Many groups and individuals from all corners of New Brunswick are raising concerns about the lack of democracy employed in the process used by Premier Shawn Graham's Self-Sufficiency Task Force. We are calling on the Premier to open the discussion to all New Brunswick residents by holding public meetings across the province.
In June 2008, New Brunswick's Department of Finance released a paper entitled 'A Discussion Paper on New Brunswick's Tax System'. The report recommends implementation of a flat-tax system, a dramatic decrease in corporate tax rates, and increases in consumption taxes. Unfortunately, the discussion paper paints an overly flattering picture of its proposed changes and ignores the negative consequences of a flat-tax system.
Neoliberalism as an economic ideology is spreading throughout the world via international financial institutions and transnational corporate hegemony. The effects of this colonial phenomenon is especially acute in Latin America where many nations faced debt crises directly related to the international economic system. In order for many nations in Latin America to deal with this economic crisis, they were forced to cede democratic control of their economies to these international actors. Although democratic procedures exist in most countries in Latin America which are implementing the reforms, real democracy is maimed by international economic interference in policy-making. Procedural democracy legitimizes the damaging effects which ensue from the neoliberal reform process. This is evident when we examine the nature of international lending institutions, the power of international capital, the degradation of worker and peasant lives, and the lack of popular opposition.
Most Canadians believe abortion is a settled issue. But the emboldened demands of anti-abortionists show otherwise, as does the January election that sent 100 anti-abortion MP's to Parliament, 78 of them Conservative. The pro-choice movement is closely monitoring the actions and policies of this government, and we will act to prevent any incursions on women's reproductive rights in Canada.
NB: Speech delivered by Krystal Payne, August 2006, at a Pro Choice demonstration in Fredericton, NB. The demonstration was planned and organized by the Access to Options Committee of the Fredericton Social Network.
