Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the constituents of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt and local radio stations in my riding to warn the Minister of Canadian Heritage that his actions will kill jobs and small businesses.
The people I represent are suspicious that once again the Liberal government is attempting to fool Canadians, this time by introducing amendments to the Copyright Act. What the Liberals are really trying to do with neighbouring rights is to foist a killer tax on local radio stations.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage is silently planning to kill locally owned radio stations. They already pay royalties to authors and composers of music aired on their stations. Additional fees to performers and record companies is unjust.
Broadcasters maintain that free air play is what creates Canadian stars and sells records, not a Liberal government tax hidden in a bill of amendments. Canadians are confident that our culture can develop and grow without the Liberal government intervening with a radio station killer tax.