Showdown on Terminal Ave
Showdown on Terminal Ave
The day East Van stopped the far right
Local News
Photo: Socialist Fightback Vancouver Facebook
FightBack and others took part in a grassroots counter-protest as the so-called freedom convoy entered Vancouver on Feb 5
Members of Socialist Fightback Vancouver were among dozens of people who took to the streets on Saturday in counter protests against the anti-vaxx convoy to stand in solidarity with health care workers. One of the more successful blockades was on Terminal Avenue where cyclists blocked the truck parade as it headed toward Main Street for about an hour after which the cyclists moved further into town to counter the protest at various intersections. Meanwhile in the Mt Pleasant area similar counter-protests were underway in an effort to block the trucks from disturbing hospital zones with their honking.
In the battle of Canadian cities defending themselves against the #FreedomConvoy this weekend it seems like #Vancouver came out on top with its massive and well coordinated grassroots response to kettle and separate vehicles. Wes Regan Twitter -
Ten tiny shelters to be built and ready for occupation by Fall 2022
Vancouver City council this week gave final approval in a 9-2 vote (DeGenova and Hardwick against), to a pilot project which will see a temporary tiny shelter village built on the surface parking lot of 875 Terminal Avenue. The lot is adjacent to a city-owned warehouse building currently being used by the Klahowya Tilicum Lalum shelter and operated by the Lu'ma Native Housing Society.
The project will be Vancouver's first ever tiny homes community and it is estimated it will cost $460,00 to build. Another $1 million will be given to the Housing Society, to help with operation and evaluation. The total of $1.5 million will come from the city's empty homes tax fund.
The establishment of this tiny homes village will provide more urgent shelter capacity for Vancouver’s homeless and will expand on the existing indoor shelter. Construction is expected to happen over the summer with the shelter ready for occupation in the fall of 2022.
These tiny homes are still very far from the housing justice we need in Vancouver. Funding for them comes from the City’s Empty Homes Tax. If governments scaled up taxes on the rich, cities could build more and bigger homes for all who need them.
The worst transit project is better than the best highway project
At the recent Vancouver For All Listening Circle, guest speaker Eric Doherty, a Victoria-based transportation planner, writer and climate justice activist spoke with a group of 30 attendees on how to organize for free and accessible transit, more transit, and indeed, any transit. "The worst transit project is better than the best highway project," replied Doherty when asked what he thought of Translink's plans for rapid expansion to Langley versus the Broadway cutoff at Arbutus.
Doherty went on to share with the crowd an hour and a half of advice and information. "Widening roads and highways make traffic worse and increases greenhouse gas emissions," Doherty pointed out and offered up the hashtags #inducedtraffic and #trafficevaporation and #keeptransitmoving. Better to increase bus and tram lanes and bike lanes he pointed out. "And there's no need to spend millions to do this. All we need is paint."
"In Squamish," one guest asked. "The transit is terrible but they're undergoing a development boom. Can developers be required to contribute to transit?" Doherty explained that municipalities can levy Development Cost Charges and this can be used to improve bus shelters, provide land for bus yards, and purchase paint for bus lanes.
When asked about railroad capacity for transit, Doherty explained, "Big rail companies are hostile to passenger rail of any kind," and went on to explain the difficulties with rail logistics.
Perhaps the keenest bit of advice was regarding Translink future projects and plans. "Read the Translink Strategy document," Doherty advised. "Then pick something and make sure it happens." Municipal councils can push forward Translink's plans, Doherty noted.
The host of this Listening Circle, Vancouver for All, is a grassroots, participatory platform, initiated by the DSOV, for the municipal election taking place in October 2022. A series of planned Listening Circles will be opportunities for attendees to hear from invited speakers on topics relative to the platform's ten key points. The next Listening Circle will be February 26 and is tagged: The fight for the city: A listening circle on global municipal projects
Provincial News
Transit Strike ongoing in Sea to Sky after two weeks
Sea to Sky transit workers have been on strike since Jan. 29 and this week Chris MacDonald, national assistant to Unifor’s president, arrived in Squamish showing that UNIFOR is willing to bring its full strength to come to the aid of Sea to Sky transit workers who are demanding higher wages, health benefits, pension and job stability.
BC Transit contracts Pacific Western Group of Companies (PWT) to run transit in the Sea to Sky. PWT further engages Diversified Transit, which operates in Squamish and Whistler Transit LTD, which operates in Whistler and Pemberton. The transit workers’ current collective agreement expired two years ago. Ian Boyko, spokesperson for Unifor, notes that the gaps between Sea to Sky and Metro Vancouver transit workers are $2.60 per hour for drivers and $6 per hour for cleaners. As well, about one-third of Sea to Sky transit workers don’t have benefits and none of the workers have pensions.
