Mr. Speaker, in the matter of copyright reform, I would encourage the Minister of Canadian Heritage to ensure that broadcasters will obtain justly and permanently the time-shifting and ephemeral recording rights they are after.
It is essential these rights be included in Bill C-32 to avoid unduly complicating the operations of small regional radio stations on a small budget. This is often the only way to provide good service to their evening and weekend listeners.
Furthermore, time-shifting rights do not deprive artists of their royalties, and broadcasters are prepared to accept measures to protect against the abuse of these rights. I hope that common sense will prevail throughout the legislative process of Bill C-32.