The Marxist-Leninist Weekly

From July 25-27, the Council of the Federation met in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The meeting of the Premiers of Canada's provinces and territories was characterized by calls for the Harper government to involve the Premiers in the major decisions his government is taking to restructure the Canadian economy and its social programs. They specifically highlighted changes to the Canada Health Accord, Immigration Reform, Labour Market Agreements, infrastructure investments and Employment Insurance Reform as areas where they should be involved but are being excluded in various ways.

As a further expression of the demand to be involved, the Premiers called for the Prime Minister to join them at a First Ministers' meeting in the fall to discuss "the economy, including the state of the world economy and its effects on the daily life of Canadian citizens." Premiers asked the Premiers of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta to begin planning for the meeting. There has not been a meeting of the Premiers with the Prime Minister since 2009.[1]

In the midst of the Council of the Federation meeting, BC Premier Christy Clark announced that the BC Liberal government wants various concessions from the government of Alberta and the federal government in order for it to be onboard with the building of the Enbridge Pipeline through BC territory. Clark's position was presented as BC wanting to receive monetary and other benefits as it bears most of the risk from the pipeline if there is an oil spill or other disaster. Her remarks were in most cases dismissed by the media which tried to claim that she would likely not be premier for long as the NDP in BC was doing well in the polls.

Using Clark's stand, most political commentators on both the so-called left and right attempted to present the Council of the Federation as an organization of self-interested provinces which do not consider the broader national interest. They implied that the Enbridge pipeline is in the national interest and Clark's opposition is a form of extortion against the national interest. The tone of the various editorials and commentaries reveals a strong demand from the monopolies that everyone fall in line with what they declare is the national interest, or else. This appears similar to the way in which environmental groups and First Nations were labelled extremists for opposing the pipeline, creating conditions to label premiers extremist, gang members or criminals. This has begun a discussion which seems to prepare conditions for Harper to impose the pipeline regardless of what any review or broad opposition might say or do, all in the name of defending the national interest. Some of the headlines dealing with the meeting were:

"The provinces shouldn't hold national projects hostage," Brian Lee Crowley, Ottawa Citizen,

"Leading a province should be a national endeavour for premiers," Rex Murphy, National Post,

"Harper could force the Northern Gateway pipeline through, but should he?" Stephen Maher, Postmedia News,

"Premiers summit sidetracked by pipeline row," Jane Taber, Globe and Mail, and

"Christy Clark's Northern Gateway demands just another extortion attempt," Andrew Coyne, National Post.

In this context, it is noteworthy that the CBC highlighted on its website a report by the Mowat Centre that calls for new arrangements for the Federation in which a "non-political" board made up of appointed members would determine how equalization payments would be given out. This proposal is consistent with previous proposals by finance capitalist Frank Stronach who called for a Board of Directors for Canada to replace the elected Senate and oversee the decisions of elected governments. Stronach called for business people who are "non-political" to make decisions based on what is best for the country, not personal political interests.

At the end of the Council of the Federation meeting, it was announced that Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter will lead a Council mission to China in September, 2012. This will be the Council's second mission to China. It will focus on "further developing relationships with one of Canada's fastest-growing trade partners and matching our strengths with opportunities in global markets." The mission will include stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong and representation at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin.

It was also announced that Premiers received an update on the Canada-European Union negotiations to conclude a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and they called on the federal government to enter into a framework agreement on involving provinces and territories in all trade negotiations based on their positive and productive involvement in CETA negotiations.

The next meeting of the Council will take place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario from July 24-26, 2013.

1. On August 2, Harper indicated that he would not attend such a meeting. His spokesperson dismissed the request stating that Harper has met with Premiers individually on 74 occasions.

Constitutional Crisis Deepens as Oil Monopolies Dictate "Energy Economy" for Canada

Ten Canadian premiers and three territorial leaders met in Halifax from July 25-27 without any presence of the federal government. This body, formed on December 5, 2003 in Charlottetown, dubbed themselves the "Council of the Federation" in order to enter a "new era in collaborative intergovernmental relations." The express purposes of the "council," to play a "leadership role in revitalizing the Canadian federation" and thereby promote "co-operation," "recognize diversity," and "show leadership" to "ultimately strengthen Canada," have proven hollow. Since 2003, accelerated since Harper's first minority government election in January 2006, and even more so since his majority government was elected in May 2011, the archaic Canadian constitution and federal union have become mired in deeper and deeper crisis.

