Governments across Canada, and the world, are pushing to re-open the economy. With COVID-19 still rampaging, this is putting profit before people.
But the economy won’t just re-open. Millions are unemployed, many more have lost wages and face a rent crisis. People are not going to spend as they did before. Business is not going to invest in new production. Where will demand come from in the economy? It will take on-going and massive state action to revive the economy.
The economy and society before COVID-19 was cruelly unequal, millions had low-paid gig jobs. Systemic racism and sexism were widespread. The world was barrelling towards a climate disaster. We don’t want to re-open that economy, we need a new economy.
The Whole System is Rotten
We oppose capitalism’s focus on profit before people and environment. Capitalism does not serve the interests of the vast majority of humanity.
- Ensure secure income and housing for all.
- Ensure Major taxation of the super-rich and big corporations and close all tax havens to raise the necessary funds.
- Bring into public ownership key sections of the economy including banking, the internet, the energy industry, transportation and privately-owned utilities.
- A comprehensive, universal, public health system, integrated with social care.
- A Green Jobs Program to provide well-paid union jobs that meet human and environmental needs, including a shift to renewable energy, a mass program to build high quality social housing, refit existing buildings, and upgrading the rail network for passengers and freight.
- Democratic control of work and society.
- Justice for all people with everyone having guaranteed access to food, quality housing, health care, child care, education and basic amenities including quality drinking water.
For a Socialist Reconstruction
