The truth of the matter is, I completely agree with David's comments. This stuff isn't technologically sensitive. It shouldn't be. We should have rules that work for us as Canadians in the marketplace. We do have rules that say if you want to collect information about me, (a) let me know, and (b) let me decide if it's okay with me.
What we need to do is see what it is about PIPEDA that's making that process muddy. Why is it so darned hard to figure out what's happening with my information in the information marketplace? I go back to the comments I made about privacy policies, about disclosures, about the way consent is obtained. If we get back to basics and look at fair information practices and take them at face value, you could give them a shot. They have the potential to put the consumer back in the driver's seat in the electronic marketplace.
I don't think you need to prohibit cookies to do that. People need to know how the marketplace grabs their information, commodifies it, and then sells it back to them. Part of that might work to my benefit. I might want to know what Apple Tunes has out now. I might want to know if there's a new product I can buy.
Most privacy advocates will agree that the problem isn't necessarily that the information could be used for a commercial purpose. It's who gets to decide what that purpose is.
Right now, you have a situation where the act says the company decides what the purpose is, then it can decide whether or not you consent. I don't even know that information is being collected about me in a number of situations, and it's not just on the Internet.
I have two comments about the Internet, which go back to a comment you made, Mr. Wappel.