2012 is the 20th anniversary year of the October 26, 1992 referendum when the Canadian people rejected the Charlottetown Accord together with its notion of "Executive Federalism" proposed by the Mulroney government and premiers of the day. Nevertheless, the concentration of executive authority has greatly accelerated since that time, to the point that governance under the dictate of the Prime Minister and Premiers runs rough shod over historically evolved parliamentary processes, completely marginalizes the majority of the polity leaving political power completely reduced to serving private monopoly interests, while public interests are bereft of power. Monopoly domination in the economy is more and more directly reflected in monopoly dictate in politics.

The dominant monopolies with the greatest political power are the oil trusts merged as they are with the largest banks and other corporations seeking to maximize their profits from looting the energy, mineral and forest resources of Canada for export to foreign markets. The key catchphrase of the politicians in Halifax, representing the richest, most powerful world monopolies is "building the Canadian energy economy." Everything is done in the name of "attracting foreign investment" for the aim, these abject politicians shamelessly repeat, of "creating jobs."

The constitutional crisis expressed itself in two main ways in Halifax. First, the December 19, 2011 arbitrary decision of the Harper dictatorship, without the slightest "consultation" with the provinces, to cut the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) will reduce provincial/territorial finances by $5.9 billion by 2018/19, and over a 10-year period of the "renewal" plan some $36 billion will be passed over to the provinces/territories. The Canada Social Transfer will also be greatly reduced, leading to more cuts to post-secondary education and social welfare payments from Ottawa to the provinces.

What in effect is transpiring is the complete undoing of the post-depression period when the recommendations of the Rowell-Sirois report on provincial-federal relations called for decisive intervention by the federal government in creating country-wide social programs to prevent the devastation suffered by the people during the 1930s. The post-World War Two period was one of dynamic progressive change worldwide, with the Canadian working class actively engaged in sharp struggles to defend their collective interests and push for a "social contract" including federally financed social programs. Family allowance was introduced in 1944, old age security along with help for the blind and disabled in 1951, hospital insurance in 1958, the Canada Pension Plan in 1965, and medicare country-wide in 1968.

With the federal government now reducing its contribution to health care to less than 20 per cent from the originally proposed 50 per cent, the provinces have been reduced to jointly discussing how to save money and impose "fiscally responsible" policies (i.e., cut health care, education and senior care programs), while simultaneously privatizing the public sector to pay powerful corporations from the public purse.

The second main contradiction that broke out at the meeting was over energy policy. A political drama was enacted in which BC's beleaguered Premier Christy Clark upstaged the conference with the five conditions to be met before allowing the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project to cross British Columbia. The five points were announced by BC Environment Minister Terry Lake on July 23, two days before the conference opened. They include that the Northern Gateway Project pass the environmental review process (mainly National Energy Board approval); setting in place world standard marine- and land-based oil spill prevention, response and recovery systems; a new standard for First Nations consultations and benefits; and giving the BC government a "fair share" of the financial benefits of the projects reflecting the risk to BC land and sea.

This stand of the Clark government apparently caught the government of Alberta Premier Alison Redford offguard, even though Clark had made a semi-secret visit to her days before the announcement. Clark took an adamant stand at the Halifax meeting that she was there to protect "BC interests" while Redford was adamant against handing over Alberta's oil revenues to BC. The contradiction between them ended with Clark walking out of the conference as its national energy strategy, dubbed "A shared vision for energy in Canada," was being set up. Clark did not share the vision, stating after she walked out that BC would not participate until negotiations with the federal and Alberta governments satisfy her demands.

Many pundits argue that Clark is grandstanding in an effort to gain credibility with BC voters who go to the polls in May 2013. The NDP leader, Adrian Dix, has already stated opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project. However, the constitution gives the federal government jurisdictional power over trans-provincial pipelines, railways and other communication/transportation facilities. Regardless of who wins the provincial election the contradictions between the BC government and federal government will sharpen. Why? Not because the established political parties have major differences over Canada being a supplier of energy to the international market, especially Asia. Both the government and opposition have agreed to the Liquid Natural Gas plant project in Kitimat which will be subsidized by BC Hydro selling electricity below cost. Both also agree to allow Kinder Morgan to twin its Mountain Pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby to ship bitumen from a terminal on Burrard Inlet.

