Education exceptions have been requested by the education ministers of all the provinces except Quebec. We believe that this would be an undue extension that would allow all possible forms of distribution. We already have intranets everywhere, as well as a photocopying. We are convinced that this would seriously weaken French-Canadian production.
We have very experienced collective management companies. They have signed agreements with the education ministries and they grant the required licences. Therefore, there is no interdiction or obstacle to utilization. There are very broad agreements under which sums are paid yearly and redistributed to rights holders. Therefore, there is no real problem with access. Financial agreements exist and the management companies are extremely effective.
What is being suggested would represent a departure from a system that has been very effective for 20 years and which allows us to grant licences very quickly to schools and to pay our authors.