MPs with positions relevant to copyright revision

This page is an attempt to identify the most relevant MPs from the perspective of copyright reform. If you are a constituent for one of these MPs, you can help ensure that they are well-educated on the issues.

Note: Page only updated for the Ministers. Parliamentary secretaries, and issue critics have not been named yet. The unknowns are marked as (U), listing the previous person holding the position.

• Gary Schellenberger (Perth—Wellington, Conservative, Chair) re-elected
  
• Maria Mourani (Ahuntsic, Bloc, co-chair) re-elected
  
• Andy Scott (Liberal, co-chair) did not run
  
• Jim Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia, Conservative) re-elected
  
• Michael D. Chong (Wellington—Halton Hills, Conservative) re-elected
  
• Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough, Conservative) re-elected
  
• Denis Coderre (Bourassa, Liberal) re-elected
  
• Ed Fast (Abbotsford, Consrvative) re-elected
  
• Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Liberal) re-elected
  
• Luc Malo (Verchères—Les Patriotes, Bloc) re-elected
  
• Bill Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP) re-elected
  
• Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis, Liberal) re-elected
  

The minutes and transcript from the special August 26, 2008 to "discuss the recent cancelling of federal cultural financial assistance programs" are online.

This meeting was held when everyone pretty much knew an election would be called. This should be read as an election debate on federal government funding of cultural programs from some key politicians running for re-election. While Copyright wasn't on the agenda, it did get discussed.

From this weeks Hill Times:

"Canada's federal Lobbyists Registrar Michael Nelson has delivered a stern warning to federal lobbyists, saying that they "place themselves in jeopardy" of breaching the Lobbyists Code of Conduct if they are both registered to lobby and working on political fundraising or electoral campaigns."

I try to stay non-partisan on this issue. I do not know if the words of Hon. Hedy Fry represent the thinking of the Heritage Committee or the Liberal Party of Canada. I believe it is incumbent on all Canadian citizens to talk to their MPs and ask them if these words reflect their own thinking. I guess I have to reveal my hope that politicians which have such antiquated ideas about the knowledge economy will either retire on their own or otherwise replaced with younger, more experienced politicians.

The members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage have tabled a report where they make the following statement:

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommends that the Government Bill entitled “An Act to amend the Copyright Act” for which notice was given on December 7th 2007, once introduced and read a first time, be referred to a Special Joint Committee made up of members or associate members of the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage and of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology before second reading.

A Playback Magazine article by Norma Reveler discusses the changes in the membership of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC) at the beginning of this second session, after their first meeting.

(Note: This is out of date. New committee not yet formed).

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 Canadian Heritage (CHPC)

While the Committee's website hasn't been updated yet, the initial membership of the parliamentary committees has been announced.

One of the current activities of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is a Briefing on Copyright, where they have had a few meetings.

Michael Geist has blogged about the Not-So-Straight Talk on Copyright MPs are receiving.

I believe this should also be taken as an oportunity for constituents to write to MPs who are in Heritage and Industry committees prior to a bill being tabled.