What in the final analysis is at stake in the contradiction between the federal and BC governments is how the profit from the export of energy resources is to be divided. This is how the BC polity has perceived Clark's stand, an effort to gain political credibility as a "defender of BC interests," while holding out for more cash to allow the twin bitumen and condensate pipelines to be built to Kitimat.

The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in a press release July 24, condemned the five points, and Chief Terry Teegree said, "Our people are joined by over 100 First Nations, environmental organizations and thousands of Canadians opposing the building of tar sands pipelines through our territory and opposing the related tanker traffic." BC Minister of Aboriginal Relations Mary Polak repeated four times in her joint press conference with Environment Minister Terry Lake on July 23 that First Nations do not have a veto over the project. They do, however, she asserted, need to be "adequately consulted."

What is to be made of this entanglement of contradictions arising from the crisis of the Canadian constitution? From the perspective of the Canadian people the dictate of the oil and other monopolies to reduce Canada to an "energy economy" is fraught with danger. The splits and antagonisms between various regions are being sharpened, the manufacturing base is being liquidated, and the standard of living for the working class and people is deteriorating along with the social programs.

The future of the country is closely tied to resolving the constitutional crisis and setting a new direction for the economy. The dog fight in Halifax underlines the need for the working class to intervene in the political life of the country with their own vision for a renewed constitution and democracy that will empower the people to engage in a new nation-building project which harmonizes the interests of all the regions, Quebec, the north, countryside and cities, First Nations and immigrants alike, on the basis of defending the rights of all. An important part of building the Workers' Opposition in BC revolves around opposition to the Enbridge Northern Pipeline Project and the Clark government's game of selling out the people's interest for oil dollars.

Threats and Intimidation Will Not Stop the Mexican People's Struggle for Democracy

Mega march against the fraudulent imposition of Enrique Peña Nieto as Mexican president, Mexico City, July 22, 2012.

The day after the July 1 presidential election, millions of Mexicans from all sectors of society expressed in many ways their rejection of the Federal Electoral Institute’s results that declared the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Enrique Peña Nieto the winner. Progressive Movement candidate Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador and his political allies, the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), the Labour Party (PT) and the Citizens Movement (MC) have uncovered evidence of thousands of cases of vote buying among the five million votes cast in favour of Peña Nieto. In the face of this huge electoral fraud, Lopez Obrador and his allies have filed a request with the Electoral Tribunal to invalidate the presidential election due to non- compliance with Article 41 of the country's constitution.

The evidence presented focuses mainly on the use of public funds to buy gift cards from the Soriana supermarket chain, worth up to 4,000 pesos each that were distributed to thousands of voters between May 28 and June 30 so that they would vote for the PRI candidate. At least 16 of Mexico’s states are headed by PRI governors who allegedly participated in violating election laws. Some 700 million pesos were transferred through money laundering from the United States to Mexico through Monex Bank. At least five fictitious companies were used to manipulate the millions of pesos to buy thousands of prepaid cellular calling cards, each worth at least 100 pesos and active as of June 28, the day after the electoral law prohibited any partisan campaigning. When the calling card was activated, a message supporting the PRI candidate played, soliciting their votes. It was also established that thousands of Monex Bank credit cards were distributed to PRI organizers across the country, allowing them to withdraw funds to buy votes. These acts violate Mexico’s laws by using public funds for partisan ends, using foreign funds for electoral purposes, laundering money and breaching the ban on promoting a political party three days before the vote, etc. Evidence has also found the PRI contracted the media to create an impression of voter preference for Peña Nieto, using inflated polls, false information and a dirty campaign against Lopez Obador. The scale of the fraud is so great that the current presidential party, the National Action Party, said that light must be shed on the purchase of votes and has joined Lopez Obrador to file the necessary evidence to the Federal Electoral Institute.

On September 6, the Electoral Tribunal will announce its decision as to whether Peña Nieto's election as President will be upheld or declared invalid and a new presidential election called.

Since July 1, hundreds of demonstrations involving millions of Mexicans have been held in dozens of cities, organized by various organizations demanding the election be declared null and void and for democratic renewal. Among them are Lopez Obrador’s National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), the youth and student movement "Yo soy 132," and the Convention Against the Imposition and For the Defence of Democracy, made up of more than 150 social justice organizations.

