ACTRA Urging Canadians to Vote for Pro-Three-Strikes Candidates?

Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists says its important for Canadians to vote for candidates in the May 2nd federal election that will “reform Canada’s outdated copyright laws” to help protect the nation’s culture and economy, and one of the “reforms” it’s called for is implementation of a graduated response system for repeat infringers.

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists is trying to press the public into voting for candidates in the upcoming May 2nd federal election that will help increase copyright restrictions to protect Canada’s creative industry.

“The economy and jobs are top-of-mind for most Canadians in this election, so we’re asking them to support candidates who will fight for culture and artists,” said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President. “When we’re talking about culture we’re talking about good jobs.”

The fight ACTRA is asking for MPs to wage is amending provisions of the controversial Bill C-32 that nobody seems to be happy with. In particular, it has said there are six things that need to be fixed: the extension of the private copying levy, the provision on user generated content, the expanded fair dealing, statutory damages, preserving the broadcast mechanical licence, and implementing a graduated response regime for repeat infringers.

“We need more MPs in Ottawa who really understand what Canadian culture contributes to our economy and our national identity,” said ACTRA’s Colin Mochrie. “We’re urging Canadians to take a look at what the parties are saying about their plans for our cultural industries before they vote.”

Downy has made it clear in the past that he expects MPs to recognize the “central role” artists have in the digital economy, and that if they deliver a Bill that doesn’t adequately protect copyright holders then “Canada will continue to be an international embarrassment.”

Talk about heated rhetoric. Who’s claiming Canada’s an “international embarrassment” other than US copyright holders? The MPAA? The same outfit who’s said in the past that making even one copy of a DVD for personal use is illegal?

Regardless, it’s odd that the ACTRA would wrap its own selfish needs in the Canadian flag and in the guise of protecting the country’s very culture itself, especially when a govt study concluded that “P2P file-sharing tends to increase rather than decrease music purchasing.”

Our own Drew Wilson has already compiled a list of party platforms on digital issues to review for your self:

• Canada’s Election: A Review of the Green Party Platform on Digital Issues
• Canada’s Election: A Review of the Pirate Party Platform on Digital Issues
• Canada’s Election: A Review of the Liberal Platform on Digital Issues
• Canada’s Election: A Review of the Bloc Platform on Digital Issues
• Canada’s Election: A Review of the Conservative Platform on Digital Issues

Stay tuned.

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