[d at DCC] Minister Oda at Meeting of OAS Ministers of Culture in Montreal November 13 - 15.

[Russell McOrmond]

   Interesting press release, given all the controversy over Oda's close 
ties with the incumbent broadcast industry.  The optics are that she 
won't be very balanced in how she handles the telecom and copyright 
files she jointly works on with the Industry Minister.


Canada's New Government Hosts the Third Inter-American Meeting of 
Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities of the 
Organization of American States
http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=621475

"MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 13, 2006) - Canada will host the 
Third Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Highest 
Appropriate Authorities of the Organization of American States from 
November 13 to 15, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec. The Honourable Beverley J. 
Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, will chair the 
meeting."


   This again brings up the need to have stronger activism in Quebec. 
In this Minority Government, Quebec is seen as critically important for 
all the parties.  How the copyright and telecom policy issues are 
perceived in Quebec will be critical to what happens Canada-wide.

   The Quebec government seems to have policy people strong on things 
like FLOSS, but don't seem to push this understanding of one form of 
peer production/peer distribution to other forms of creativity.  Are the 
different activist groups in Quebec sharing information on these issues?


   The Bloc has thus far articulated a "if some copyright is good, more 
is better" type of rhetoric.  Are there people communicating with Bloc 
MPs to modernize their thinking on this?


P.S.  If people havent' been following the Oda fundraising scandal, 
please look at the http://digital-copyright.ca BLOG which includes a 
number of articles -- including one from Michael Geist in the Toronto 
Star today.


-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"