In response to this growing movement for democracy, the political and economic elite that want Peña Nieto as president is increasing its threats and intimidation against Lopez Obrador and his organization and against "Yo soy 132." Like a thief crying Thief!, they blame Lopez Obrador and his allies' rejection of the July 1 election results for social disorder, violence and acts of terrorism, and warn that they will be held responsible for any social degeneration in the country. This same elite continues to use the media to spread lies and confusion. For example, the Soriana supermarket chain is accusing Lopez Obrador supporters of violent acts against its stores. The truth is that people are angry that the gift cards from the PRI no longer work.

The crisis is so deep that senior executives at companies such as Slim, the leading telephone monopoly, made public appearances to say that all is well, that there is no political crisis in Mexico. It was reported that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton phoned Peña Nieto to congratulate him on his election two weeks after the vote even though Obama called him on the evening of July 1, even before the official results were released. Acting as if nothing has happened, the country's Employers Council has announced meetings with the PRI and its elected officials to initiate discussions for the changes it wishes to see made to the economic plan and electoral procedures.

Far from being discouraged, the movement’s activities are growing to publicize the truth and involve as many citizens as possible in the actions against the fraud and the imposition of Peña Nieto as president. In accordance with the resolutions of the National Plan for the Defence of Democracy and Dignity of Mexico announced by Lopez Obrador, public assemblies were held July 29 in 142 cities and others will be held on August 5 in the capitals of 32 states. The Plan’s guidelines are summarized in the slogans: "The Presidency of Mexico Cannot be Bought" and "Mexico's Fate Is Priceless." Citizens are invited to take part in information actions organized across the country and in the production of video and artistic works to inform how the fraud was carried out and express the people's determination not to let it pass."Yo soy 132" and the Convention for Democracy continue their actions to denounce the media's complicty in the fraud, including Televisa and Millennio, and that of other companies such as Soriana, Walmart, Coca Cola and Monex.

Join the Just Fight Against U.S.-Backed
Anti-Cuba Terrorist Attacks in Cuba, the U.S.,
Canada and Beyond

Toronto
People's Tribunal and Assembly
for the Cuban Five
September 21-23
www.freethe5peoplestribunal.org

Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the small nation of Cuba has faced constant aggression from the U.S., including widespread terrorist campaigns by U.S.-backed agents. It has cost thousands of lives and injured many more. In the late 1990s, in order to prevent further terrorist attacks against Cuba, Canada and the United States itself, by extremist Cuban American groups situated in Florida, five patriotic Cubans, Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino, Fernando González and René González -- the Cuban Five, as they are now known -- undertook on behalf of Cuba the dangerous task of monitoring these groups in south Florida.

The five reported their findings to U.S. authorities. Instead of action being taken against these terrorist organizations, as the U.S. government is obligated to do under international treaties to which it is a party, the five were arrested in Miami on September 12, 1998 and imprisoned by the U.S. government for a total of four lifetimes plus 77 years. The unjust and vindictive treatment of the Cuban Five by the U.S. has continued ever since, despite the U.S. declaring its so-called war on terror in 2001.

The undercover work undertaken by the Cuban Five is thought to have saved the lives of numerous people and, in the end, was aimed at preventing the loss of life of innocent people. The Working Group of the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations, Amnesty International, the Law Union of Ontario, the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, Nobel Prize winners, and hundreds of thousands of other organizations and people around the world have called for the release of the Cuban Five.

As part of this international effort to achieve the freedom of the Cuban Five, a number of trade unions and solidarity groups from across Canada, in coordination with the Canadian Network on Cuba and the Quebec-Cuba Solidarity Roundtable, have convoked a Peoples' Tribunal and Assembly on September 21-23, 2012 in Toronto, to shed new light on this egregious injustice and intensify the campaign to demand their freedom. The website for the tribunal is: www.freethe5peoplestribunal.org.

TML calls on everyone to join in the campaign to Free the Cuban Five and the People's Tribunal and ensure their success.

U.S.-Backed Terrorism Against Cuba

Since the Cuban Revolution toppled the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, Cubans have been subjected to repeated politically-motivated terrorist attacks emanating mostly from southern Florida. These attacks have killed 3,478 Cubans alone.

