Evidence of meeting #9 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was artists.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Graham Henderson  President, Canadian Recording Industry Association
Darlene Gilliland  Director, Digital Business Development, Universal Music Canada
Charlie Millar  Director, Digital Business Development, Warner Music Canada
Loreena McKennitt  President, Quinlan Road Limited

1 p.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

Thank you. I'm going to use my full two minutes, Mr. Chair.

On this device, I could pop a $10 card in. I could expand this thing such that I could put thousands of songs on here. You can put about 20 songs on a CD. The tax on the $10 memory card, to be equivalent to the 29¢ on a CD, would be about $30.

Just to be clear, if you put that kind of tax on something, it's not going to work, because people are going to go on eBay and buy it from the States.

What we need to focus on--I couldn't agree more with what you said, Mr. Henderson--is the 95%. Let's focus on making the business work.

That is what he said. He'd like us to focus on the 95% of the business. I couldn't agree more with what he said in that regard.

You have just a minute before you leave. I'm glad to hear that we're moving forward and that we have good young people working on emerging technologies. On this issue of getting the copyright bill through and creating a market that works, how important is that to your industry?

1 p.m.

President, Canadian Recording Industry Association

Graham Henderson

At this point, it's everything.

1 p.m.

Director, Digital Business Development, Universal Music Canada

Darlene Gilliland

What we're trying to get across today is that we're doing everything we can.

To Mr. Angus's point, we understand the splintered nature of new media and how many ways kids consume music. We are doing the deals to get into all those avenues. But while the tap with all the music created in the world is open to these sites, our deals are not able to make the impact they could make. So it's key.

1 p.m.

Director, Digital Business Development, Warner Music Canada

Charlie Millar

Because of the lack of copyright reform in this country, we're watching foreign direct investment diminish. We're watching technology at the next-generation level go elsewhere. That's the risk.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger

Thank you.

I just have one statement to make. I know that the WIPO treaty was signed in 1996, and having an international copyright agreement here, legitimately, in Canada is long overdue. So thank you for that.

Yes, Mr. Angus.

1:05 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, we went through this whole meeting and you did not mention Justin Bieber once. The guy is from your home town. You've got Loreena McKennitt here, and you did not say....

I want that on the record.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger

I thank Ms. McKennitt, one of my constituents, for being here today.

1:05 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

I want Justin here.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger

We'd have to have a higher stool.

The meeting is adjourned.