Oakwood Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (Toronto Ontario, Canada)

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SSISTANT EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BRUCE LEWIS ED LEA EDITORIAL The New Party Next Fall, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Canadian Labour Congress will unite to form a New Party, which they hope will become a third major force in Federal Poli- tics. I do not, however, believe that they will ever be greeted with much more popular support than the CCF. The exponents of the New Party point to British Labour ' s success as exemplary of what can be done with the backing of the Trade Unions. They ignore one very important factor, however. In Britain the Labour Party was formed with one definite purpose: the improvement of the atrocious social conditions of the Working Class. This was a valid goal, a necessary goal; one which the British Labour Party has to a very great extent accomplished. No such urgent need for reform exists in our country today. There is unemployment, great un- employment. But there was greater during the Depression and the CCF did not come to power. In addition, the standard of living of the Canadian working man compares favourably with that of his counterparts anywhere in the world. At present with the improved conditions remov- ing its original driving force, the British Labour Party is splitting under pressure from internal divisions, especially in the fields of foreign policy and defence. In Canada these topics are even more contraversial than in Britain, for Canada is in danger of losing her identity, her wealth, and . all control of her defence to the United States. They have already appeared as cracks in the uni- fied front that the exponents of the New Party are trying to present to the country. Last year, the CCF said Canada should leave Nato. The CLC wants her to remain. The Unions are approving the merger, but far from unanimously. There is another complication in Canada: the Farmers. Politically, Farmers and Trade Union- ists are natural enemies. The only man who wo uld be able to keep them in the Party is Tommy Douglas, five times Premier of Saskatchewan, and holding a great appeal for Farmers, Unionists, and most other sectors of the Canadian population. Elected Head of the CCF last year and opposing Douglas for the leadership of the New Party, is Hazen Argue, a Saskatchewan farmer. He holds little appeal from anyone except the Farmers. One thing the New Party will have that the CCF never did is money. Five cents per month from three quarters of Canada ' s million Trade Unionists would be $450,000 per annum. (The Ontario Liberal Association, incidentally, is chronically in debt.) In the first flush of newness and with Douglas as leader, it will probably gain more seats than the CCF ever did. However, in the long view it will probably never be more than a third, minority power. It will, as the CCF always did, serve to broaden the policies and platforms of the older parties. It may, as the CCF never did, hold the balance of power after the next Federal Elections. It will be a very interesting situation. Whatever one ' s political opinions, one will always agree that a third, left-wing Party is a useful and in- tegral part of the Canadian Political System.

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m working with PETER STILLE and EDDA LUCIC your capable representatives from during this 21st Year of the Simpson ' s Collegiate Club. b )i mpStjA StjnC CANADA ' S YOUTH CENTRE

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rs. Wilson Mr. Dunlevie HUMOUR David Goodman PHOTOGRAPHY ORACLE STAFF STAFF SPONSORS Mara Pavelsons LITERARY Elite Hershorn PUBLICITY Mr. McDonald GRADS Jennifer Page PHOTOGRAPHY Ed Friedberg SPORTS Howard Freedman Sue Axler Merike Lugus Nick Serba