This week ACTRA's Stephen Waddell appeared before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. A discussion on the private copying levy led to a testy exchange about Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore with Waddell stating: "I really don't understand why our minister, the minister who should, as you say, be defending artists in this country, is attacking them and proposing to take money out of artists' pockets." Parliamentary Secretary Dean Del Mastro responded later in the session, calling the comments reprehensible.
ACTRA on Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore
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Let’s be remotely sane our current system of levy’s is being attacked by the US. If a Canadian Dcma comes in then it will directly take money out of the pockets of artists because if you impliment it then you cannot justify the levy.
I am an artist…
…and I do not support the Minister’s position.
Correction or Clarification?
Now that I’ve re-read the original quote…beginning to wonder which side I should not be supporting here.
Stephen Waddell needs to be reminded that a Minister of the Crown also has to represent the people of Canada (the people that pay his salary, some of whom, albeit a minority, are artists). He/she needs to balance the needs and desires of the artists with the needs and desires of many others in order to achieve a fair compromise. I submit that this not only applies to Ministers but all Parliamentarians (Charlie Angus take note đ
Now, if Minister Moore will actually do that or not is another issue đ
Add in also…
…the fact that most artists – creators – are also users, and most users find themselves as creators from time to time, even though they don’t make money off that fact for the most part.
Seeing that we’re all wearing multiple hats here, balance becomes particularly important.