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The parliamentary crisis, provoked by Stephen Harper's
sheer arrogance and his utterly reactionary policies, plunged Canada into
a political crisis – which was prolonged by the suspension of
Parliament.
The Conservatives richly deserve defeat. But one
way of defeating Harper threatens to destroy the federal New Democratic
Party as an independent political arm of the working class and its
organizations. Generations of gains are at risk.
Should the NDP vote against the Conservative budget on January
27? Yes.
Should the NDP propose to the Liberals an accord to implement specific
initiatives, to be enacted by a Liberal minority government – kept on a
short, tight leash? Yes, it’s worth a try.
Should the NDP enter a coalition government with the Liberal Party?
No, never.
Coalition with a bosses' party (remember, the Liberals have been the
main party of capitalist class rule in Canada for the past 100 years)
would be a bizarre and historic reversal of the positive direction taken
by the latest NDP federal campaign, which explicitly fought for an NDP
government.
Coalition with the Liberals, the wet dream of
'strategic voting' advocates, would spell the demise of the NDP as a
political force which is accountable, to any degree, to the most
conscious section of working class voters. In a coalition
government, the NDP would be bound by ‘cabinet solidarity’ to defend all
government policies (including the war in Afghanistan, regressive taxes,
inaction on the environment, etc.), not just the policies it may
prefer.
That amounts to NDP subordination to the corporate
establishment, on the road to merger with the Liberals. It would be
an historic regression to the dismal, cap-in-hand days of Lib-Lab local
alliances that pre-dated the NDP and the CCF. It would quicken the
unravelling of medicare, public education, environmental safeguards,
labour rights, civil liberties and consumer protection.
But some may ask: Why shouldn't the NDP try to
get credit for whatever good might be achieved by a coalition government
with the Liberals? Is there really any difference between an
'accord' and a 'coalition government'?
Well, we can all see the bait. But we really need to
see the trap, and its potential victims. In a coalition, the
parties involved are responsible for the entire agenda of the
government. Not only must the partner parties vote for all the
legislation the government presents. They must advocate it, promote
it, sell it, defend it against critics (like unions and social movements)
and they will be held accountable for it forever.
An accord, on the other hand, keeps a minority capitalist
government on a short lease. The labour-based NDP could support the
elements of the agreement that are fulfilled, and could speak and vote
against anything arising outside the accord that is adverse to the
interests of working people. The government stays in office only so
long as it fulfills the accord. The NDP and Labour thus retain
complete autonomy.
The operating principle of a coalition government,
‘cabinet solidarity’, would silence the critics of the regime inside the
NDP parliamentary caucus and beyond. It would encourage NDP MPs to
try to keep the party ranks quiet and in the dark, to limit criticism of
the government for which the NDP would tragically be responsible.
Let’s face it, even an accord is dangerous.
Remember what happened to the NDP after David Lewis' accord with Pierre
Trudeau; a major loss of votes and seats. It is essential to keep a
distance from the treacherous Liberal machine. Credit for
PetroCanada, affordable housing and pension indexing was O.K. But
for other things that came later, like wage controls, massive social cuts
and giant tax gifts to big corporations, not so much.
Layton and company may see a coalition as a career
opportunity. Socialists see it as a trap to be avoided. The trap can be
avoided via an accord. An accord avoids the taint of direct class
collaboration in a capitalist government coalition, and it affords grass
roots NDP and union members more say as the process unfolds. It
worked in Ontario in the mid-1980s. Now, it’s true, the stakes are
higher, so it will be more difficult. But it is worth a try.
The question is: where to start?
First of all, now is the time to get behind the NDP
Socialist Caucus – to do our utmost to oppose coalition with the Liberals,
and work to strengthen the NDP’s independence. The clearest
expression of that independence would be the fight for a Workers' Agenda,
with public ownership under workers' control at the centre of it. The
answer to the global capitalist crisis is not a labour love-in
with the parties responsible for it. The answer is socialism.
Work to defeat the Conservatives by all available
means -- by a non-confidence vote in the Commons, a cross-country general
strike, whatever it takes. Oppose all chauvinist appeals to
Canadian nationalism and against Quebec self-determination.
Negotiate a time-limited and specific agenda to meet
the immediate needs of working people. Then hold a new minority
government to it.
Here’s the agenda we really need:
Put people before profits. Nationalize the banks. Create jobs
through public investment, public ownership, democratic planning and
workers’ control. Convert industry, transportation, and homes to
green, energy efficiency. Repair disintegrating roads, bridges,
railways and port facilities. Make E.I. more generous and more
accessible. Raise the minimum wage to $16/hour, indexed to the cost
of living. Shorten the work week to 35 hours without loss of pay or
benefits. Abolish student debt. Make post-secondary education
free. Protect pensions. Fund health care and the arts. No
corporate bail-out. Open the books. Get public equity for
every dollar of public investment, and exercise democratic control.
Tax the corporations, the speculators, and the rich. Abolish the
GST. End the occupation of Afghanistan and Haiti. Reduce the
military to a disaster relief, search and rescue force. Get Canada
out of NATO now!
But no coalition with the Liberal Party, nor with any
capitalist party.
Not now. Not ever.
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