Industry Committee on Feb. 12th, 2024

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

It's better in French. I can understand.

[Stéphanie Hénault]

That's an important question. Parliament may have to pass the laws, and we could have independent agencies to ensure compliance with those laws. That's a question that we'll answer too, if you want.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

I await your email. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

I'm going to take this opportunity to remind witnesses not to hesitate to send the committee every specific amendment or comment that comes to mind after the meeting.

Mr. Turnbull, go ahead.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

I have a quick clarifying question related to the EU requirements. Following up on the conversation we were having when I had the floor, I want to clarify the requirements for recording and tracking the data that's used to inform these models. Is the EU requirement to have a complete publicly disclosed register of all data, or is it to have a summary with regard to copyright holders?

That's for Ms. Desrochers or Ms. Hénault.

[Stéphanie Hénault]

I'm sorry. I don't have the text in front of me online, but I'm going to give you exactly the clause we think should be extracted from the EU act on that.

With respect to copyright, I think it's an obligation for all kinds of generative models, whether they are high-risk or low-risk.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Right. However, I believe it's a summary, if I'm not mistaken.

Ms. Desrochers, could you answer?

[Marie-Julie Desrochers]

Yes, what I read earlier was “sufficiently detailed summary”.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor for a final question.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Last week, Mr. Bengio said that, within the next decade, we will have—we don't really know what to call them—machines that are autonomous or intelligent enough to perform any task, including creating. Do you think those types of creators—numbered or given another name—are culture creators?

[Marie-Julie Desrochers]

You're probably referring to products that are purely generated by AI. In the brief we recently submitted to the departments of Industry and Canadian Heritage concerning the interaction between copyright and generative AI, we object to the idea of granting copyright to products that would be purely generated by AI. However, we aren't opposed to artists using AI as a creative tool and being able to continue enjoying copyright.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Thank you very much.

That concludes this meeting, which was fascinating. On behalf of the committee, I thank the witnesses for taking the time to attend and to enlighten us with your expertise, and also for all the work you have done to defend and promote creators and artists in Quebec and Canada.

Mr. Garon, you raised your hand. Go ahead.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I have a quick question on another topic.

For the Wednesday meeting, there was talk of hearing from the cell phone companies concerning their rates. Most of them will already be in Ottawa to testify before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and the committee will be meeting in the evening. Are we still planning to have those companies appear before the committee?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Three of the four businesses were unfortunately not available on Wednesday evening. What we have proposed, together with the clerk, is to come back after the parliamentary break. We can hear from most of the telecommunications companies at that time.

However, Mr. Garon, I would be happy to discuss this with you after the meeting and to see how we could plan the committee's business.

Once again, thank you, everyone, and good day.

The meeting is adjourned.