservative gains being made at the expense of the New Democratic Party and the Green Party of Canada, a much more traditional state of affairs in Canada, and one that, in general, largely reflects the national scene, where the Lib-Con split is only 4 percentage points at 36 v. 32 percent.
This demonstrates the impact that the Bloc has in siphoning off support from the Liberals and Conservatives (depending on who is in favour) in Québec. Far from serving their original purpose, that of advancing the cause of independence in the Canadian Parliament, the Bloc actually prevents issues important to the Québécois from being resolved, those constitutional issues which constitute a large part of the grievances for many indépendantistes, though minority governments have sometimes managed to push through impressive reforms in other areas.
One wonders how much longer the political maturing process of the Bloc Québécois will take before they can become sensible players in the House of Commons, and start considering the possibility of forming coalitions or at least being an unofficial partner in a progressive minority government. Until then, we can take a moment to appreciate the role of the Bloc Québécois and its role in Canadian politics...
par Borges à 11:45
Ignatieff drops in popularity among Québécois
The Liberal Party of Canada's newly crownded leader has since his rise to power polled strongly among the Québécois electorate, however recently his popularity has fallen by 10 percent, from around 45 percent believing him to be the best choice for prime minister, to a much lower, comparitively, 35 percent. This may have something to do with the Bloc Québécois sustained attacks against Ignatieff, claiming that he opposed C-307 which would have extend the Charter of the French Language (Loi 101) to all federal undertakings in the province, as well as a commitment generally not to interfere at all in its implemetion.The vote came and the Liberals and Tories voted against it so it's pretty much a done deal. But that doesn't mean that this is the end of his fall in popularity. The Bloc has a way of trying to convince the electorate that no one else care's about Québec, and to be honest attacking him on the issue of French langue was brilliant. This issue only has so much steam,but it is yet to be seen whether or not M. Ignatieff can regain the support of the Québécois people.
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Le nouveau chef du Parti Libéral du Canada a vu une grande hausse de sa popularité au Québec depuis son couronnement, or récemment les répondants des sondages misent moins confiance au leader libéral. En avril, il a gagné 45 percent des Québécois sur la question «qui serait le meilleur Premier Ministre». Maintenant on voit une chute de 10 points à 35 percent. Peut-être cet effondrement est à cause des pubs anti-libéraux du Bloc. Le Bloc soulignait ce dernier mois le fait que les libéraux, comme les conservateurs, voteraient contre C-307, un projet de loi qui répandrait les provisions de la Charte de la langue française à tous entreprises et projets fédéraux, et préviendrait l'interférence d'Ottawa dans l'implémentation de la Charte sur territoire québécois.
Quand le jour du vote est venu, tel que prévu, les libéraux et torys ont bloqué le projet, maintenant c'est fini, c'est ça. Or, cela n'est pas nécessairement la fin de sa chute de popularité. Le Bloc joue toujours sa tactique habituelle, celui qui essaye de convaincre la populace québécoise que personne ne s'occupe le Québec sauf que le Bloc, et que le ROC est un ennemi du Québec. Il était brillant pour lui attaquer sur l'enjeu de la langue, qui est au cœur des préoccupations des Québécois. Cet enjeu essoufflera bientôt, mais il n'est pas clair si la chute de M. Ignatieff suivra ou non.
Libellés : la langue, Libéraux, Politique, Québec
par Borges à 15:27
Liberals hesitate in run-up to the confidence vote
The Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has outlined his requirements for support of the government on this week's upcoming Commons vote on the budgetary credits for the Conservative government, which will also be a vote of confidence in the government and will decide whether or not there will be elections this summer. M. Ignatieff has plainly said that he does not want elections, but will not let the government stand if it does not fix the problems in its currents policy, especially concerning Unemployment Insurance and medical isotopes.Ignatieff has told the government that it must replace the current unemployment insurance scheme with one that has a flat rate of hours worked required to qualify for benefit for the entire nation, rather than varying from region to region based on the unemployment rate as is currently the system. Concerning medical isotopes the Liberals want a concrete plan on the lack of the substance used to detect cancer, and which is experiencing a crisis of supply world-wide.
