Eye on Rahim Jaffer

There was a Edmonton Strathcona All Candidates Forum I was unable to attend to. Luckily, Ian wrote all about it. Thanks!

Steve Melenchuk asked what the positions were on dead Bill C-61, which dealt with copyright reform.

Rahim Jaffer: Any reform needs to emphasize balance. This bill was a first crack at this issue and reform attempts are not over.

Linda Duncan: The NDP led the opposition to the bill, exposed data throttling by internet companies and we also need to protect individual artists.

Claudette Roy: Favored protecting IP, but should overhaul the bill

Rahim Jaffer's response is consistent to what was discussed in the meeting I was in. I would also like to emphasize the fact the NDP, specifically Charlie Angus, is my hero when it comes to copyright and technology in general.

Edit: Additional link to Charlie Angus on copyright.

Rahim Jaffer

On Friday, September 19, 2008 I met with Rahim Jaffer. This marks the last of the 39th Parliament MPs to meet. Rahim Jaffer is also a copyright MP.

Me, Ian R, a engineer, and a Athabasca University professor joined in on this meeting. The issues facing distance learning was a major issues in this meeting. It was great to have a professor along to make points about Bill C-61 and education issues I would not be able to cover effectively.

Rahim Jaffer made a couple commitments.. provided the make up of parliament is not drastically different after the election.

• There will be a proper hearing for the next copyright bill
• He will push for a traveling committee.

I also received more advice on what the next step is, which is quickly becoming tradition in every meeting.

Anyone up for helping writing a summary on the Fair Copyright for Canada - Edmonton Chapter's view on copyright legislation?

The Big Wrap Up

It shocked me how much I care about copyright law. It shocked my friends even more how much I care about copyright law. Although it is really not just about copyright.

I have gone to 8 meetings, 2 open houses, 2 rallies, and 1 round table. That is not even mentioning the pages and pages I wrote on Bill C-61 and I have come to one surprising conclusion...

It is actually pretty easy to get your voice out there if you try. All it takes is one step at a time. If you have sent a form letter then try sending a personal one; If you have sent a personal letter, make a phone call; If you made phone calls, then schedule a meeting. Contrary to popular belief it is not hard to get a meeting... with one notable exception of course.

Oddly enough I know I made a difference which far exceeds my original goal of being able to exclaim "at least a tried."I will probably take a break for a while; after all, I've done my part. *nervously looks around*

James Rajotte Meeting

My third meeting with James Rajotte was a bit more casual. Instead of talking about specific problems about Bill C-61 I was able to talk about what I would like to see in a copyright bill. It was a nice change to give ideas on how to deal with piracy instead of exclaiming "your doing it wrong!" I hope he considers my ideas and it gets to who ever drafts and introduces the next copyright bill. I wish him luck on his election because he always gave me respect and listened to my spiels.

One more meeting and I'm done with meeting MPs.

Well, the 39th Parliament MPs anyways.

Reply by Rona Ambrose

Dear Mr. Grajkowski,

Thank you for your recent correspondence to our office. If you are not satisfied with the response from Minister Ambrose, I urge you to contact the Minister of Industry directly to obtain more detailed explanations regarding your concerns. The contact information for Minister Prentice is as follows:

Minister of Industry
C.D. Howe Building, East Tower, 11th floor
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0H5
(613) 995-9001
Ministre.industrie@ic.gc.ca

Regarding your request for a meeting, we are unable to accommodate a meeting at this time.

This shall hopefully be the last time the name Rona Ambrose crosses my blog. I may never know where Rona Ambrose stands on Bill C-61. I do know where she stands when it comes to my vote.

Response to Rona Ambrose

Here is a couple quick notes. No, I do not actually own a Celine Dion CD although I am sure it is very good.

I do not expect to get any kinda of response from Rona Ambrose. If she really cared I would have got a proper response long ago.

I also do not expect a phone call from a scheduling manager. It is just one more "misunderstanding" from the office of The Honourable Rona Ambrose.

