Editorial

Only the Working Class Can Save Canada

The 20^th century opened with the bombastic declaration of Wilfred Laurier that the 20^th century belonged to Canada. The 21^st century, on the other hand, has opened with pragmatic declarations that the future of Canada lies in increasing economic and political integration into the United States. Why the change in attitudes? During the past 100 years, Canada has increasingly come under the domination of monopoly capitalism, with an economy controlled almost entirely by U.S. multinational corporations. The monopolies see no need for an independent Canada. In fact, the border is increasingly seen as an impediment to the realization of maximum profits.

What does this mean for the future of Canada? Should Canadians simply resign themselves to the inevitable absorption of their country into the United States? Has the national state become obsolete in the era of neo-liberal globalization? These questions are being debated in one form or another throughout all sections of Canadian society.

The Canadian people do not see themselves as Americans and are not prepared to become Americans. Yet, more and more spokespersons for the capitalist class are touting the virtues, not only of closer continental economic integration, but also of adopting the U.S. dollar as Canada's currency and emulating the U.S. political system. Apart from some jingoistic advertisements to sell beer, pessimism about the viability of Canada as a separate country is being systematically cultivated. The capitalist class at one time needed the nation to maximize its profits, but now sees no advantage to a separate country. The problem for the Canadian people is that no champion of the nation has yet emerged to replace the capitalist class. In such a situation, there is a very real danger that Canada may cease to be a separate nation or at least lose its ability to assert its independence.

It is the position of Modern Communism that we still need Canada, but not the Canada of the monopolies. We do not need a Canada which stands for neo-liberal globalization, a Canada which seeks to dismantle society and place its citizens at the mercy of the capitalist market forces. We need a Canada which defends the economic, political, social and environmental interests of its people. We need a Canada which respects the right to self-determination of the people of Quebec and the Aboriginal peoples. We need a Canada based on the voluntary and equal union of Quebec, the Aboriginal peoples and the rest of Canada.

Is such a Canada possible? In our view it is, but only if the Canadian working class plays a leading role in constituting a new nation based on those principles. The working class is the largest and potentially the most organized social force in Canada. Although it is fundamentally internationalist in its outlook, the working class cannot defend its own interests, the interests of the Canadian people or the interests of the oppressed peoples of the world without also defending the economic, cultural and political independence of the country in which it resides. In other words, the working class must become the champion of a new Canada. Such a Canada is not only possible, but absolutely necessary.