The IBT gives the low-down on the positions of various parties with respect to the coming elections and attempts to provide the reader with a critique of each. Those parties addressed include: Consevatives, Liberals, NDP, Socialist Action, Fightback, International Socialists, CPC, and the CPC(M-L).

This is something that Graham forwarded to me from the road. The article explains how
a possible Conservative minority mandate would be better than majority governments which we have experienced in Canada with Mulroney and Chrétien governments. Our last short lived minority government actually started to undo the damage that had been done over the last 20 years.

–I will be in Venezuela for the next two weeks to attend the WSF and to take a little break. Leftnews will continue to have articles posted by the other contributors. Also, check back often for reports from Venezuela on the World Social Forum and Bolivarian Revolution. Make sure you get out (and get others out) and vote with your class interests in-mind on Monday, January 23!

Cheers,

Graham
Leftnews Editor

–The WSWS does a rundown on Steven Harper. The Left seems to be coming aware of the risks that are in Canada moving to the right. If the Canadian State is openly supporting Bush and other imperialist countries and continues it own imperialist actions with more vigour (Haiti, Afghanistan, etc) then there is real cause for concern. Email and talk to your friends and family and make sure they know the issues and are voting. The only party that is going to be able to offer any sort of social alternative to the rightwing policies of the Liberals and the far-right policies of the Conservatives is the NDP. Vote NDP.

–It seems that the new government and mass movements in Bolivia have won a battle against Bechtel. This is a huge win for the people of Bolivia. Now the goal is to keep that momentum going.

–It might be that true workers’ control is coming to Venezuela… This is worth supporting I think.

–Sweeney once again misses the point on why the AFL-CIO is not working as a union. It is not about balance between corporate profits and the workers. It is about workers. Sweeney needs to mobilise the base… this means starting more unions!

–Where is Haiti being talked about in Canada? We are conducting imperialist actions on a country and no media agency seems to think that it is worth talking about. Troops Out Now.

–A rather good look at the directions that Palestine and Israel can take over peace… things do not look that great for the Palestinians under the current Israeli government leadership.

–A little look at the issues between the parties from CUPE in the coming elections. The message is clear: The Conservatives do not support your social or economic values if you work for a living, the Liberals do not support your economic values if you work for a living and do not defend social values when they are attacked, and the NDP are the only party to represent your interests in Parliament both social and economic. The clear choice is to vote NDP.

–This is not much of a surprise but it is nice to see from CUPE. Especially when the rest of the union movement seems to be without direction of who to outwardly support. Vote NDP.

–The Globe and Mail, of all places, has an article comparing Australia’s Howard to Steven Harper. I think that it is a fair comparison.

–We might have a strike of Forest Rangers in NB. Support the workers’ rights to fair wages.

–The international left seems to be picking up on the fact that we might have a Conservative government in a few days. IPS news writes about how Harper’s PR team have portrayed the far-right neo-con as a friendly centrist.

–The search for profit and the harm it is doing the world does not stop at pollution and the environment.

–That’s a scary thought.

It has often been said that, ‘in Canada the best political choice one has is to elect the political party that least misrepresents you’. This statement is meant to provoke a critical response on the part of the listener about the nature of political parties within capitalist societies; what it lacks, however, is a way forward. As Canadians prepare to go to the polls it is necessary to critically examine the class character and interests of the political parties who are vying for political power over the country. Read the rest of this entry »

–Think that McCarthyism is over? Think again. The right wing in the US academia is putting pressure on left-wing academics at UCLA. People always think that we are too smart to relive the worst parts of history…

–A report from some people working at the ground level in Spain. There seems to be a reactionary element even in the “Socialist” government there. People will demand to be treated fairly.

–An interesting look at the way that WalMart does business. This is a good read for those interested in the actions of WalMart and are going to the Movie on the 29th at the Underground Cafe.

–More unsettling news from Haiti. It seems that the UN is under increased pressure from the elite to apply force.

–We can always look to history for some anecdotal stories about letting empires crumble because of greed. This article is a rather impassioned plea that we need to stop the US government’s continued course towards environmental destruction.