For example, in 1976, a Cubana civilian airliner exploded in midair from a bomb set by one of these groups killing all 73 passengers on board.

Another well-known example was the work of the Central Intelligence Agency in 1961 to fund, organize and arm the 1,500 mercenaries who carried out the failed invasion of Cuba near the Bay of Pigs.

The above is a minuscule sample of terrorist attacks aimed mainly at Cuba, that have left 3,478 people dead and 2,099 wounded. However, lives lost and property damage have also occurred in the U.S. and in Canada.

A recent example took place on April 27, 2012. The offices of Airline Brokers, a Miami area-based charter agency, were destroyed by arson. The agency owner, Vivian Mannerud, helped the Miami archdiocese organize a trip of more than 300 pilgrims to take part in Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Cuba.

Successive U.S. administrations in collusion with extremist right-wing Cuban American groups in Florida such as Alpha 66, Brothers to the Rescue, Brigada 2506, and CORU (Coordinated United Revolutionary Organizations), have continued to organize and support bombings, assassinations and economic sabotage against Cuba. Citizens of many other countries have been killed or injured in these attacks, which have also taken in place in Canada.

Vigil for the victims of state terrorism at the Anti-Imperialist Tribunal in Havana, October 6, 2011, which marked the 35th anniversary of a terrorist bombing of a Cubana airliner. The 73 flags represent each victim of this heinous attack.

Anti-Cuban Terrorist Attacks and Canada

1966: A bazooka attack took place against the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa; bombs exploded at the Cuban trade offices in Ottawa.

1967: An explosive device was detonated at the Cuba Pavilion at the Expo in Montreal; a bomb exploded at the warehouses of Fraser Brothers, a Canadian firm trading with Cuba; Cuban trade offices were bombed in Montreal.

1968: The Canada Tourism office on Fifth Avenue in New York City and offices of a Canadian airline in Miami were attacked.

1972: A bomb was set off in the Cuban trade offices in Montreal killing Cuban consular diplomat Sergio Pérez Castillo, wounding seven people and causing substantial damage.

Canadian authorities, aware of these attacks and cognizant of the connections of suspects to terrorist groups in Florida, never laid any charges against the perpetrators.

On September 4, 1997, Montreal resident Fabio di Celmo was killed by a bomb which exploded in the Hotel Copacabana in Havana. The attack was part of a deadly campaign of anti-Cuba sabotage that targeted Cuban tourist facilities. According to trial testimony, well-known anti-Cuba terrorist and former paid CIA operative, Luis Posada Carriles, was the mastermind.

In 2003, the Law Union of Ontario passed a resolution underscoring the responsibilities of the Canadian government to ensure the safety of Canadians vacationing in Cuba. It urged Canada, as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), to demand that the United States government comply with the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism and immediately cease harbouring, aiding and abetting organizations that plot and encourage terrorist activities against the people and government of Cuba.

The Trial, Imprisonment and Fight to Free the Cuban Five

Arrested in 1998, the Cuban Five were each held in isolation for seventeen months prior to their trial in Miami. Twenty-six conspiracy to commit espionage charges were laid against them. As there was no evidence, the charges of conspiracy required a lesser burden of proof for the prosecution. Seven months after his arrest, spurious conspiracy to commit murder charges were laid against Gerardo Hernández. At his trial, the prosecutor requested that the Judge withdraw this charge as he had no evidence to pursue it. The Judge refused.

Meanwhile, the high profile case of Elián González had just concluded, with the U.S. finally being forced to repatriate the young Cuban boy, infuriating the anti-Cuban mafia in Miami. Despite an atmosphere of prejudice being whipped up against Cuba, the Judge refused to change the venue for the trial.

It has since been proven that journalists were paid by the U.S. government to help create an atmosphere of hysteria around the trial of the Cuban Five. Jurors admitted being fearful about bringing in a verdict of innocence and felt intimidated: for example, their car licence plates were being photographed.

In the trial itself, U.S. military officials testified that no information gathered by the Five impinged on U.S. security. It was also made clear that no person or property was hurt or damaged and information gathered was mostly available in the public sphere.

The political nature of this trial was proved for all to see when, despite all evidence of their innocence, the jury pronounced the Five guilty of all charges.