In a letter, Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott writes, “We share in the frustration of our community’s transit riders as we know this will be inconvenient and potentially very difficult for individuals.” No mention of the 30 odd workers currently living on a picket line. Better if she had explained that this job action will help transit workers in Whistler who are currently working under poor conditions and earning much less than transit workers in Squamish or Vancouver even though Whistler has a much higher economy (and much higher living costs). Why has their employer (Whistler Transit LTD) refused to sit down to negotiate for over two years?
“Transit workers in the Sea to Sky corridor can barely afford to live in the communities they serve with pride,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “This strike is about job security and ensuring that compensation keeps up with the cost of living.”
“In any weather and many different conditions, our bus drivers have patiently, reliably and safely helped us get to work, home, to see friends, to school and pre-school, to the doctor’s office or Meadow Park Sports Centre, to AA meetings, or RMOW Council Meetings, and everywhere in between,” writes Isla Robertson, who started a petition to support the bus drivers. “Which side are you on? I’m with the bus drivers!”
People wishing to turn out in solidarity can find a picket line in front of the Squamish Transit office on Production Way and in front of the Whistler transit yard.
Deep Division Inside the BC Liberal Party as Kevin Falcon Elected New Leader
Earlier this week, the BC Liberals elected Kevin Falcon to replace outgoing leader Andrew Wilkinson. Wilkinson had resigned following the October 2020 election, in which the NDP received a majority mandate. Falcon’s election seems to represent deep divisions within the BC Liberals - while Falcon received 47% of the vote in the first round of voting, he did not receive the required 50% majority until the fifth round, indicating he was the second choice of few voters. This division is reflective of divisions within other right-wing parties in Canada, including the Federal Conservatives, who recently replaced the pro-vaccine, pro-choice Erin O’Toole with interim leader Candice Bergen. Bergen recently echoed another right-wing demagogue, noting the Freedom Convoy protest had “good people on both sides.” Falcon, for his part, has not ruled out giving social conservatives a seat at the table.
These types of divisions should concern anyone who does not sympathize with fascist ideology. That increasingly right-wing positions continue to gain legitimacy and support inside conservative political machines across Canada represents a terrifying turn towards those positions becoming a legislated reality. The left needs to take these threats seriously and organize directly in response, offering bold visions of what is possible if a government was truly committed to the betterment of its people. That vision - judging by the tepid response to the Freedom Convoy - is nowhere to be seen.
National News
Federal government announces Federal Housing Advocate
Marie-Josée Houle has been announced as Canada's first-ever Federal Housing Advocate by the Minister of Housing, Diversity, and Inclusion — Minister Ahmed Hussen.
Houle brings grassroots experience to the role, through direct connection to the co-operative housing movement in her previous work at the Agency for Co-operative Housing, as well as being a member of the National Right To Housing Network (NRHN). Prior to her appointment, she was a highly engaged Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) member in her capacity as the Executive Director of Action Logement.
The appointment of the Federal Housing Advocate was one of six policy asks by Vote Housing, as part of their Vote Housing campaign.
Upcoming Events
Feb 14 Annual Women's March 10:30 am until 5 pm. Family & community gather at 10:30 am at Main & Hastings. March for public starts at 12 pm from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)
Unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səlil̓wətaʔɬ territories.
Feb 17 & Feb 24. Dogwood Webinars: Youth Organizing for Climate Justice
Feb 17. V4A Working Group meets once a week. All socialists welcome!
Feb 26. Vancouver For All Listening Circle: Municipal Projects, A Global Struggle.
Feb 26. DSOV Solidarity Fridge Stock. Help comrades combat food insecurity, stocking community fridges once a month.
Media Roundup
“Freedom Convoy”: a dangerous movement for the working class, but useful for the ruling class - Communist Party of Canada - Parti Communiste du Canada
What lessons can the Left learn from the trucker convoy?
By V.S. Wells. PASSAGE - .
Seeing some folks asking why the Ottawa police aren’t doing more to stop the truckers. If you’re wondering, here’s a quick explanation. Sunil Sarwal.
Radical Municipalism - The Future We Deserve. Debbie Bookchin. Roar.
Maybe the story is more complex than Russia bad, Canada good by Yves Engler. Socialist Atxion