The Bloc and the NDP have already stated their intention to vote against the budgetary credits, they are ready and rearing for an election. Though most Canadians probably have election fatigue, it is right that the Liberal leader should take a principled stance on the important issues that face the nation, such as jobs, healthcare, services, and infrastructure. If the government does not respond adequately, it should be brought down.
Libellés : Libéraux, Politique, ROC
par Borges à 16:27
Do not let the government stand! Faites tomber le gouvernement!
Nanos-La Presse has conducted a survey of Canadians on the general view of the Conservative government. The results are not good news for the Conservative Party, and especially not good for Prime Minister Harper. Without being prompted towards any answer, the poll found that65% can name a fault of the government spontaneously,This news isn't surprising to anyone but the Conservatives. Their inability to lead the country through the economic crisis, their brutality towards the working-class and the unemployed, and their utter contempt for the will of the Canadian electorate, all mean that the Tory administration no longer has any credibility. This minority government has no popular support, and should be brought down immediately before they are allowed to do anymore damage to the nation.
35% can name a quality of the government spontaneously
and most worrying for the Tories:
20% think the government has not positive side
The fate of the nation is in the hands of Liberals, it is the choice of the Parliamentary Liberal Party whether we will see a government that cares about ordinary Canadians and their standards of living, their jobs, their essential services. The government can not be allowed to stand, M. Ignatieff should instruct his MPs not to vote for the budget credits!
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Nanos-La Presse a mené un sondage sur la perception générale des Canadiens à propos du gouvernement conservateur. Les résultats ne sont pas de bonnes nouvelles pour le Parti Conservateur, surtout pour Premier Ministre Harper. Sans être suscité vers aucune suggestion, les répondants ont dit:
65 percent peut nommer une lacune du gouvernement conservateur spontanément
35 percent peut nommer une qualité du gouvernement
mais plus ennuient pour le Parti Conservateur:
20% ne pensent pas que le gouvernement n'a pas aucune côté positive
Ces nouvelles sont pas étonnant que pour les conservateurs. Leur incapacité de diriger le pays pendant la crise économique, leur brutalité vers la classe ouvrière et les chômeurs, et leur mépris pour la volonté de l'électorat canadien, signifient que l'administration tory n'a plus de crédibilité. Ce gouvernement minoritaire n'a plus de soutien populaire, et doit être fait à tomber immédiatement avant qu'il puisse faire plus de destruction.
Le sort du pays canadien reste aux mains des libéraux, il est le choix du Parti Libéral parlementaire si nous verrons un gouvernement qui s'occupe des Canadiens ordinaires et leur niveau de vie, leurs emplois, leurs services essentielles. Le gouvernement ne peut pas être permis de continuer d'exister, M. Ignatieff doit demander ses membres du Parlement de ne pas voter pour le crédits budgétaires!
par Borges à 15:50
It's up to you M. Ignatieff- C'est à vous M. Ignatieff
The political power of the Canadian confederation rests yet again in the hands of one man, Michael Ignatieff, and his party, the Liberals. The upcoming vote on budget credits has already been opposed by the NDP and the Bloc Québécois, so it is entirely up to the Liberals whether the minority Conservative government survives this vote of confidence.We've gone through this plenty of times, and again and again the politologues weigh up the possibility of an election verses the prospect of supporting the Conservatives disatrous policies. In this case it is over the inability of the Harper government to support workers and the economy during the economic crisis. Who knows what they will decide, but one can be sure it will be thoroughly calculated. And yeah, probably they will support the government.
