You mentioned chambers of commerce.
Françoise Bertrand, President of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec has stated that Bill C-32 is “critical to maintaining a competitive and stable business environment in Canada” and in Quebec for the benefit of artists and the cultural communities.
As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I don't want arts and culture in this country to become a hobby. I want people to derive an income from it, and I want them to be able to engage in the marketplace. Being able to engage in the marketplace means being able to protect what you're creating, with digital protection measures. It also means that the government has an obligation. The government has an obligation to take whatever legislative steps are reasonable and necessary to protect people who are being stolen from.
That's our obligation as members of Parliament and that's what this legislation seeks to do—to stop theft from people who are creating software, video games, televisions shows, and the new 3D technology. We're talking about patent protection for the creative community. That's what this is. We're allowing them to protect what they're creating and to engage in the marketplace. That's what this legislation does, and it takes us a great distance. People can be critical of what may not be in the legislation. But what is in this legislation—the ratification of WIPO, the fair-dealing policy, the digital protection measures—is a huge victory for all Canadians.