Irving’s new Halifax shipyard and the militarization of life and the economy

NATHAN J. FREEMAN on one of the central issues in the Nova Scotia Election October 6. Photo: At the gates of the Halifax Shipyards – one of many anti-war actions in Halifax opposing imperialist war and militarization of the economy. (Courtesy Halifax Media Co-op)

TML Daily (September 20) – BLASTING WORK has been under way this summer at the Halifax shipyard. This construction activity was announced as a necessary stage of preparing before actually building some newly-contracted naval vessels.

One resident of the neighbourhood telephoned the CBC to announce that she and her neighbours have had enough.

Shipbuilding yes, but not the militarization of shipbuilding

The Harper agenda and the need for a new direction for the economy

Haligonians denounce Harper’s visit to the Naval Dockyards, April 4, 2007.

By TONY SEED

Originally published May 6, and extensively revised May 16 and May 28, 2011 and again on January 23, 2013.

SHIPBUILDING is one of the traditional manufacturing industries in the Maritimes, Quebec, certain lake ports in Ontario, and British Columbia that is in crisis. Now, instead of resolving the crisis in favour of the people, the warmongering positions of the Harper government include the militarization of all shipbuilding. In Nova Scotia the suggestion always hangs in the air that the militarization of the economy and the $20 billion war budget are the solution to the economic crisis and regional disparities and it is a matter of “buy Canadian” or “buy Nova Scotian” versus outsourcing, either abroad or to another region such as Quebec.

Harper’s Armada and Layton’s support for Irving’s Halifax shipyards vs. the MIL-Davie shipyard in Lévis, Quebec

Discussion on the Significance of the Election Result

By TONY SEED

THE NDP “swept Quebec” with 58 out of 75 seats. It’s an “Orangiste wave.” Euphoria reigns in the Anglo-Canadian ruling circles.

Meanwhile, as of the May 2 Federal Election, three of the four seats in the NATO port of Halifax, headquarters of Maritime Command, are also now NDP. The federal contract for three new massive warships – Joint Support Ships – opens on May 18. A real conflict with Quebec is possible.

Saint John, Lévis: Militarization of shipbuilding – Jobs for war?

Saint John Shipyard – Before

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

This article raises one of the most disturbing developments that has taken place recently. This is the policy of some trade unions to push for militarization of the economy and mobilization of the workers to become advocates of this policy. Of course, this is justified by claiming that it creates jobs. Job creation through war – it is hard to believe anybody could be so selfish to promote such a thing. But why would a worker think in such a manner? Creating a job in one sector while eliminating it in another, and all the while bringing the world closer to war, could not by any stretch of the imagination be in favour of workers. We, on our part, would never support the view that we should be joyous over the creation of any job, no matter what that job is for. | A. ROSNER