Mr. Elliott, I echo my colleagues' sentiments and appreciate your strong commitment to Canadian culture, telling our stories through music and the art that everyone in your association provides for Canadians.
I would like to speak a little bit about the intellectual property.
The TPP would require countries to protect a work, performance, or phonogram for a minimum of 70 years after the death of the author, or 70 years after the first publication or the first performance, as the case may be. For the most part, current Canadian legislation provides protection for a period of 50 years after the author's death.
What would be the benefits and drawbacks associated with this extension of 20 years?