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Le pouvoir politique reste une autre fois aux mains libérales et leur leader M. Michael Ignatieff. Le vote vienant sur les crédits budgétaires est déjà opposé par les népédistes et bloquistes, donc il est complètement la décision des libéraux si le gouvernement minoritaire conservateur survive ce vote de confiance.
On a vu cette situation plusieurs fois, encore et encore les politologues évaluent la possibilité d'une élection contre le prospecte de soutenir la politique désastreux conservateur. Dans cette case la question est l'incapacité du gouvernement Harper de soutenir les travailleurs et l'économie pendant la crise économique. On sait qu'est-ce qu'ils décideront, mais on peut être sûr qu'il sera bén calculé.
Libellés : Libéraux, Pauvreté et développement, ROC
par Borges à 12:59
What way forward for Labour?
What Labour needs is a return to its roots: the working class. Without the working class the Labour party has no chance. The wage slaves of Great Britain are united by their economic role in production, their close proximity, their constant interaction and dealings. They are united in their role as the productive force in the economy, the oppressed, the cheated, the lied to. The Labour Party was begun as a mass party of organised Labour, and although the unions, largely taken over by the bureaucrats of the right-wing, still play a role in government policy, the truth is that this link is very nearly cut in proportion to the influence they once had.The working class, their interests are common: housing, jobs, education, pensions, healthcare, social security, local safety, etc. These problems can only be alleviated in one way, and that is through the democratic planning and control of the economy by the working class, that is, the majority of the population. The status quo where we elect every few years a representative to the bourgeois state is not satisfactory and as of late has been proven to be positively rotten to the core.
However the first step is a return to traditional socialist values in the Labour Party, as represented by the Labour Representation Committee, which seeks to promote socialist policy in Parliament and the public. Their growth could be instrumental in the growth of a left wing in the party, corresponding to a growth of a left current in the unions. The results could be disastrous for Gordon and his friends, but tremendous for the working majority of British people.
The Labour Party could easily win a general election if it fought on the program of democratic nationalisation of the major industries and banks, the provision of free life-long education, quality healthcare, and a generous employment program. If the Left grows strong enough become a force, this is very possible.
Labour has made mistakes since its inception, lets start to correct these by taking an indepenent class-based perspective on politics and policy.
Libellés : G.B., Socialisme
par Borges à 09:56
Québécois don't want sovereignty- Les Québécois ne veulent pas la souveraineté
The Québécois population has spoken on sovereignty. They don't want it. They do however want more autonomy for Québec in areas such as economy, taxes, culture, agriculture and immigration. Angus-Reid-La Presse conducted a survey of nearly 1 000 Québécois(es) and found that:74% of Québécois judge the chances of independence as reasonably, or completely unlikelyThis is not exactly a surprise for anyone in Québec, and it only reveals that the semi-autonomiste proposals of the PQ are well-placed for support among Québécois. 63% of the respondents believe that Québec should remain within Canada, although many support more powers for the Québécois state. Only 28% believe that Québec should be independent, down from a high of 40% a month ago (if one is not mistaken).
15% think that Québec has a good enough chance of separating
5% believe that Québec will separate
This shows how the dominance of the Parti Québécois in souverainiste politics has completely watered-down the independent movement and its very spirit. The electorate are less ready than ever for sovereignty, they recognise that they are better off within Canada. And that is the truth, that only with the help and collaboration of their Anglo neighbors can the Québécois shed the oppression which plagues them.
Meanwhile the Liberals have accused the Parti Québécois of trying to provoke a political crisis and there have been warnings that the PQ's plan would necessitate a rehashing of the constitutional debate. Marois doesn't admit to wanting a crisis, however that would be the inevitable conclusion of this excecise, and at that point the PQ could argue that Ottawa is now oppressing them as they always have and that it is time for sovreignty. What they really mean is: we want a larger role for the Québécois bourgeois state and corporations in the country. The PQ chefs most likely in fact don't want sovreignty, it is far more feasible politically to try to find a reasonable accommodation within the confederation, which is exactly what they are doing.