I really send this letter so I can exclaim "at least I tried". I also get the added benefit of having more cannon fodder against Rona Ambrose.

I do not claim to be above disliking MPs. Only Rona Ambrose managed to earn my loathing. Not even Jim Prentice earned that.

Without further ado, my letter.

Your response to my letter is very concerning. The response shows the lack of attention paid to my concerns and my fears in general. I would like to take a moment and explain why this response should be a embarrassment to your office. Hopefully, I can look forward to hearing a proper response as well as a phone call from the scheduling manager for a meeting (780) XXX-XXXX.

I would like to make a few quick points about the supposed clarifications. Your letter says Bill C-61 clarifies time shifting but it fails to clarify a key point. The bill fails to clarify how long I can keep my recordings.

Your letter says I can “copy legally acquired music onto other devices”. In the case of my 2002 Celine Dion CD, A New Day Has Come, your statement appears to be murky at best.

The fixed amount of $500 statutory damages appears to be a red herring. Most Canadians would fall under the $20,000 statutory damages per infringement because of the abusive digital lock provisions as well as the simple fact most programs that download files upload as well.

The educator copyright rules are complicated enough it takes copyright lawyers to figure it out. I very much doubt these rules will provide educators with a new way “to deliver course material and lessons” when considering the restrictions these new rules have.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a secretive treaty without public consultation. I fear the ACTA will be a bias treaty. I plead with you, in the name of democracy, that you help bring the ACTA treaty into the light instead of the cloak and dagger state it is currently in.

I agree that Amendments to Canada's Copyright Act are needed and are long overdue but that is no reason to rush though a bad bill. Time and care needs to be taken to make sure it is done right. I ask that you, Rona Ambrose, meet with me because I believe it is important that all MPs understand the effects Bill C-61 will have, both good and bad.

Rona Ambrose

Sometimes I question why I am so hard on Rona Ambrose.. then I remember I am her constituent. In theory she should at least try to see what her constituents think. This is a stark contrast to Laurie Hawn who has no reason to meet with me. I'm just some guy running around proclaiming himself to be Fair Copyright for Canada - Edmonton Chapter founder and yet he met with me as have others.

So, why have I gone off the "Boo Rona Ambrose" deep end again? Let me try to explain.

Here is a quote from James Rajotte's canned letter response to Bill C-61.

"For your information, Bill C-61 is at the second reading stage in the House of Commons. Debate at this level is over the principle of the bill rather than a specific examination of every clause contained in the bill...I support Bill C-61 in principle, but I am ready and willing to listen to your views."

I could go into detail and describe why I like this canned letter response to Bill C-61 but I think it speaks for its self. I have met with James Rajotte and I believe it when he says he is "ready and willing to listen".

Lets take a look at the canned letter Rona Ambrose sent out to me today.

"The bill clarifies that consumers will now be able to record television shows for later viewing (time shifting); copy legally acquired music onto other devices such as MP3 players or cellphones; and make backup copies of legally acquired books, newspapers, videocassettes and photographs onto devices they own (format shifting). Furthermore, the bill has set new limitations on statutory damages, so individuals would be liable for a fixed amount of $500 if they have infringed copyright for private use, provided that the material is not protected by a technological measure (TM or digital lock). Individuals may still be liable for other types of damages or remedies."

It reads like a freaking PR campaign. That letter is so filled with half truths it makes me rage. That is comming for a guy that almost never gets angry.

That quote is the reason why I meet MPs. I have to go around to make sure people understand the actual effects of Bill C-61 and shed full light on the supposed clarifications.

The Rona Ambrose scheduling manager has yet to contact me even though they say he/she would. I would still like a meeting just so she has the opportunity to see what I see in Bill C-61. I doubt it will ever happen though.

I am going to write a reply to that canned letter and post it here but I am unable to do so now due to my shear outrage.

Excuse me as I need to find a box of cute puppies stat.