[d at DCC] Mr. Angus in the House.

[Russell McOrmond]

Robert Smits wrote:
> I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not suggesting copyright is, or should 
> be, a partisan issue. What I do suggest is that because the tories are so 
> frustrated at not being able to reveal their agenda, an early election is 
> more likely than not. 

   Sorry for misunderstanding.

   The more things get delayed, the better.  In some ways there would be 
advantages to having something get first reading only before the next 
election, as it would show people some of the similarities between the 
Liberal and Conservative copyright bill.

   Mobilizing people on substantial policy issues during the election is 
hard, as the focus seems to be on negative rhetoric rather than real policy.


> However, based on what we've seen so far, I have deep concerns that the Tories 
> will be even less copyright friendly than the Liberals.

   What type of things have you seen?  If I've missed references to 
copyright and related policy in Hansard, please let me know so we can 
add it to our BLOG.  If ever anyone sees something on an MPs personal 
blog about these issues, please also make sure it gets posted.


   While Ms. Oda is in a fundraising scandal, it's not all that 
different than past Heritage Ministers or parliamentary secretaries.  I 
met with Ms. Oda when she was still the Heritage critic in a previous 
parliament, and is at least aware of diversity of views (Better than Ms. 
Copps who ignored anything outside of her established way of thinking).

   I have a letter in front of me from Mr. Rajotte (text posted to 
BLOG), and he has been very open minded about these issues.  I expect 
that if he is on the committee studying any future bill that there will 
be far more balance shown than when Heritage committee studies anything. 
  This is the Conservative member for Edmonton-Leduc who is also the 
chair of Industry committee.

> I agree with the conclusion, though I don't think I'd describe Liberals as 
> "left" on anything. 

   It all depends on where you think the middle is in that 
overly-simplified linear system.  I have a hard time with all that 
legacy left/right stuff as it is so industrial-era driven. (and I'm a 
post-industrial era thinker).

   I'm curious if you watched Even Moglen's talk.  Extremely 
inspirational on the importance of moving away from marginal-cost based 
business models for creativity.  It is this broader new-economy 
economic, social justice, globalist, etc approach that inspires me to do 
the volunteer policy work I do. http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/2813


   I've interacted with both allies and foes in the federal NDP, Liberal 
and Conservative parties.  There are MPs in each of these parties with 
seats in the federal parliament that I respect, and MPs I do not.   I 
don't have much experience with the Bloc because of my own language and 
geography barriers (they have no reason to ever talk to me).

> Thank goodness we've changed. I agree about Wendy, as she saw everything as a 
> playwright and dealt with all copyright through that lens.

   The important thing to remember is that it is individuals that make 
this difference, and that there isn't party policy from any of the 
parties with seats that speak to this issue better than others.  This 
may change over time if the grassroots of the parties push, but thus far 
I haven't seen this change.


> Agreed, but I wasn't suggesting that we do that. At this point, I certainly 
> agree with, and fully support, a "non-partisan" approach on copyright. 

   Non-partisan as well as multi-partisan.  Those with strong party ties 
should be trying to fully educate their party.

   It would be interesting if there were petitions signed that weren't 
about what riding someone was in, but were collected at party events and 
were tabled by a party MP as "being from members of our party from 
across Canada".

-- 
  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!"