SPC Newsletter 1st June 2016
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The Socialist Party Of Canada
Secretary's Report for June 2016
Email Report
– WSPUS centenary 7 July 2016 (Publication 100 hundred years World Socialist Party of the United States)
– Please note the Socialist Party of Canada's new mail address is now: PO Box 31024,Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada,V8N 6J3.
Good of the Movement
– Four introductory packages sent out.
– The GAC on behalf of the Party welcomes new member S. Lin.
– Southern Ontario (Toronto) May socialist meeting held.
– The new Spring issue of Imagine available – http://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/.
– SPC Secretary J. Ames and WSPUS member R. Elbert held a May conference call to discuss future joint educational and organizing strategies between the WSPUS and SPC. Future ongoing WSPUS-SPC conference calls will be encouraged to include ad hoc committee(s) and/or entire membership(s) of both parties.
– S. Shenfield WSPUS: new socialist education website http://www.whatissocialism.net/ — seeks GAC approved promotion link to the SPC website.
– Social(ist) media networking member correspondence(s) – members with digital skills please step forward.
– Summer socialist discussion meetings (Toronto) – see our web site for details.
Finances
– expenses: Introductory & membership packages (hard copies x 3) photocopying, envelopes, postage: total $20.95.
General Administrative Committee Election Nominations Open
– As the Party's Constitution calls for seven (7) General Administrative Committee (GAC) positions, and only five (5) are filled, nominations are open for two (2) further seats.
Secretary's recommendation: unless otherwise challenged, that nominations be open until end of June 2016 for two (2) GAC nominations, where upon nominees and their biographies will be forwarded to the General Membership in the Secretary's Report for July 2016.
Voting will be by email or mail proxy and close July 31, 2016. Election tally and results to be announced in the Secretary's Report for August 2016.
– Constitutional matter: That every two years, in even numbered years, headquarter's location and General Administrative Committee-elect be determined by Party Conference or general vote of the membership, as per Rule 17 (a), (b), (c), (d). Secretary's recommendation: seeking guidance from all Party members by close of summer, September
21, 2016, as to when the election of these two matters commence. Note: the Constitution calls for elections in first half of December, terms beginning the first of January following. 2016 is an even numbered year. Next even year is 2018.
Food For Thought
— On May 2 the Federal Government spent $75 million to settle with the victims and creditors affected by the Lac-Megantic rail disaster; a contribution which protected it from lawsuits resulting from it. According to Transport Minister Marc Garneau, “we don't acknowledge that we had any responsibility; however, we did want to make a contribution because of the impact of this terrible tragedy in Lac-Magantic.”
The government denies responsibility while it attempts to administrate an economic system that creates cost cutting schemes which result in such disasters.
This does not mean Mr. Garneau and his fellow ministers are hypocrites. They can't see an alternative to capitalism. But we can.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac-M%C3%A9gantic_rail_disaster
— An article in the Toronto Star of April 30th focused on the craze for Luk Thep Dolls which is sweeping Thailand.
These are large lifelike dolls people take everywhere with them, even to restaurants where they havetheir own menus. Owners treat them as if they are human, especially as they receive blessings from monks. Prices range from $60.00 to $1900.00 per doll.
Adam Ramsey, a journalist based in Thailand, said, “Maybe they provide comfort during rough economic and political times. Perhaps people are longing for a little bit of stability. Something in their life that gives them that sense things are going to be alright.”
It is a sad reflection of the time that anyone should resort to such a ridiculous illusion that all will be well within capitalism. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.
— The Ontario Provincial Government is considering changes to the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act which will allow landlords to more easily evict tenants for smoking or owning pets. Other proposals include changes in how eviction appeals are handled and a review of rental increase guidelines.
Under the present law landlords in Ontario cannot evict tenants for owning a pet unless the animal is causing damage or a sever allergic reaction.
A spokesperson for the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations in Toronto said, “People are furious, the phones in our office haven't topped.”
The likelihood that the laws may be changed has, obviously, put tenants on edge and fearful of eviction; just another example of insecurity in an insecure system – in other words life goes on as abnormal under capitalism.
— In 2013 Fortress Development had mortgage brokers offer eight percent interest rates to those who would invest in the Mady Collier Centre in Barrie, Ontario, which many did throwing in their R.R.S.P.'s. In all hundreds of investors sunk $16.9 million into a syndicated mortgage scheme which they were told was secure, which high interest paying and R.R.S.P eligible.
In April the Mady Collier Centre filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors. Investors who want their money back will have to get in line behind banks and the construction trade.
Fortress claimed the failure to deliver was due to “bad weather, an extra floor added, and the failure of some subtrades.”
All this means is that no matter how attractive the prospect, under capitalism, there is no sure thing.
— In April the annual Shelter Voices Survey from the Canadian Network of Women's Shelters and Transition Houses reported that on one day last year 234 shelters in Ontario had torn away 305 women and children who were fleeing domestic violence because they didn't have the space or resources to take them in.
Take heart folks the upholders of capitalism have risen to the occasion. The Federal Government have promised $89.9 million over 2 years to create 3000 spaces, meaning 2 new shelters for every province. This will be done through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which already oversees a shelter fund.
Obviously the Government isn't trying to address the cause of domestic violence, the tensions people live under in this delightful economic system.
We can't say there would be no domestic violence in a socialist world, but we can say with the removal of tension it would be considerably less and all involved would quickly receive the help they need.
— An S.P.C.er recently noticed a garbage truck in which nobody got out to pick up the bins. An automatic claw came out picked it up, deposited the contents, and replaced it.
Another invention that would make life easier in a sane society but within capitalism will, sooner or later, cause unemployment.
— Some folks in Nova Scotia are, quite understandably, in a snit about public places being named for Edward Cornwallis, Halifax's founder and Nova Scotia's first governor. In 1749 this worthy issued a bounty on the scalps of Mi'kmaq men, women and children, which in fact caused genocide.
Some dismiss this opposition on the grounds that genocide happened to thousands of other societies. The glorification of any individual is part of capitalism's belief system and attempts to justify their actions. Better a society where in the words of W.S. Gilbert “Everyone is somebody and no one's a nobody.”
— On May 13 it was all over the media that Kelly Ripa wasn't happy about being informed that Michael Strahan was quitting their morning talk show at almost the last minute. She thought she should have been told sooner; to quote “I think all people are deserving of fair treatment in the work place. People should be treated equally and with dignity.”
Though Ms. Ripa makes an astronomical salary compare to most of us she is still a member of the working class and gets dumped on by her bosses. As for her complaining of disrespect, welcome to the real world Kelly – or should I say the unreal world, called capitalism.
— The press in mid-May were focusing on the new government in Brazil. Articles featured the corruption at all levels of administration, the inauguration of the new president, Michael Temer, and the possible impeachment of outgoing President, Dilma Rousseff. As interesting as all this is, the fundamental matter was largely ignored: the tottering state of Brazil's economy.
A few years back when things were booming the press were full of praise for Brazil, but like all things concerning capitalist economy, it “ain't gonna last.” A fat pay cheque today mean squat for later on.
For socialism, Steve and John.
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