Canadian Heritage committee  Chairman, it's not within my competence to make a judgment with respect to the suitability or applicability of Bill C-32. We've consulted, in the context of these negotiations, with those officials who are responsible for that package of measures. We have delivered an agreement that we believe respects the content of what it is they're trying to do.

Canadian Heritage committee  Some of our major trading partners, the United States and the European Union, for example, have, for a number of years, been concerned that Canada's domestic framework in this area doesn't meet international best practice and could be improved. That is one of the rationales for moving forward on a number of fronts on intellectual property.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Chairman, perhaps one way of looking at that question is to make a distinction between Bill C-32 and other elements of intellectual property protection, which are the substantive protections provided in domestic frameworks for intellectual property, and the enforcement of those elements of intellectual property protection.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, I think there are a couple of advantages. First and foremost, one of the main elements of the ACTA is to create a framework for enhanced cooperation among enforcement officials, and also to create space and opportunity for technical assistance with countries that may need it with respect to the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Canadian Heritage committee  The rules, such as they exist, for example, in the WTO trade-related intellectual property agreement--

Canadian Heritage committee  --are more general and less clear. So I think the value added in the ACTA is the clarity that is provided to some of those norms.

Canadian Heritage committee  I believe the OECD study makes some attempts to identify the source of counterfeit production. I would have to check with that study to refresh my memory.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, it's really across the spectrum of production in Canada. It can relate to pharmaceutical products, medical devices; it can relate to machinery. It can, of course, relate to fashion. It can relate to entertainment.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. It's not a sectoral agreement. It would apply across the board.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's less an effort to ensure that enforcement is standardized. It's an effort to ensure that enforcement is improved and that there are elements of international cooperation with respect to enforcement. It provides a framework for enforcement, but it doesn't require standardized approaches in each country to deal with the same issue.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, actually, at this stage there's a process in every country to determine whether people are going to sign on. But the list of countries includes.... I'll let Edith describe it, because she was at the table with all of them.

Canadian Heritage committee  There's an element of cooperation at all times among enforcement authorities and at a private level among associations and so on among all countries on this issue. As I say, this is an attempt to create a framework for such cooperation and to enhance it.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm not sure at this point who will be a signatory to the agreement at the end of the day. The agreement, as I mentioned, is open to accession on the part of any WTO member country when they see fit.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, there are, of course, a number of international organizations that deal with and have responsibility for intellectual property. In the context of the ACTA as a treaty, there would be a committee of the parties that would look at the administration of the agreement. But it would be really to monitor the effectiveness of the treaty.

Canadian Heritage committee  The motivation was that the evidence from international organizations was such that this is a significant and growing problem internationally. It doesn't just restrict itself to activities within the borders of one country; it manifests itself in terms of international trade and commerce and requires an international—at least in part—solution.