In 2005, the U.S. Appeals Court unanimously overturned the decisions of the lower court and ordered a new trial. In an unprecedented move, the prosecution asked for an opinion from all the Appeals Court Judges which then overthrew the previous decision. The convictions were reinstated except for slight reductions for three of the five men.

Since the imprisonment of the Cuban Five and throughout their trials, they have received the support and solidarity of the peoples of the world. The support has become so widespread that trade unions, parliaments and various celebrities have come forward with statements and resolutions calling for freedom for the Five. Particularly in the United States, the support of the people has been decisive in exposing the travesty of justice and the support of U.S. authorities for terrorist acts against Cuba. While the U.S. has tried unsuccessfully to break the spirit of the Cuban Five, it has gone to great lengths to protect one of its "assets" who masterminded many acts of terrorism against Cuba, Luis Posada Carriles. Posada Carriles is a self-admitted and unrepentant U.S.-trained terrorist, who has never been charged for his crimes. Minor charges of perjury and immigration fraud were brought against him based on falsifying his entry into the U.S. in 2005, of which he was absolved in 2010. He walks the streets of Miami as a free man, where it is reported he continues to conspire with his fellow reactionaries against the Cuban people and their Revolution.

Canadian Celebrations of Moncada Day

Moncada Day, July 26, is Cuba's National Day of Rebellion. It marks the start of the movement that overthrew the U.S. puppet Batista regime in 1959. It was celebrated in cities across Canada, including Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver, at events organized by the Cuba Friendship Associations and other organizations which want to build friendly relations with Cuba.

Toronto

More than 100 participants gathered on July 26 at the Steelworkers' Hall in downtown Toronto at an event jointly organized by the Associación de Cubanos en Toronto de Juan Gualberto Gómez and the Toronto Forum on Cuba. It featured a special tribute to Professor Keith Ellis for his scholarly work in the field of Cuban and Caribbean culture, especially poetry, music and literature, in support of the dignity and sovereignty of the people's of the region.

Julio Fonseca of the Juan Gualberto Gómez Association introduced several notable guests: Raúl Delgado Concepción, Consul of the Republic of Cuba; Vladimir Pavlov, Consul General of the Russian Federation; Aura Suárez from the Consulate of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Dr. Leroy McLean, Consul General of Barbados, and Steven Owen Philips of the Consulate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Also in the audience were many members of the Latin American community, as well as a delegation from the Hamilton Friendship Association with Cuba.

In his remarks to honour Moncada Day, Cuban Consul Delgado explained the significance of the armed attack on the Moncada army barracks on July 26, 1953 -- it marked the start of the revolutionary struggle that would lead to the successful overthrow of the Batista regime in 1959. He pointed out that there is still a small part of Cuba's sovereign territory that remains occupied -- the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, which he vowed that Cubans would continue to denounce until the land is returned.

Delgado also reported on the continuing implementation of the resolutions of the Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party, to update Cuba's socialist model on the basis of rationality and the current economic context. He mentioned that the recent meeting of Cuba's State Council set clear guidelines for progress on this front.

The Cuban Consul paid respect to Professor Ellis' dedicated work, including his tireless efforts to promote international solidarity with Cuba and his work to lead the Canadian Network on Cuba's Cuba for Haiti Campaign following the 2010 earthquake.

Delgado noted the growing support for the freedom of the five anti-terrorist Cuban heroes unjustly convicted of espionage-related crimes in the U.S. and announced that a People's Tribunal on the case of the Cuban Five will be held in Toronto from September 21 to 23.

The tribute to Professor Ellis was introduced by Morteza Gorgzadeh of the Toronto Forum on Cuba and included remarks by Professor Arnold Itwaru and the presentation of a piece of art created by José "Nacho" Cartageña which was presented to Professor Ellis by the Cuban Consul.

Speaking briefly, Professor Ellis explained the reason he fell in love with Cuba. The commitment of its people and leadership to the cause of humanity is why he has dedicated many years of his life to building bridges of friendship with Cuba, he said. Maria Elena Mesa read her poem dedicated to Professor Ellis to close the tribute.

The musical group Voces Poéticas provided a festive atmosphere throughout the evening with a selection of Latin American songs. The event also featured a piece of interpretive dance performed by Skigh Johnson in solidarity with the Cuban Five.

