Canadian News and Views

Some interesting observations by members of our Canadian companion party.

The Province of Quebec is a massive hydro producer due to its many fast flowing rivers and dam projects that continue apace. Unfortunately, demand has slowed since the beginning of the recession and several paper mills, large customers, have gone belly-up. Now, Hydro Quebec has to pay $200 million a year to keep the giant Becancour plant closed.
In an article entitled, "In a Competitive System, Surpluses Discouraged" (Toronto Star August 21, 2010), Hydro Quebec spokesman says, "If someone can tell us what will happen in three years, I'd like to hear from them." The article continues, "He's merely illustrating the system's fallibility…predictions are made and contracts are signed with electricity producers in order to meet the forecast demand, which can sometimes be wrong."

That about says it all about capitalist production and planning. The anarchy of production and the vagaries of the market will get you every time.

Canada's economic recovery is cooling off as national unemployment `seasonally-adjusted' figures rose to 8%. Insecurity is the order of the day, as usual, for the working class.

Canada's new `get tough with crime' legislation, costing billions in new construction, is going ahead despite an ongoing debate on the validity of locking up large numbers of people in the US. The argument of Tory minister, Stockwell Day, in face of the declining crime figures in Canada, is that there is an increase in 'unreported crime'. That logic escapes most people with brains. More, and longer, prison terms for misdemeanors only seems to result in wasted lives, angry people on the street on release, and more disrupted families.

Toronto Star sports writer, David Perkins reported that it is unlikely that National Hockey League players will be available for the next winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The reason? Time zone difference means prime time live games won't be available and hence the NHL will not get the media coverage it wants for scheduling a two week break in the middle of the season and it's not worth the risk of injury to star players for the clubs. Perkins agrees everyone WANTS to see the best play the best, but what everyone wants is not what everyone gets, especially if it costs other people's money. It sort of sums up capitalism – it's not what is wanted or needed that counts, but what works for the profit system.

Canada's environment minister, Jim Prentice, is elated that the arctic ice is receding. An investigator buff, he is happy that the ice-free ocean has turned up the HMS Investigator, sank 155 years ago while searching for Sir John Franklin's doomed Northwest Passage expedition. In his article, Peter Gorrie (Toronto Star, August 7, 2010), observes, "Climate change will unseal many other arctic treasures over the next few years. Most important – less romantic but incomparably more lucrative than an old boat – are oil and gas."

No wonder they do not want to admit to, or do anything about, climate change!

Workers who are interested in engaging the Socialist Party of Canada in debate can join their discussion forum here .

Or why not meet Canadian socialists in person at the literary festival Word on the Street, held in Queens Park, Toronto , 26th September. The Socialist Party of Canada will have a stall on Magazine Mews