Perhaps, but let me continue. I would in fact be very happy if you purchased a copy, but you can also pay royalties through your iPod. In addition, since this artist has quite a thick, I am also giving you the companion book entitled “Comme une odeur de muscles“ to enjoy. It will allow you to follow along with the DVD. Copyright is not a problem in this case. I have not copied or shared this work. It has most likely been digitized by Google.
Google sent a letter to the Association des éditeurs du Quebec advising them to take legal action if they were not happy about this. I didn't hear you say anything about this state of affairs, Minister, and it saddens me. Artists are saddened as well. Specifically, I think about the publishing community that is forced to do battle with Google on its own, without your support.
I am very happy to present you with this CD. Unfortunately, it also comes with a DVD. I did not even look at it for fear of violating the Copyright Act. Fred Pellerin has also put out a CD of old, remixed French-language songs. One of these songs is entitled “Mommy”. As you can see, the DVD has not been opened. Be careful, because the labels and price tags have not been removed. I want to be sure that I do not violate the Copyright Act. I also want to be sure that this artist gets his due. There is a protective device in place to prevent you from downloading it onto an MP3. I know that for a fact, because I have tried and failed.
You have to understand that when artists feel that they are not protected, they take action to protect themselves. You can try it and get back to me, but it's important to understand why these measures are in place. One of the songs, Mommy—which happens to be the only song in English— is a patriotic song about French that decries the assimilation of French by English. I'm sure that as Minister of Official Languages, you will find it interesting. It is required listening.
I have something else I'd like to say, because there is more to life than gifts, even though they make our host more receptive. I'd like to talk to you about digitization. In your opening remarks, you stated that you want to bring in a digitization strategy. This was also mentioned in the throne speech, but there is no sense of any true intention of devising a real global digitization strategy. You do little things and come up with ideas. You have taken money away from musicians—and that's all they had— and put it into record digitization. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but you cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. I don't have time to say everything I have to say on the subject, but we need a real digitization policy. You cannot become the kit-gadget minister who is only interested in putting forward initiatives of little value, or in tweeting about things that have not been well thought out, that lack inspiration or that are trivial. We want a genuine digitization strategy.
Is my time up?