Is crisis coming to Canada? New figures warn of Europe-style collapseOnce known for providing its workers with a relatively stable standard of living, one European country after another is pushed into crisis and austerity, provoking social explosions across the continent. The Canadian ruling class, on the other hand, has taken a certain satisfaction in asserting that this country is above the European fray. Do these claims actually have any weight? Or, does the Canadian economy have the same underlying weaknesses that have brought European capitalism to its knees? How close is Canada to a Europe-style meltdown?
XII Canadian Marxist National Conference a huge successIn what has become a May-long-weekend tradition, about 50 Marxist supporters travelled to Toronto for the 12th national conference of the Canadian Marxists of Fightback and La Riposte. As in previous years, the Marxists met to discuss the world situation and how to best intervene in the increasing number of movements against capitalism; but, what made this conference different from that of years past was the fact that it was being held at the same time as the largest mass movement in Canadian history. |
Upcoming Events MAY 24 Marxism After Trotsky: The ideas of Ted Grant
Ted Grant CentennialThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ted Grant. To mark the occasion, Fightback is helping to launch a new political biography of Ted, as well as holding book launch meetings in Toronto and Montreal that will cover Ted's contributions to Marxist theory in the post-war period. Click here to see information about the events, as well as how to order your copy of the book.Featured Links
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Featured AnalysisA socialist view from the 2013 federal NDP convention Venezuela: The presidential elections and the tasks of the revolution Ontario NDP must not be fooled by Liberals' new face: Vote down the Liberal budget! Labour leaders must defy illegitimate laws in fight against austerity Internationalism and class unity on display at Marxist Winter School 2013 XII Canadian Marxist Conference held amidst largest mass movements in Canadian history |
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The political situation across the Canadian state is characterized by subterranean moods of discontent that burst out in sporadic explosions. All of these movements are manifestations of the underlying crisis of the system. To help arm workers and young people in the fights to come, Fightback is publishing our political perspectives for 2013 — "Theses on the Class Struggle in Canada". We welcome feedback from everyone; please contact us at
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Supporters of the Marxist journals, Fightback and La Riposte, recently gathered in Toronto for the 13th national conference of the Marxists across the Canadian state. The conference was a historic one for a number of reasons. Over 60 people registered to attend the conference, making it the best attended conference in the history of the Canadian Marxists. More importantly, this was the first national conference that was fully bilingual, with all sessions and discussions translated consecutively into English and French. Finally, the conference was held in conjunction with the centennial celebrations of the birth of British Marxist, Ted Grant. Ted’s ideas featured quite prominently throughout the weekend, helping to arm a new generation of militants in the struggle against capitalism.
One of the most important reforms won by Canadian workers, public medicare, is coming under relentless attack by government austerity programs. Recent provincial budget decisions in Ontario, for example, have cut $3-billion from health spending, which is putting the health of Canadians at extreme risk — especially those from the most marginalized sectors of society. For the sake of our own health, we need to put a halt to the austerity agenda.
A wildcat strike by prison guards shook Alberta, paralyzing the prison system and quickly escalating. The government's response to safety complaints by workers in the prison system only provoked anger; what started as a wildcat strike at one remand centre quickly spread across the province, affecting every correctional facility in the province. The government has agreed to a safety review and the strike is over. There are lessons for the entire labour movement in this inspiring militant strike.
It wasn't supposed to happen this way. After 12 years of BC Liberal rule, the scandal-plagued right-wing government was set to take a beating. The NDP entered this race with a 20-point lead in the polls; they were unstoppable! But that's not what happened on election night. Instead, it was the NDP that took a beating, actually losing seats and strengthening the Liberal majority. Amidst the stunned NDP activists at the “victory party”, one question was written across the face of everyone in the room — “How could this happen?”
This year marks the centenary of the birth of Ted Grant, founder of the International Marxist Tendency. In addition to remaining firm on the basic principles of Marxism in the difficult situation following the death of Trotsky, Ted contributed greatly to the development of Marxist theory in the postwar period. We are proud to announce the publication of Ted Grant: The Permanent Revolutionary, a new political biography by his friend and comrade, Alan Woods. The book is set to launch in late May in Toronto and Montreal, featuring Fred Weston, the managing editor of 
