Tyson Strandlund, the Communist Party candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, said that growing support for his party shows CanadiansB次元官网网址� desire for the upcoming federal election to result in greater advocacy for the working class and the dismemberment of colonial systems.
The candidate from Metchosin is currently defending a thesis at the University of Victoria on the role of the Soviet UnionB次元官网网址檚 role in decolonization throughout the last century.
Since joining the Communist Party of Canada in 2012, StrandlundB次元官网网址檚 restarted VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Young Communist League and has run both provincially and federally as the local Communist candidate. Strundland B次元官网网址� a member of the Metis Nation and descendent of Manitoba founder Louis Riel B次元官网网址� said two perspectives taken from his undergraduate degree at Camosun encouraged his interest in Communist politics.
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The first spoke to an appreciation for the environment Strandlund said naturally came from growing up on the west coast. B次元官网网址淚 was studying environmental tech B次元官网网址� we had all this information (to say) these are things we can do to help the environment. I thought we needed more scientists at the time,B次元官网网址� Strandlund said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not the problem.B次元官网网址�
Considering the interests of traditional politics in industries that contribute to climate change, B次元官网网址渢hereB次元官网网址檚 no political ability under capitalism to fix (the environment),B次元官网网址� Strandlund said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no political will to fix it.B次元官网网址�
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The second was his study of the Soviet constitution. The foreign charter from 1936 includes rights B次元官网网址渢hat we donB次元官网网址檛 have here in Canada today,B次元官网网址� Strundand said. They include the guaranteed right to a well-paying job, medical care, and most importantly in the Canadian context, Strundland said, the equality of self-determination between nations, such as those that existed in Canada before European contact.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people in Canada, and outside of Canada, get the impression that this country is one nation B次元官网网址� in fact, itB次元官网网址檚 many nations trapped unequally inside the Canadian state,B次元官网网址� he said. Additionally, equality of nations should extend to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 foreign policy. Canada owns 75 per cent of mines across the world, which Stundland said represents a continuing colonial mission in the modern day.
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Having any of the Communist candidates win an MP seat in Parliament would be B次元官网网址渁 good startB次元官网网址� for his party, Strundland said. He said membership in Victoria has risen 50 per cent in the last year.
But ultimately, social reform for the benefit of the working-class begins outside of the parliamentary system of power, he said. B次元官网网址淚t involves mass labour movements and goals, a broad coalition of people across the country, striking B次元官网网址� working with some more progressive members of the NDP and maybe even a couple of Liberals,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淕etting elected is one measure of victory.B次元官网网址�
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