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Copyright

Oda Funding Controversy May Derail Broadcast and Copyright Policy

My weekly Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) takes stock of the brewing controversy over Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda's fundraising activities. With the Hill Times running a lead story on her 2005 fundraiser and persistent questions in the House of Commons, it is becoming apparent that this issue is quickly becoming a liability for the Conservative government. While last week's discussion focused on the now-cancelled Oda fundraiser sponsored by a CanWest lobbyist and a 2005 Corus-hosted fundraiser, further investigation into Oda's past campaign financing demonstrates that the close ties between Oda and industry lobbyists may run deeper than even Angus realized.

According to Elections Canada data, Oda held a similar fundraiser in May 2004 – before she was even elected to the House of Commons – that attracted enormous corporate support from the broadcast industry including Alliance Atlantis, Astral, CanWest, and CHUM, as well as from more than a dozen senior executives from major broadcast and cable companies.

Once elected, the support continued.

November 13, 2006 — 5 comments — Columns

Knopf Calls for Copyright Commission

Howard Knopf has penned an op-ed that appears in this week's Hill Times. The article highlights the dangers of the current path of copyright reform and calls for creation of a judge-led copyright commission.

November 13, 2006 — 1 comment — News

The Daily Oda Question

Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda was questioned yet again today on her past fundraising practices. NDP Heritage critic Charlie Angus asks: Mr. Speaker, the heritage minister's predilection for hitting up for cash the key industries she is charged with overseeing is not a new phenomenon. I would like to bring […]

November 10, 2006 — 2 comments — News

Pressure From Oda Fundraiser Grows

Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda may have cancelled her planned broadcaster fundraiser in light of negative media attention, but the issue contains to attract attention in the House of Commons. NDP Canadian Heritage critic Charlie Angus had the following to say on the matter yesterday:

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the heritage minister was caught passing the hat with industry insiders and lobbyists. As soon as we shone the light on it, they scrambled to cancel the event so we would not find out who was at the trough.

When I asked the government for accountability, the President of the Treasury Board stood up and asked for the NDP's help in order to get rid of the influence of big money in politics. I think the implication of his plea is clear. We are going to need an all party strategy to keep the heritage minister on the straight and narrow.

I have done what I could to have a three point plan to maintain the ethical sobriety of the heritage minister: first, reveal the list of those she is putting the tap for money on so we know which lobbyists are rewriting government policy on copyright and deregulation; second, institute a remedial plan so she can learn how to listen to the groups and artists that she is supposed to be representing; and third, ask the House of Commons carpentry staff to head over to the heritage minister's office and paint over the big for sale sign on her door.

As I noted earlier, the list of Bev's backers is a who's who of copyright and broadcast lobbyists.