Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  If I may, I would say that the first reason it's important is because of the balance that's been struck. Like others, I've been very concerned about the way the issues have been cast. Universities do want to pay creators and universities do pay creators. Universities do promote c

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  One of the problems we always face is that we fight the last war. If we fight the last war on this, we're going to miss the opportunity that presents itself for Canada in the digital age--and for Quebec, I would say. I might add that Quebec has one of the strongest cultural com

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  I can address that as well. Mr. Angus talked about some of the witnesses who are concerned about very dire consequences of the legislation. Let's face it, there has been a lot of myth-making on all sides of this issue. A number of people in the creative community were saying th

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  The bill is critically important. I know that members of the opposition have a wide range of views on how it should proceed, but let me say to them that copyright is one of the most polarized issues this country faces. This is one of the most ideological issues it's faced. I spe

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Our fourth recommendation to the committee--

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Okay. Without fundamentally altering the balance that's been struck by the bill, we recommend that a provision be made to permit the breaking of digital locks for any purpose that does not infringe copyright, so that students who have special needs can access the materials they

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  I'll ask Steve Wills to provide the detail on that.

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  I can start, and then Steve Wills may want to interject as well.

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Perhaps I can respond, Mr. Chair. I really appreciate your interest in digital learning, Mr. Angus. It is one of the great opportunities that this country has. We have both the technological expertise and the pedagogical expertise and also the need for it. It's urgent. I know th

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Just to start off the discussion on this, I think that the challenge of coming to a definition of education could take another millennium to come to an agreement with, and that another approach to address the concern would be to amend the legislation to—

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Is who going to save money?

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Well, the universities are paying over $300 million a year in digital licensing now. This legislation clarifies the rules. It's not a question of whether we're paying more or less. It's a question of whether there is a balance between users and creators. We feel this legislation

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  I think the way of the world is that everyone is paying more for everything, and that there will continue to be increases in the costs of educational materials.

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  I don't have a precise number in terms of the percentage of our total operations, but I can say that it's a significant cost to the education enterprise in Canada, both in the K-to-12 area and for universities.

Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) committee  Mr. Rodriguez, I would simply say that the universities are in a unique position, recognizing that we use intellectual property, we create intellectual property, and we sell intellectual property. We have to have balance in the legislation and we have to move forward with the leg