Dangers of New Copyright Law Discussed at Full Community Meeting

SURREY— Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal held a successful, near-capacity town hall meeting on the Conservatives’ controversial new copyright legislation at the George Mackie Library in North Delta last night. The meeting was the first public meeting held by an MP on Bill C-61 in Canada.

“Of all of the issues that have come through my office, this rates in the top three in terms of the letters that I have received. Many of my constituents have told me that they fear that this will give the government ‘police state-like powers’ if it passes,” said Dhaliwal. 

Dhaliwal welcomed special guests Geof Glass from the local chapter of Fair Copyright Canada and Langley internet entrepreneur Scott Cave of Rook Interactive.

“Under this bill, art will be locked up. Not by humans, not by a judge or a court of law, but by digital locks with no ability to distinguish the good from the bad. These locks are embedded in technology,” warned Glass. “I am concerned that Bill C-61 threatens Canadian art, culture, and innovation.” 

Cave, whose company provides a web-presence for independent musicians, that Industry Minister Jim Prentice’s early statements on this bill implied that its intent was to provide balance to copyright law. Yet he discovered that Prentice failed to consult people like Terry McBride, the CEO of Nettwerk Productions, the largest record label in Canada.

Several participants mused that it appeared that U.S. recording industry lobbyists dictated this bill for Minister Prentice and that it was evident that he did not understand the issue.

Rita Penco, manager of Delta Libraries spoke of her concern that “Bill C-61 ignores the fact that a 2004 Supreme Court judgment already allows libraries to do a desktop delivery of an electronic document in an interlibrary loan. This bill would restrict us from sharing research material that is requested between libraries.”

“We certainy need to update our copyright laws because of new technologies, but we also have to consult with Canadians in order to create a law that does not stifle innovation, culture and the fair use of copyright material by consumers. There is no excuse for the Conservatives’ failure to consult,” Dhaliwal concluded.  “Feedback from this meeting will help the Liberal Party draft amendments so that we can ensure that our copyright law is truly balanced.” 

A representative from the Canadian Independent Record Production Association was invited to the town hall meeting, but was unable to attend.

Sukh Dhaliwal is the Member of Parliament for Newton - North Delta and the Opposition Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy. 

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