C-393, a Private Member's bill designed to improve the current access to medicines legislation, has passed second reading in the House of Commons. I wrote about the problems with the current system earlier this year.
News
ECPA Receives First Reading in the Senate
The Electronic Commerce Protection Act received first reading in the Senate on Monday with plans for second reading tomorrow. It will then go to the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications for review.
Rogers Sues Bell Over Ad Claims
Facing an advertising lawsuit of its own, Rogers has filed suit against Bell over its wireless advertising claims. Rogers notes that Bell has virtually no customers on its new network and cannot substantiate reliability claims.
Clement on ACTA: Check Out MichaelGeist.ca To Learn More
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement made it to the floor of the House of Commons yesterday as NDP MP Charlie Angus raised concerns about the agreement, the lack of transparency, and questions about whether the recent copyright consultation was little more than theatre given the prospect that ACTA will decide what Canadian copyright law ultimately looks like.
Industry Minister Tony Clement responded by arguing that the ACTA is not law in Canada, stating that it is "subservient" to domestic law. While that is true for the moment, once it is completed the pressure to implement – much like the WIPO Internet treaties – will be enormous. Clement also stated that people interested in the treaty could check out my website to learn more. While I appreciate the shout-out, it should be obvious to everyone that this website is not a replacement for full and frank disclosure on ACTA and the Canadian government's position on the treaty. A full Hansard transcript of the exchange, along with the YouTube version, follows below:
And the transcript:
Oxfam: ACTA Could Hurt Poor Countries
Oxfam has expressed concern about the impact of ACTA on poor countries and people. It rightly fears that the treaty could make it more difficult for the poor to access generic medicines.
