George Gidora: A socialist Canada will put people’s needs before corporate greed

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      While we have had elected members in the past at all levels of government, the Communist Party of Canada is a small party with very limited resources. We are the third oldest political party in the country, having been founded in 1921.

      The most asked question we are asked in any election campaign is “Why do you bother? You know you won’t get elected so why?” The answer is easy. We believe that we have an important message for Canadians, the same message we have been putting forward year after year and that message is that there is a fairer, more equitable, and humanitarian way to manage our country and in fact the world. That is socialism.

      We hear over and over again from the Harper government that Canada’s economy is strong. I can’t argue that profits are up and that corporate Canada is doing so well, after all what corporation could not do well with a corporate tax rate of only 16 percent—the world’s bastion of capitalism, the USA, has a corporate tax rate double that. However unemployment is too high, health care and education are being eroded, child poverty is at an all time high, aboriginal peoples are suffering, and our country is deeply mired in a series of wars which the people of Canada do not support and is costing us billions of dollars. This is not a country whose economy is booming; it’s only booming for our corporations.

      The May 2 election will be crucial for our country. We need to dump the Harper Tories, as a first step to stopping pro-corporate policies and taking Canada in a new direction that puts people’s needs before corporate greed.

      The Communist Party of Canada is campaigning to make full employment a top priority. We demand a $16 per hour minimum wage, and increasing wages for all working people.

      We can create millions of jobs, through a universal, public childcare program; by building affordable housing; and by creating publicly-owned steel, auto, and mining industries.

      The Communist Party of Canada calls for justice for aboriginal peoples, for employment equity for women and racialized communities, for expanded public health care, for a progressive immigration policy, for the elimination of tuition fees, and for severe reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

      We can pay for this with a progressive taxation system, by nationalizing energy and natural resources, and by cutting the military budget by 75 percent.

      Canada needs an independent foreign policy based on peace and disarmament—out of Afghanistan and NATO, and stop bombing Libya.

      We know that the battle for real change isn’t just at the ballot box. It is in the workplace, in the community, and on the streets. The Communist Party of Canada campaigns for a broad people’s coalition that can unite the working class and people’s movements in the struggle for social change and, ultimately, for a socialist Canada where the people control the economy.

      On May 2, send the strongest message for peace, jobs, democracy, and sovereignty.

      Vote Communist!

      George Gidora is the Communist Party of Canada candidate for Burnaby-Douglas.

      Comments

      15 Comments

      Taxpayers R Us

      Apr 26, 2011 at 5:45pm

      Communism simply puts government's need far ahead of anyone else's need. It's been proven time and time again.

      Power corrupts..

      Taxpayer's nonsense / smug socialists

      Apr 27, 2011 at 7:16am

      Taxpayer's rants are so irrational that they are comical. He's right "Power Corrupts" (wow, what a thinker), and Taxpayer obviously misses the point: the corporations own it -- power that is.

      Meanwhile, these smug old socialists (why are they always in their 50s, like me?) should get off their butts and raise some hell, rather than engaging in ritualistic recitation of their creed. "Socialism" is a movement, without a movement it's nothing but a bunch of empty words.

      Second Nation

      Apr 27, 2011 at 9:00am

      Yes, power corrupts. Has anyone forgotten the global financial meltdown of 2009- ...? Billions (trillions?) of dollars for corporate bailouts, a return to record salary bonuses for executives yet millions laid off, losing their homes, etc.

      Power corrupts but it's not the power of the people that worries me it's the power of corporations that is terrifying.

      Birdy

      Apr 27, 2011 at 4:12pm

      re Second Nation
      "Has anyone forgotten the global financial meltdown of 2009- ...? Billions (trillions?) of dollars for corporate bailouts"
      "..it's the power of corporations that is terrifying"

      Come on! Are you kidding me?
      Bailouts are a GOVERNMENT creation.

      The corrupt banks and corporations you're so terrified of WOULD NOT EXIST if it weren't for SOCIALIST governments. They would have gone bankrupt, creating a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs all over the world. GM would be long gone, if it wasn't for UNION pressure on the SOCIALIST government to bail them out! Now Canada owns 11% of GM.

      Bailouts = Socialism, this is not a difficult concept.

      Why did they fail in the first place? Because the SOCIALIST government of America GUARANTEED all their liabilities, giving them carte blanche to over-leverage, using the future labour of unborn taxpayers as collateral.

      unknown sample

      Apr 27, 2011 at 7:34pm

      communism is poisonous to the human spirit.

      to anyone who serious supports it, i'd love to know what you're sprinkling in your weed.

      Taxpayers R Us

      Apr 27, 2011 at 9:25pm

      I love reading some of the communst commentary here.

      Try being born in one of these communist countries and then approach the matter again.

      While I agree that much of the corporate culture is completely out of control (3-year contract anyone?). the answer is not communism.

      Mild socialism wasn't that bad a concept that long ago. Until all of the various groups (many of whom are well represented here) started milking the system for everything it's worth, it was a good safety net and a fairly good system.

      Bruno15

      Apr 28, 2011 at 5:47am

      George, can you point to a country in the world that has a government like the one that you are advocating for that has actually been successful? I didn't think so.

      Ray I

      Apr 28, 2011 at 11:52am

      Communists are like children - so naive, they seem to trust that everyone just wants to help make the who;e world a better place. Wake up and smell the self interest! Altruism is no way to base an economy. Name one single segment of society that acts altruistically? The clergy? Nope! Unions? Nope! Business? Nope! Government? Nope! Teachers? Nope! Judges, lawyers, doctors,? Nope!

      Socialism is founded on altruism. It doesn't exist and therefore socialism does not work! Duh!

      Scott Blackstone

      Apr 28, 2011 at 9:18pm

      A communist party pledge to reduce military spending?!?!? Now I've heard everything...

      shoegazer

      Apr 28, 2011 at 10:01pm

      "I want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony"....anybody here remember the old corporate coca-cola ads? Seriously folks,anyone here who is playing the old"demon socialist"card has not taken into account that every capitalist government on the planet has some socialist policies in place.Any form of social networking,safety net for the most vulnerable,
      care for seniors,old age pensions,health care.I could go on but most of you will get the point.Unfettered free market capitalism without any sense of social conviction would be about as sensible as a complete dictorial tyranny.The model for a planet that has seven billion people and dwindling resources lies somewhere between both philosophies.