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The New Copyright MPs

By Michael Geist

While copyright reform is unlikely to emerge as a top legislative priority in the current economic environment, there is little doubt that the Conservative minority government will return to the issue (whether Jim Prentice leads that charge as Industry Minister or shifts to Foreign Affairs is a separate matter).  With that in mind, having Members of Parliament who will speak out on the need for a balanced approach to copyright that preserves user rights is essential.  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, covering 8 of 10 provinces (only NB and Saskatchewan do not have a copyright MP).  In some ridings - particularly Edmonton-Strathcona where Conservative Rahim Jaffer lost to the NDP's Linda Duncan - it is certainly possible that copyright swung enough votes to help make the difference. 

Looking ahead, the tens of thousands of Canadians who support fair copyright will look to build on this solid base of support so that fair copyright receives wide support in Parliament.  The New Copyright MPs:

• Carolyn Bennett, Liberal MP, St. Paul’s, ON
• Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal MP, Vancouver South, BC
• Glen Pearson, Liberal MP, London North Centre, ON
• Joyce Murray, Liberal MP, Vancouver Quadra, BC
• Marlene Jennings, Liberal MP, NDG-Lachine, QC
• Paul Szabo. Liberal MP, Mississauga South, ON
• Gerard Kennedy, Liberal MP, Parkdale-High Park, ON
• Frank Valeriote, Liberal MP, Guelph, ON
• Shawn Murphy, Liberal MP, Charlottetown, PE
• Mike Savage, Liberal MP, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, NS
• Bonnie Crombie, Liberal MP, Mississauga Streetsville, ON

• Charlie Angus, New Democrat MP, Timmins-James Bay, ON
• Olivia Chow, New Democrat MP, Trinity-Spadina, ON
• Libby Davies, New Democrat MP, Vancouver East, BC
• Bill Siksay, New Democrat MP, Burnaby-Douglas, BC
• Dawn Black, New Democract MP, New Westminster–Coquitlam, BC
• Irene Mathyssen, New Democrat MP, London-Fanshawe, ON
• Wayne Marston, New Democrat MP, Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, ON
• Jean Crowder, New Democrat MP, Nanaimo–Cowichan, BC
• Denise Savoie, New Democrat MP, Victoria, BC
• Judy Wasylycia-Leis, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg North, MB
• Pat Martin, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg Centre, MB
• Alex Atamanenko, New Democrat MP, BC Southern Interior, BC
• Paul Dewar, New Democrat MP, Ottawa Centre, ON
• Chris Charlton, New Democrat MP, Hamilton Mountain, ON
• John Rafferty, New Democrat MP, Thunder Bay Rainy River, ON
• Niki Ashton, New Democrat MP, Churchill, MB
• Don Davies, New Democrat MP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC
• Jack Harris, New Democrat MP, St. John's East, NF
• Megan Leslie, New Democrat MP, Halifax, NS
• Bruce Hyer, New Democrat MP, Thunder Bay Superior North, ON
• Carol Hughes, New Democrat MP, Algoma Manitoulin Kapuskasing, ON
• Linda Duncan, New Democrat MP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB
• Malcolm Allen, New Democrat MP, Welland, ON

Full post as published by Michael Geist on October 15, 2008 (boomark / email).