La population québécoise a parlé sur la souveraineté. Ils ne la veulent pas. Or, ils soutiennent plus d'autonomie pour le Québec dans les compétences telles que l'économie, l'agriculture, la culture, et l'immigration. Angus-Reid-La Presse a fait un sondage qui a révélé que:
74 percent des Québécois jugent l'indépendance relativement, ou complètement, irréalisteCela n'est pas exactement étonnant pour ceux qui habitent sur la territoire québécoise, et il révèle que le projet semi-autonomistes du PQ sont bén-placé pour soutien parmi les Québécois. 63 percent des répondants croient que le Québec doit rester au sein du Canada, or, beaucoup appuient plus de pouvoirs pour l'état québécois. Seul 28 per cent croient que le Québec doit être indépendant, une chute de le hauteur de 40 per cent.
15 percent croient que le Québec a une bonne occasion de se séparer
5 percent pensent que le Québec se séparera du Canada.
Ceci démontre comment la dominance du Parti Québécois dans la politique souverainiste a complètement détruit le mouvement indépendantiste et son propre esprit. L'électorat est moins prêt que jamais pour la souveraineté, ils reconnaissent qu'ils sont meilleurs au sein du Canada. Et cela est la vérité, que seulement avec l'aide de leurs voisins Anglophones que nous pouvons rompre avec l'oppression qui nous souffrent.
Cependant les libéraux ont accusé le PQ d'essayer à provoquer une crise politique et il y avait des menaces que le plan péquiste nécessiterait un rechauffage du débat constitutionnel. Marois n'admet pas vouloir une crise, or c'est la conclusion inévitable de cet excercise, et le PQ pointerait vers l'oppression d'Ottawa du peuple québécois qu'existait toujours, et arguerait que c'est le temps pour la souveraineté. Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire vraiment: les dirigeants du PQ veulent un plus grand rôle pour la bourgeoisie et politiciens natives québécois au sein de la confédération, ils désirent un accommodement raisonnable parmi les autres provinces du Canada.
par Borges à 16:10
Step by step to sovereignty says Marois
Pauline Marois has given a discourse recently to her party on the new souverainiste strategy for independence, elaborating on her earlier remarks about increasing responsibilities for the Québec state from the federal government. She has sad that she would like to mobilise the Québécois nation for a re-energizing of itself through a revendication of powers from Ottawa.This goes perfectly with the current paradigm and strategy reigning in the mainstream independence movement. They have but real independence on the back-burner and made it clear that they are in no state to fight for it, despite polling close to the Liberal Party of Québec in recent surveys and getting nearly 41 percent in support of sovereignty.
This is a betrayal of the movement, and quite frankly a spineless cop-out. The hard-line sovereignty movement is up in arms over Marois' plans, they see them as meaningless. In fact they simply prove what many have known for a long time: that the Parti Québécois is simply seeking a reasonable accommodation within the Canadian confederation. They actually have a lot more in common with the Liberals than they'd like to think...
Libellés : Mme Marois, Québec, Souverainistes
par Borges à 15:02
A majority of Canadians find Ignatieff attacks ineffective, if not repulsive
A recent poll of voters has found that 61 percent of the Canadian public think that Stephen Harper's recent attacks on the Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff as out of touch with Canada and its needs, are ineffective, and a further 65 percent actually take a negative view on the Conservatives because of these ads. The way in which the Conservatives have handled themselves is deplorable as of late. Recoiling behind pseudo-autonomoust proclamations of an «open federalism, while trying to white wash over a 50 bn dollar budget deficit by attacking the Oppossition on a personal level is surprisingly below even the Tory party.Though Michael Ignatieff isn't the most capable of leaders, he is the chosen leader of the party, and those in that party of right to rally around him. The simple fact is that plenty of ordinary Canadians see this sort of tabloid antics as cheap and taudry. Harper should stop focusing on the deficiencies of certain personalities in the Oppossition and start worrying about the glaring holes in their so called comprehensive policy for economic recovery.
