dose

Back during the election, and the Bulte affair, I wrote to Harper, Martin and Layton about digital copyright, asking for their party’s position. I just got this email from Jack Layton, leader of the NDP:

Thank you for writing to me about copyright reform in Canada.

As you may know, copyright reform has been an ongoing issue in Parliament for several years now. The NDP recognizes that any copyright legislation needs to balance the rights of creators, users, and distributors. Today, NDP Heritage Critic and two-time Juno nominee Charlie Angus held a joint news conference with the Canadian Music Creator’s Coalition (CMCC) on the issue of digital downloading. Please find attached a copy of the press release issued by Charlie regarding the efforts of the CMCC to bring artists’ concerns to the table. Charlie’s work with the CMCC comes on the heels of consultation with many individuals and groups to consider competing interests concerning copyright reform. These discussions have included artists, creators, lawyers, digital and online experts, and photographers, just to name a few. For more information on the CMCC, please visit: http://www.musiccreators.ca .

Again, I appreciate hearing from you. All the best.

Sincerely,

Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada

To catch up on recent news and issues, please visit http://www.ndp.ca or subscribe to our e-mail bulletin, e-NDP, at subscribe@ndp.ca.

May 8, 2006

Music Coalition a Wake Up Call on Copyright Law – NDP

OTTAWA – NDP Heritage Critic Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) says the emergence of the star-studded Canadian Music Creator’s Coalition (CMCC) is a welcome addition to the long simmering war over copyright legislation. The Coalition is in Ottawa to meet with Industry Minister Maxime Bernier and Heritage Minister Bev Oda.

The CMCC intervention comes as the government discusses legislation that could have wide-ranging impacts for music fans, educators and software innovators. Restrictive copyright legislation could be used to squash the development of new digital distribution models, sue kids who share music files and impose tollbooths on the educational use of the Internet.

Speaking at a press conference with Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), Andrew Cash (Cash Brothers) and Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene), Angus said the message from the bands is loud and clear – digital downloading will not be the death knell of Canadian music. In fact, it has created exciting opportunities for bands across the musical spectrum:

“This is not a debate between bands who want to give music away and bands who want to be paid. This issue is about artists who have adapted to new digital markets and an industry that is trying to use legislation to impose a 20th century business model on a new generation of fans. There is no going back. Canadian bands have thrived and adapted. It’s time Parliament woke up to this fact.”

Angus, who is also a two-time Juno nominee with the band Grievous Angels, said the copyright agenda has been largely driven by corporate interests.

“It’s important to have the coalition at the table when new legislation is drafted. New copyright legislation will have profound implications not just for music fans but for students, educators and software innovators. The music coalition is giving politicians a badly needed wake up call.”

The coalition includes a wide array of Canadian music greats including: Sam Roberts, Broken Social Scene, the Barenaked Ladies, Sum 41, Billy Talent, Bob Ezrin, Feist, Stars, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), John K. Samson (Weakerthans), Sloan, the Stampeders and Randy Bachman.

That’s kinda cool.