After the Tuesday election I read how parliament didn't change much. A few parties lost seats, and some gained. When authoring a tool to automatically scrape a list of winning candidates I found something interesting. If I asked for the MP Information for a candidate who had not yet been an MP I got a blank page, making it easy to create a flag that lists the first time MPs. There are 66 rookie MPs (approximately 21%), and if you are a constituent of one of these MPs you may want to write to them and introduce them to historical consistent Digital Copyright.
October 17, 2008
October 16, 2008
Rafael Ruffolo speculates for ComputerWorld Canada whether Bill C-61 and Copyright played a roll in the election.
I have updated the Election 2008 Candidates list to show the elected MPs, with two new lists: list of elected MPs, and list of rookie MPs. I do not know when the parliamentary information site will offer MP contact information, so don't know when that information will be updated.
October 15, 2008
Michael Geist reports that, "coming out of last night's election, 34 candidates who supported the copyright pledge during the campaign were elected - 11 Liberals and 23 New Democrats".
The 2008 election results (as of tuesday @ 03:29) shows why Fair Copyright advocates need to join Fair Vote Canada to change the electoral system:
Party that took a progressive stance on copyright as a party:
- The Green Party: 6,8% of the votes, 0% of the seats
Party that has an MP representing the party on copyright reform with a progressive stance:
- NDP: 18,2% of the votes, 12% of the seats
October 11, 2008
I was on CJSF radio this evening on the show HiSciFi (Audio archive available this week online). The host Irma Arkus called me for the latter half of the show to discuss C-61, its origins, and what the various parties are thinking about Copyright during this election.
Major oops on my part not to mention the Green Party who is more of a factor in BC, and who also have a very modern view of technology law and copyright. I spoke about how I am excited to see what happens in Vancouver Center, with my rooting for Michael Byers who has a modern view of tech/copyright and against incumbent Hedy Fry who has been a bit of an old-economy wild-card. I also spoke about the CRIA candidate Dan McTeague in Pickering - Scarborough East (Ontario), and my hope that he won't be in the committee that studies copyright (either not elected, or not put in by Liberals).
Irma was already very well aware of the statements that the Conservatives have made, actually dedicating part of their platform to reintroducing the "made worse in Canada" C-61. Threat made, threat kept!
October 10, 2008
The Canadian Private Copying collective has sent out a press release (PDF from CPCC, covered by FYI music) where they asked the Bloc, Liberal, Conservative, Green and NDP their position on the Private Copying Regime. While the Conservatives did not respond to the survey, I believe it is fair to accept Bill C-61 as their response given they have promised to re-introduce it if elected.
Before the responses from the parties, I would like to offer what I consider to be a fair and historically consistent reform of the private copying regime.
October 9, 2008
I have obtained permission to publish the full version of the Green Party of Canada candidate briefing on Copyright (PDF, OpenDocument). It is not intended to convey official party policy or a component of the platform, but inform candidates on an election issue.
This is hilarious... or would be, if it were not so serious an issue.
Other election related Youtube videos:
October 8, 2008
The Conservative party has released their platform. Various online forums are filled with people who might otherwise vote Conservative, but that are not doing so based on technology law which was tabled in the last parliament and promised to be re-introduced by a re-elected Conservative Government. What I find interesting is that more conservatives are starting to recognize that with this policy the Conservative party is either abandoning some of their founding principles, or admitting that they don't understand a bill they have tabled.
October 7, 2008
Michael Geist was the first to write that the Conservative Party has released its platform and it devotes a half-page to copyright that leaves little doubt that it plans to bring back Bill C-61 and continue to support ACTA.
Jon Newton over at p2pnet has decided to dedicate this week to the 2008 federal general election. He describes why in a feature posting. I have contributed a few articles including:
John MacDonald, on behalf of Mike Shields - NDP candidate in Oshawa
Thank you for your interest in the views of Canada's New Democrats on the critical issues facing Canadians.
We appreciate your efforts to help voters make an informed decision on voting day.
Jack Layton and the New Democrats were quick to condemn the Conservative's changes to Canada's copyright laws.
October 6, 2008
The list of candidates supporting the Copyright Pledge has been updated on Monday the 6'th.
If your candidates aren't on this list, then ask them if they would take the pledge.
Addition: Hijal De Sarkar (NDP, Ottawa South)
On October 1'st I was invited by the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) and the Waterloo Students for the Information Commons (WSIC) to the University of Waterloo to give a talk on Copyright and Bill C-61. The outline for this message is the same as for the talk: some copyright history, what has recently changed, what would be a good policy response, and what has the actual response been. I'll then end talking about the current federal general election.
The slides and recording of the talk are available online.
P2pnet editor Jon Newton has decided to come out in support of a specific party, namely the NDP, as the party people should support if the issues we cover on p2pnet are important to you. While I agree with some of the specific candidates he mentions, such as Timmins–James Bay candidate and NDP digital spokesperson Charlie Angus, and Vancouver Centre candidate Michael Byers, I believe it’s the candidates we need to concentrate on, and not the parties.
Read full article on p2pnet.
October 5, 2008
There is an interesting song featured on the Avaaz site.
To inspire our campaign, a fantastic group of top Canadian artists have come together to create the Avaaz Stop Harper anthem "You Have a Choice". Artists include K-OS, Ed from Barenaked Ladies, Sarah Harmer, Hawksley Workman, Jason Collett from Broken Social Scene and many more!
A press release from NDP Digital Spokesman Charlie Angus discusses how digital issues could play a role in key ridings like Vancouver Centre (Michael Byers), Westmount (Anne Legacé Dowson), Guelph (Tom King) and Pardale High Park (Peggy Nash).
September 29, 2008
A Hill Times article by Simon Doyle, Abbas Rana and Bea Vongdouanchanh documents the 40 Conservative targeted ridings. The in-paper version included a table of the ridings, and I've linked this article with the 40 ridings so people will know if they are one of them.
Please try to talk to all Candidates about copyright, but especially talk to the Conservatives in these ridings. It would be great if during this election that the Conservatives could find their "Charlie Angus" -- someone who can switch the party from being anti-technology/modernization to being an advocate.
September 27, 2008
Pitt Meadows - Maple Ridge - Mission riding constituent Richard Pitt has been offered to ask a question about Copyright of candidates during an all candidates debate.