This is the attack ad:
The following is a rebuttal to the attack by Ignatieff:
par Borges à 12:19
Ignatieff thinks the Confederation has got it just right
After an assembly of Liberal Party militants in Montréal this past week, M. Ignatieff accorded an exclusive interview to La Presse, one of the two main Québécois sources of print news. In it he made his position on the federal-provincial power-sharing process quite clear. He thinks it is at a sensible equilibrium and that the provinces and federal government both have a sufficient amount of powers to operate to the best of their abilities.Ignatieff said that he «doesn't see the need to increase the centralising power of the federal government, nor the power of the provinces». That is quite a different picture from the «centraliser» Liberal that he is painted as by Prime Minister Harper. It is clear that the Liberal Party, or at least its leader, is happy with the present arrangments. Obviously a Liberal government won't be negotiating with a future PQ government on increased competencies for the provincial government...
Libellés : Libéraux, Politique, Québec, ROC
par Borges à 13:18
EI Leyton recoils- AE Leyton recule
A tactical betrayal of the Canadian working class has been committed by the NDP Leader Jack Leyton who has made it clear that we could not support any toppling of government by the Liberal Opposition over Employment Insurance. Though this is a far from a fore-gone conclusion, there prospect of a new general election triggered over the issue of the rights of the unemployed to subsistence and a decent quality of life. The Liberal leaders have talked tough about EI, we will see just how far they are willing to go.The NDP is playing a dangerous game right now. It is pandering to their tactical political interest by not supporting a new general election. Whatever their claims that a general election is not welcome in Canada, it is clear that this is a decisive issue, that of Employment Insurance. The NDP is supposed to be the party of labour, of the working-class, or social justice. How can they stand aside and let the Liberal Party out manouver them on their own turf, that of social reform.
Un trahison ouverte à la classe ouvrière canadienne était perpétué par le leader népédiste Jack Leyton qui a fait clair que le caucus néo-démocratique n'appuierait pas aucune mesure qui suivrait vers une nouvelle élection sur l'enjeu de l'assurance emploi. Il étonne que les chefs libéraux ont parlé forts à propos de leur obligation à la cause des chômeurs, en fait plus forts que le NPD mais on va voir si ça est la vérité.
Le NPD joue un jeu dangereux maintenant. Il flatte à leur intérêt politique tactique quand il soutient pas une nouvelle élection générale s'il est nécessaire. Il n'importe rien leurs revendication qu'une élection n'est pas soutenu par le public, mais il est clair que cet enjeux est décisive. Le NPD doit être la parti des travailleurs, de la classe ouvrière, de la justice sociale. Comment abandonner leur propre espace de compétence pour les libéraux?
Libellés : Libéraux, NPD, Pauvreté et développement, Politique, ROC
par Borges à 13:22
Parti Québécois' new strategy puts independence on hold/ Nouveau plate-forme du Parti Québecois met la souveraineté en suspense
The Parti Québécois has unveiled its new sovereignty platform which instead of outright independence, or even a sovereignty association, has adopted some-what adéquiste autonomist proposals for patriating certain powers to Québec. These include measures in the areas of culture, taxation (including the monumental historical injustice of Québécois having to file TWO!!!!! separate tax return) and agriculture among others.This is a pure abandonment of the independence movement of which the Parti Québécois claims to be leader. The betrayal of the hopes of millions of Québécois for sovereignty is a demonstration of the real aims of the Parti Québécois, which is to find a reasonable accommodation for the native Québécois bourgeoisie within the Canadian confederation.
The party leaders and policy makers are following the political tradition of incompetence and divisiveness in political affairs. The only true gestures for sovereignty on the part of the PQ has been the projects for a Québécois Constitution and Citizenship. One must admit that at first the proposals seemed progressive and a good idea, however in hindsight it is clear that these policies serve only to further the nationalistic agenda of the Parti Québécois, seeking to enforce upon the people of Québec what they think the Québécois want, as per usual.
