Evidence of meeting #14 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was copyright.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
As somebody who works on this day in and day out, I can assure you that we are working hard to get the bill tabled as soon as possible.
Conservative
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In understand that you are under certain constraints, as some decisions are still to be made. We can only hope that they will be made soon so that we can focus on the bill.
I would like to know which groups and representatives have met with Industry Canada and Canadian Heritage to discuss the introduction of the bill. Are you able to provide that information?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
I will have to ask you to repeat your question.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
As, I am sure, do my colleagues, I regularly receive requests from groups wanting the opportunity to outline their view on a bill that is in the pipeline. Everybody has heard about the bill, but nobody is privy to the details. Some people have concerns they would like raised. I imagine that such groups also contact your department.
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Bélanger, I can certainly confirm that copyright reform is of interest to a high number of groups and individual stakeholders. We have met with many of them since the beginning of 2000. In 2001, we held Canada-wide consultations on several issues relating to the reform. We continue to meet with all interested parties. We also receive a huge volume of correspondence.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
What I want to know is whom your respective departments have met with since the change of government in January. It would allow us to sing from the same song sheet. If you have met with persons a, b and c, it would perhaps be a good idea, in terms of this bill, for us to meet with the same people.
Can you provide this information?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Bélanger, I would say that virtually all of the groups that appeared before this committee in 2004 have probably contacted and met with both departments to discuss these issues. These are issues that are of great interest to the entire music industry: writers, performers, producers...
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Yes, but would it be possible to have a list of the individuals and groups with whom you have met?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
I have to say that I would be unable to provide you with an exact list today; however, if you give us a little time, I am sure that we would be able to provide you with a list of most of the groups that have written to us, asked to meet with us, or with whom we have discussed these issues.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I would like to know if it is possible because I suppose it could have an impact on the bill which will eventually be presented. I am referring to groups, representatives or individuals you have met with regarding the future copyright bill since January 2006, not in the last seven years. I do not want to make work for you.
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
I understood what you meant.
Director, Intellectual Property Policy Directorate, Department of Industry
I would like to clarify that we have not met with any groups to discuss future legislation. At this point we have met with groups, or groups have asked to speak to us on the things that led up to Bill C-60, and we've certainly had a number of groups reacting to us about Bill C-60. But we have not circulated proposals--
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
In the lead-up to presumably a submission to the cabinet committee, presumably signed jointly by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and the Minister of Industry, which consultations have been made?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
In fact, Mr. Bélanger, I would go back as far as 2000-2001 because we have been studying these issues for a long time, and this is reflected in all the reports which have been tabled with regard to the amendments. So in that context, we have met with stakeholders who, directly or indirectly, were interested in this issue. I do not see why we should not draw up a list of people or associations who have consulted with us from 2006 on. It will be a long list, since almost everyone is interested in copyright. If you want the list to include anyone who has written to us to share their concerns, well, expect to get a complete chapter of names.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
That might be useful because we could then also familiarize ourselves with their grievances.
My last question is for Mr. Abbott.
The minister of Canadian Heritage told us that she intended to introduce a heritage bill as soon as possible. She has undertaken a series of consultations in that regard.
Would it be possible to know which groups the Minister has met or consulted with concerning this future bill?
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
I'll have to take that under advisement. I simply don't know.
I must admit I'm a little baffled by what purpose this exhaustive list is going to serve. It strikes me that the committee has not wanted to get into micromanagement, and that appears to be where this is going. I'm not saying it is; I just don't know what the purpose of this long list would be. It's going to take quite a bit of work on the part of the ministry, and I would like them to be doing more productive things.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Excuse me. I maybe should have disallowed the question across to Mr. Abbott. We have our witnesses here. At the same time, I'm going to add my two cents' worth.
Over the past years, as we've worked on copyright, I've met with pretty well every interest group from either side of this issue. I met again with a bunch of them after Bill C-60 came out, so I know some of the likes and dislikes. Usually you hear more about the dislikes than the likes.
I'll go to Mr. Fast for his questioning.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First of all, for me, it's a little bit disappointing to see how long this laborious process has taken and we still don't have any modernization of the Copyright Act.
It seems to me the message that we've sent to children across Canada, actually to all Canadians, is that the issue of ownership of intellectual property is not a high priority for this government. Canadians, in turn, act in a manner consistent with that approach. I find it disconcerting to find young people ripping CDs, downloading music on the Internet, plagiarizing in universities and in high schools. My fear is that we're developing a culture of disrespect for property rights, disrespect for a culture of law in Canada, and the longer this drags on the greater that problem will get.
Let's get to where we are right now. It seems to me this is probably the third kick at the can that we're going to take at trying to modernize the Copyright Act. We've gone through some of the most recent proposed revisions. If you were going to come up with another bill that made another attempt at finalizing a new copyright act, what additional changes, on top of what you've already introduced for us today, would you, as staff, suggest to the minister?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Fast, thank you for your comments. They are duly noted.
With respect to your last question, again, there has been no decision with respect to the package and I cannot answer that question.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
You have no ideas on what some of the new technological advances may have thrown into the way here?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
I can say that on a day-to-day basis I'm working on various issues dealing with the reform, but there has been no decision with respect to the final package, so I cannot speak about the future of this reform.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
All right. Is it safe to say, at least, that your department continues to work on copyright issues?
Director, Copyright Policy Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yes. In fact, we work very hard on this, and again, my minister said publicly on several occasions that she wanted to meet international standards with respect to copyright as soon as possible, and we're working on that basis.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Then let's talk about copyright standards internationally. As I understand it, one of the purposes of amendments to the Copyright Act would be to bring us into compliance with Whitehall. Having listened to Mr. Angus earlier when he suggested comparatives, the one jurisdiction that he appeared to omit was the United States, our largest trading partner, probably our largest cultural challenge in some respects. Are you aware of any concerns that our friends to the south have raised with respect to how slowly we're moving forward with copyright reform in Canada?
Am I correct in assuming that they are further ahead in terms of compliance with Whitehall?