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Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU)

Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU)

Harry Page, CEO, UBM TechInsights

Yesterday I asked if there were any technical witnesses at the Senate committee studying C-11. I have been pointed to Harry Page, CEO, UBM TechInsights, who appeared before Industry Committee (press release, Hansard from committee, audio/video) and then again at the Senate Committee on June 26'th at the 09:00 meeting.

Science and Technology minister

A Hill Times article discussing the new cabinet included the following:

Insiders said last week as well that Industry Canada may be split into two departments, one focused on innovation and science and technology and the other remaining Industry, making way for a full Science and Technology minister, rather than a secretary of state

My first thought: about time.

Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights : Twenty-First Session

The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) is not the Canadian parliamentary committee that will be studying Bill C-32. It would be great if Canada did have a SCCR, as this would allow parliamentarians to properly study issues, as well as create and pass more sensible bills than we have seen thus far. It might also mean that there would be a group of 12 parliamentarians that would be watching what is happening at WIPO, helping to direct our negotiators there. We currently have an unworkable split between the standing committees of Heritage (CHPC), Industry (INDU), and International Trade (CIIT).

Among other things, this group of 12 parliamentarians would be tasked with knowing what has previously happened at WIPO and WTO/TRIPS, and wouldn't be so easily manipulated by special interest lawyers trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

SCCR is a standing committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and it twenty-first meeting has been in Geneva, Switzerland from November 8, 2010 to November 12, 2010.

No C-32 committee until the fall.

A message from Industry Minister Tony Clement (@TonyClement_MP on Twitter) has indicated that there will be no C-32 special committee struck until the fall. (parl.gc.ca says, "The House of Commons is adjourned until Monday, September 20, 2010")

This should not be taken as meaning we should all take the summer off, but that we have time to ensure that all 308 MPs have an idea of why Copyright is so controversial, and that is not about "creators on one hand, and consumers on the other". My experience over the last near decade is that the debate is largely between different creators, since many of the proposals put forward by some are aimed at their competitors and not infringers.

Current members of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU)

Copyright policy is the joint responsibility of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Industry. Two committees of the House of Commons are therefore the key members who are most likely to be studying this topic and related bills.

Members of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (40th Parliament, 2nd Session. January 26, 2009 - ).

Marketers want anti-spam bill altered

The CBC article Marketers want anti-spam bill altered contains an interesting notes from the Liberal critic of consumers:

Liberal consumer affairs critic Dan McTeague told CBCNews he doesn't know what the position of his party is, but that he personally supports the Conservative bill, "warts and all."

Industry Canada Proposes Changes to Spam Bill as Lobbyists Demand More

Michael Geist reports on some lobbying being done to water down an anti-SPAM bill.

At yesterday's hearing, it was discouraging to see lobbyists for Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Intellectual Property Council huddling with Liberal MPs before the start of the hearing. It was even more incredible to see lobbyists for the Canadian Real Estate Association draft a series of questions about the bill, hand them to a Bloc MP, and have them posed to the witnesses moments later.
...
Consider writing to your MP or the members of the Industry Committee today asking them to support C-27 with an opt-in approach.


I recommend writing to your MP, asking them to forward the letter to committee members. This may increase the impact.

Update: The Copyright Lobby's Secret Pressure On the Anti-Spam Bill, which is referenced via BoingBoing.

Election 2008: Past members of Industry committee


  • James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, Conservative, chair) re-elected
  • Paule Brunelle (Trois-Rivières, Bloc, co-chair) re-elected
  • Dan McTeague (Pickering—Scarborough East, Liberal, co-chair) re-elected
  • André Arthur (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, Independent) re-elected
  • Scott Brison (Kings—Hants, Liberal) re-elected
  • Colin Carrie (Oshawa, Conservative) re-elected
  • Mark Eyking (Sydney—Victoria, Liberal) re-elected
  • Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP) lost to Liberal Gerard Kennedy
  • Raymond Simard (Saint Boniface, Liberal) lost to Conservative James Bezan
  • Bruce Stanton (Simcoe North, Conservative) re-elected
  • Dave Van Kesteren (Chatham-Kent—Essex, Conservative) re-elected
  • Robert Vincent (Shefford, Bloc) re-elected

Industry Committee study on Science and Technology is underway

Last month I blogged about why it is important to participate in the study by parliament’s Industry Committee on science and technology. I also provided a link to my own submission (OpenDocument, PDF, HTML). Michael Geist has reported that the Canadian Association of Broadcasters has also included copyright proposals in its submission.

The study is already underway, with meetings being held on April 10 and April 17.

Read the rest of this entry on IT World Canada's BLOG »

Why it is important to participate in the study by parliament’s Industry Committee

Last week the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU), a committee of the Canadian house of Commons, adopted a motion to conduct a study into Canadian science and technology. While April 18 is the last day for submissions, I made a draft of my submission available for public review and comment (OpenDocument, PDF, HTML).

I believe it is critically important that our sector, especially those using modern alternative methods of production, distribution and funding, to participate in this study.

Read the rest of this entry on IT World Canada »

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