The only real way for true independence of Québec from foreign dominance and imperialism is for a nation-wide (that is Canadian-wide) fight for socialism where no nationality will be subject to the will of another. If the Québécois people do choose independence, that is their right. But it should be said that Québec will not be free on a capitalist basis, and that on a socialist basis the workers of Québec would probably see far more in-common with the Anglophone workers around them in the ROC and the United States than they do with their native bosses and capitalists and would see the benefits of a free union of Socialist Republics.
Et en français:
Le Parti Québécois a dévoilé son nouveau plate-forme souverainiste qui, au lieu d'une geste vers l'indépendance, ou même moins une association-souveraine, il a choisi un série de proposes autonomistes (à l'ADQ) pour faire la répatriation des certains pouvoirs au Québec. Les plans inclurent mesures dans l'arène de la culture, les impôts (ça inclut l'injustice historique monumentale que les Québécois doivent remplir DEUX différentes formes pour faire les impôts) et l'agriculture, parmi les autres.
Cela est une pure abandonnement du mouvement indépendantiste, le même mouvement de qui le PQ prétend à être leader. La trahison de l'espoir des millions des Québécois pour la souveraineté est une démonstration claire des vrais intérêts du Parti Québécois, qui recherche un accommodement plus raisonnable parmi la confédération canadienne.
Les dirigeants du Parti et les apparatchiks de politique suivent la tradition politique d'incompétente et réfractaire dans les affaires du groupe. Les seuls vrais gestes vers la souveraineté du PQ étaient les projets pour la constitution québécoise et la citoyenneté québécoise. Il faut qu'on admis qu'à première voie les proposes paraissaient progressive et de bonnes idées. Or, rétrospectivement il est clair que la politique sert seulement pour avancer l'agenda nationaliste du Parti Québécois, comme d'habitude, essayent d'exclure et de renforcer les valeurs et la politique que les leaders croient que sont voulus par le public.
Le seul chemin pour un véritable indépendance du Québec de la dominance étrangère et l'impérialisme est une lutte unie des peuples du Canada, sans égard à leur nationalité ou origine ethnique pour le socialisme, pour une société où aucune nationalité sera subjuguée à la volonté d'un autre. Si les Québécois choisissent l'indépendance, cela est leur droite.
Or on devrait dire que le Québec libre ne sera pas s'il est bâti sur une base capitaliste, et plus, dans une société socialiste les Québécois préféraient probablement une fédération volontaire avec ses compatriotes anglophones au Sud, Est, et Ouest.
Libellés : La question nationale, Québec, Souverainistes
par Borges à 11:21
Ignatieff lays down his plans in face of budget deficit-Ignatieff dévoile son plan de rélance après le nouveau déficit
Free national child-care, a reopening of the Kelowna accord, a high-speed rail-link between Québec City and Windsor, a fairer Unemployment Insurance regime. These are just some of the promises made by the Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff in the wake of the 50 billion dollar budget deficit announced by Finance Minister Flaherty last week. This is quite a fair bit of investment in the livlihoods of ordinary Canadians across the confederation. Ignatieff must continue to push the envelope, and not let up on his critique and correction of the Canadian Conservative Party which continues to put the jobs and survival of families in peril through its mismanagment of government.During a time of financial crisis, it is essential that the government continue to take steps to improve the infrastructure and services in the country, because it is at that time that they are most needed. Slashing public-spending is not the answer. However neither are the piecemeal reforms proposed by the Liberal Party.
What is needed is a radical break with the status quo. The time has come for a fair tax system that takes from the wealthiest and provides for the poorest and adequately funds the essential services. Military spending must be slashed to provide for the needs of the working Canadians, as well as increased aid to poorer countries. Workers must have the right to strike and occupy. There ought to be a sliding-scale of wages. These are just a few of the comprehensive measures that need to be taken to raise the standard of living for all and build a more just and equitable society.
