This article recently appeared in FREEDOM (anarchist fortnightly) FREEDOM carries at least a page in every issue of international news of interest to the anarchist movement around the world. For a free trial edition write to: FREEDOM PRESS IN ANGEL ALLEY 84B WHITECHAPEL HIGH STREET LONDON E1 7QX CANADA Chopping the State in Alberta Unlike Thatcher, Reagan and Mulroney, who talked demagogically about 'getting the state off people's backs' and then actually increased the size of the state, the Alberta provincial government has chopped the state sector by twenty percent. Anarchists will find little to cheer, since necessary social services such as hospitals and schools are severely curtailed without alternatives having been organised. In spite of the damage, opinion is overwhelmingly favourable, indicative of popular hostility to everything governmental The public sector unions are beaten and are largely to blame for the situation. Adopting Canadian business unionism's policy of 'militant rhetoric, conservative action', they blustered and spouted and then finding a lack of support, did nothing. One positive note is that people are worried about health care and the nurses are in good stead with the public. Here lies the possibility for future resistance. The situation in Alberta is a portent of the future. Popular hatred of government is resulting in the downsizing of the state. The problem is, this is being done by conservative forces and therefore in a most bloody-minded and compassionless manner. Nature abhors a vacuum. Anti-statist sentiment runs strong and with the lack of a viable libertarian movement, rightist forces have the field all to themselves. Nov 5 The new Quebec government has rewarded the F‚d‚ration des Travailleurs du Qu‚bec for their support in the last election by abolishing the $100 million ceiling on the Fonds de Solidarit‚. The previous government had impose d this annual limit on investment to increase its tax base and curb the trade union investment fund. Other trade union centres will also be allowed to create their own funds. The Fonds, at $1000 million in assets, is one of the largest venture capital funds in Canada and has created over 30,000 jobs. It also allows the trade unions to own a significant and growing portion of the economy and is an example of the sense of solidarity which exists among Quebecois. Nov 6 The hated technocrats have been resoundingly defeated in the Montreal civic election. Unfortunately, they have been replaced by a centre-right party called Vision Montreal (VM). The libertarian municipalist-oriented Democratic Coalition Ecology Montreal (DCEM) did not do as well as hoped due to the VM sweep, but did manage to maintain their two previous councillors and their mayoral candidate got 7000 votes. They will remain an effective opposition. At a time when any group even vaguely leftist is trounced by the North American electorate, the DCEM's ability to hold its own is indicative of the wisdom of pursuing a left-decentralist position. Nov 16 Thirteen thousand university students from Ontario and Quebec gathered in Ottawa for a militant demonstration against the Liberal government's budget cuts which will sharply increase tuition fees. The Minister of Human Resources was showered with curses, eggs and tomatoes as he attempted to rationalise his actions. This was the largest student demonstration in Canadian history, greater than any of the 'student power' revolts of the late '60s. Angry demonstrators also confronted government members in Vancouver over this issue. Nov 17 The regionalist revolt continues in Quebec. The government has given in on the 'illegal school' which arose when parents in the town of Lefebre set up their own school after the commissioners closed the 'little red schoolhouse'. They will be allowed to keep their school and will be aided by the commission. Hundreds of angry citizens of St Adolphe de Howard stormed the village council meeting and forced the mayor to back down on implementing his plans. These plans consisted of a building project and subdivision on two islands in their natural and unspoiled state and say 'to hell with urbanism'. Nov 18 In a surprise move the Quebec government has put the James Bay Hydro Electric Project on a long term hold. Jacques Parizeau, the Quebec prime minister, stated that no need existed for the project. Thus, in one blow he calms native opposition to his government, placates environmentalists (many of whom are sympathetic to Quebec independence), gets rid of a huge drain on government coffers and makes himself look decisive. But one must count this as more of a victory for the Native American and green movements without whom this environmental and economic disaster would have gone full steam ahead. As it stands, this imbecility has cost us over $300 million.