Mr. Speaker, first, I deplore the fact that the Conservative government refuses to support an industry that contributes $85 billion per year to our country's economy.
Despite these significant contributions, the median earnings of an artist in Canada is just $12,900 per year, so these artists need to live off other jobs. It is important to encourage our cultural industry by paying those artists well for the work they have completed.
As for the private copying levy, the NDP's position is that we should update this levy to accommodate modern technology. The member should not just take it from us, but he could also take it from the Canadian private copying collective that supports our position and that represents thousands and thousands of Canadians across the country.