Montreal

The Quebec-Cuba Solidarity Roundtable held a Moncada Day event in the Saint-Michel neighbourhood of Montreal on July 26. More than 50 friends of Cuba from various organizations participated.

Special guests included Vice Consul of the Cuban Consulate in Montreal Eva Yelina Silva Walker, Emmanuel Dubourg, the MLA for Viau, as well as a representative of Maison Haiti, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

On behalf of the Roundtable, Christine Dandenault announced the Eighth Annual Montreal Day of Friendship with Cuba on September 8, also to be held in Saint-Michel. "The event has been held for the last seven years in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. We decided to go off the beaten path and publicize Cuba's achievements to other Montrealers. Saint-Michel is celebrating its 100th anniversary and it was at the invitation of municipal councillor Frantz Benjamin last year that the Roundtable decided to link the 100th anniversary celebrations here with the Day of Friendship this year," she said.

Christine recounted that one of the first victories of the Cuban people following the triumph of the Revolution in 1959 was the elimination of illiteracy, a source of pride for the Cuban people. The Cuban method of teaching literacy, known as "Yo Si Puedo" (Yes I Can) has been shared around the world. In tribute to this achievement, the Day of Friendship coincides with International Literacy Day, also on September 8.

Maguy Métellus, who hosted the previous Days of Friendship, presented a video from the Sixth Day of Friendship to whet people's appetite for this year's event and invited everyone to participate and ensure this year's success.

The Vice Consul spoke with great pride of the significance of July 26 for the Cuban people. She recounted the battle that day in 1953 and reaffirmed the Cuban people's unflappable determination to defend their sovereign right to decide their own affairs, in defiance of the threats from the U.S. to undermine them.

Frantz Benjamin brought the greetings of Annie Samson, the Mayor of Saint-Michel--Villeray--Park Extension who could not be present. He explained that the residents of Saint-Michel are very proud and keen to contribute to their municipality. It is place with a long history of struggle that has members of many different communities, including the Cuban community, he said.

Halifax

For the fifth consecutive year, the Nova Scotia Cuba Association (NSCUBA) organized a public celebration of Moncada Day in Halifax, featuring speakers on Cuba's medical internationalism, maternity care in Cuba, relations between Cubans and Canadians and the Cuban Five, as well as poetry, music and dancing.

In the invitation to the event, Nels Larson of NSCUBA wrote, "The commemoration of Moncada Day is a reflection of the mutual respect that has existed between Cuba and Canada since the 19th century. At present, more than half a million Canadians (with many Nova Scotians among them!) visit Cuba each year. There exist numerous institutional and personal programs between Nova Scotia and Cuba."

Amongst the speakers were Halifax MP Megan Leslie; Tony Tracey of the Canadian Labour Congress, who spoke about Moncada Day; Professor John Kirk who spoke on Cuba's medical internationalism; former MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour Mike Savage on the "Relationship between Canadians and Cubans;" Nora Fernandez on "Maternity care for women in Cuba;" and Professor Stephen Kimber on the case of the Cuban Five. Professor Isaac Saney served as emcee.

Vancouver

Two events marked Moncada Day in Vancouver. On July 26, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) held an event at Joe's Café with a live report and greetings from VCSC organizers celebrating Moncada Day in Cuba with the Pastors for Peace Caravan. There was also a multimedia presentation of the Moncada Garrison museum and Santiago de Cuba showing the details and history of the July 26 attack, as well as live music and poetry.

On July 29, the Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association-Vancouver held a similar event at the Chilean Co-Op.

Constitutional Crisis Deepens as Oil Monopolies Dictate "Energy Economy" for Canada

Council of the Federation Meets in Halifax

Constitutional Crisis Deepens as Oil Monopolies Dictate "Energy Economy" for Canada

Threats and Intimidation Will Not Stop the Mexican People's Struggle for Democracy

Join the Just Fight Against U.S.-Backed Anti-Cuba Terrorist Attacks in Cuba, the U.S., Canada and Beyond

U.S.-Backed Terrorism Against Cuba

Anti-Cuban Terrorist Attacks and Canada

The Trial, Imprisonment and Fight to Free the Cuban Five

Canadian Celebrations of Moncada Day

Toronto

Montreal

Halifax

Vancouver

Join the Just Fight Against U.S.-Backed
Anti-Cuba Terrorist Attacks in Cuba, the U.S.,
Canada and Beyond