Thanks very much, Mark.
Mr. Chair and distinguished members of the committee, as the ministers of ISED and PCH committed to in their first letter to your committee in December 2017, and pursuant to public consultations and previous studies by committees of both the House of Commons and the Senate, the government has taken comprehensive action to modernize the board.
First, budget 2018 increased by 30% the annual financial resources of the board. Second, the government appointed a new vice-chair and CEO of the board, Madame Nathalie Théberge, who is sitting with us, as well as appointing three additional members of the board. With these new appointments and additional funding, the Copyright Board is on its way and ready for modernization. Third, Bill C-86, which is now before the Senate, proposes legislative changes to the Copyright Act to modernize the framework in which the board operates.
As numerous witnesses stated to you as part of your review, more efficient and timely decision-making processes at the Copyright Board are a priority. The proposed amendments in the bill seek to revitalize the board and empower it to play its instrumental role in today's modern economy.
It would do this by introducing more predictability and clarity in board processes, codifying the board's mandate, setting clear criteria for decision-making and empowering case management. To tackle the delays directly, the proposed amendments would require tariff proposals to be filed earlier and be effective longer, and a proposed new regulatory power would enable the Governor-in-Council to establish decision-making deadlines. Finally, the proposed amendments would allow direct negotiation between more collectives and users, ensuring that the board is only adjudicating matters when needed, thus freeing resources for more complex and contested proceedings.
These reforms would eliminate barriers for businesses and services wishing to innovate or enter the Canadian market. They would also better position Canadian creators and cultural entrepreneurs to succeed so they can continue producing high-quality Canadian content. Overall, these measures would ensure that the board has the tools it needs to facilitate collective management and support a creative marketplace that is both fair and functional.
However, the changes do not address broad concerns that have been raised around the applicability and enforceability of board-set rates. Certain stakeholders asked that the government clarify when users have to pay rates set by the board and provide stronger tools for enforcement when those rates are not paid. The ministers felt that these important issues were more appropriately considered as part of the review of the Copyright Act, with the benefit of the in-depth analysis being undertaken by this committee and the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
We look forward to recommendations that will help foster sustainability across all creative sectors, including the educational publishing industry.
At this point, I'd like to hand things back over to Mark to conclude.