En français:
Garderies sans frais, une ouverture de l'accord Kelowna, un train à haute vitesse dans le corridor Québec-Windsor, un régime d'assurance d'emploi plus équitable et juste. Tel sont les promisses faits par le leader libéral fédéral M. Michael Ignatieff dans l'ombre d'un déficit de plus de 50 milliards dollars, annoncé par Ministre de Finance Flaherty. Ceci est une juste somme d'investissement dans la qualité de vie des Canadiens et leurs emplois. Il faut que Ignatieff continue de pousser les enjeux et pas ralentir sur son critique et correction de M. Harper et son agenda conservateur qui suit avec la mise en péril du niveau de vie des Canadiens.
Pendant une crise financière, il est essentiel que le gouvernement suive avec les mesures pour améliorer l'infrastructure et services sociaux au pays, parce que c'est exactement maintenant qu'ils sont les plus obligés. Coupant les dépenses publiques n'est pas la riposte. Or, ni sont les réformes abstraites du Parti Libéral.
Il faut que nous rompions avec le statut quo. L'heure est arrivée pour un système de taxes qui prend de plus riches et fournit les plus pauvres adéquatement et les services essentiels. Dépenses militaires doivent être réduits pour fournir les besoins des travailleurs, et aussi une hausse dans l'aide humanitaire. Les travailleurs doivent avoir le droite de grever et occuppier. Il oblige une système de salaire sur une échelle-mobile.
Libellés : Libéraux, Pauvreté et développement, Politique
par Borges à 14:23
Employment Insurance Saga may provoke a general election
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is beating the war drums as he hints that he is willing to provoke another general election over the issue of unemployment insurance. Apparently he sees it as so essential during the economic crisis that he is willing to go to the polls for that very reason, even while the NDP and Bloc Québécois politicians have recoiled in fear at the possibility. Ignatieff is quoted as saying:I can foresee it and I can foresee it in the near future. But I repeat the word foresee,” he told reporters. “Let me say it again so it's perfectly clear: I am trying to make Parliament work for Canadians, number one. Number two, I am trying to get EI improved for all Canadians. [Globe and Mail, 26.5.09]The way in which the Harper regime has handled the crisis is deplorable, and the Employment Insurance issue is its most shameful betrayal of the the Canadian working class. The Liberal Party is right to push this issue incessantly, and to, if necessary, act in their role as Official Opposition and vote down this parliament. The NDP and Bloc should be supporting this bold move. Of course, the opinion polls do help the Liberals in making these threats, as they seem to be on course to form a government...
Libellés : Libéraux, Pauvreté et développement, Politique, ROC
par Borges à 13:27
Opposition parties unite for workers' rights!
The Bloc Québécois has introduced, with the support of the other Opposition parties in Parliament, a bill that would prohibit employers from implementing the policy of using strike-breakers (or «scabs»). Bill C-386, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers), is summarised as follows:It is just and right to introduce this new law. As it stands, the hard-won right to strike is greatly obstructed by government and union bureaucracy, not to mention the obvious trickery and underhandedness of the bosses. One of the main obstacles to a successful work-stoppage is the use of strike-breakers, and this practice should rightly be curbed.The purpose of this enactment is to prohibit employers under the Canada Labour Code from hiring replacement workers to perform the duties of employees who are on strike or locked out. It extends the obligation to maintain essential services.The enactment also provides for the imposition of a fine for an offence.
One hopes that the Liberals, who were the party that stipulated the essential services exception, will throw their full support behind it, and not just waiting and words. The Opposition has more than enough MPs to pass this vote, and if it means reversing the government, if it comes to that, well so be it. Harper needs to learn that the Left can unite to achieve.
par Borges à 11:25
