Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Campaigning for Copyright in Canada

Posted by michael on from the vote-early-vote-often dept.

kwandar writes "Politicians are on the doorsteps of Canadians over the next two weeks, as the Canadian election campaign winds up. Digital Copyright Canada put together a questionnaire for all the major parties, asking for their position. While I haven't made a decision, I think I'd mod the governing Liberal Party's response as 'off-topic'. The Election 2004 responses make for interesting reading."

15 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. liberals: as thorough as ever by xilmaril · · Score: 4, Insightful

    am I the only one who can only find Liberal responses on spam and national ID cards?

    1. Re:liberals: as thorough as ever by xilmaril · · Score: 2

      should have thought to ad this in my first post, but the Green party rocks. they've only got my vote because I know they'll never have enough power to screw me over (the green party winning in canada? the day windows is gpl'd)

      But all the same, they support everything /. does. and isn't that all that really matters, when it comes to choosing politicians?

    2. Re:liberals: as thorough as ever by deafdot · · Score: 3, Interesting
      The Green Party has answered the questions as well.

      Better answers, and they're more knowledgable about privacy than the Liberals.

  2. those stats can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    File-sharing is especially popular among Canadian youth with 60% of Canadian secondary students admitting to downloading MP3s.

    The other 40% don't admit it.

  3. Check out the Green Party's Response! by Alphanos · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Link.

    Closed protocols, systems, and architectures can play host to deleterious behaviour that is virtually impossible to correct. Open standards and architectures are necessary for any long-lived system.

    The government must be able to create, customize, and improve its systems without having to rely on a single supplier. Conversely, the public must be able to verify and critique the architectures that are used to store, transmit, and protect sensitive information.

    A Green Party government will only acquire systems are built upon open standards and protocols. If such systems are not available, or do not provide sufficient functionality, the value of creating or improving an open source solution will be weighed against the cost of using the equivalent closed system. A closed system will only be used if the vendor agrees to be liable for migrating to an open architecture within a reasonable time period.

    I had been going to vote NDP, but unless they have a similar response I may vote Green instead!

    --
    Alphanos
    1. Re:Check out the Green Party's Response! by Alphanos · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Also, in response to the question about educational use of copyrighted online materials:

      The Green Party will properly fund our educational institutions to allow them to purchase, develop, and produce necessary materials.

      In addition, our government will be a full participant in open content projects, like the various GNU Free Documentation License or Creative Commons licensed knowledge bases. Government funding can in some cases be made conditional on the release of research through these "copyleft" licenses.

      I'm not associated with the Green Party, but my opinion of them has skyrocketed in the last few minutes:).

      --
      Alphanos
  4. Green Party by hexfortyfive · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sharing files is not illegal reproducing copyrighted materials without permission and distributing them is. File sharing should not be prohibited, as it is simple transmission of information.
    ...
    The Green Party believes that the open discussion of copy protection mechanisms (including their mechanism and means to circumvent them) can only result in the creation of better copy protection schemes. Private citizens have the right to own and control devices used for lawful purposes.
    ...
    Closed protocols, systems, and architectures can play host to deleterious behaviour that is virtually impossible to correct. Open standards and architectures are necessary for any long-lived system.

    I havn't checked the rest of their platform, but they sure seem informed and their answers to this survey. Can't say the same about the Liberals though; all I got out of their response was "We don't know, but whatever it is it'll be good for the Canadian economy". Bah! Spouting off slogans isn't an answer!

    Where are the PC's responses? And the Bloc? I hope posting to slashdot will expediate the reply processes.

  5. Green Party of Canada's responses by St.+Arbirix · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How is it that the Canadian Green Party's responses coincided so perfectly with my own (and I believe many other /.ers) opinions?

    I ask because I'm from that country parked due south of Canada and I can't seem to find a party I agree with so well, much less one that responds to a questionaire such as the Canadians have. Did I miss the U.S. Copyright questionaire or is it so pitling of an issue in this country no one cares to ask or tell?

    Looking where to aim my vote,
    Matthew

    --
    Direct away from face when opening.
    1. Re:Green Party of Canada's responses by MrAndrews · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Not that it could ever really happen, but I wonder if, as you say, many other /.ers believe these things; and if they were to all vote Green ... would the Green party make much of a showing?

      There has been a big to-do in the press this election (as in most elections) that young people don't vote. And how to get them to vote: address issues "young people" care about. But really, I know young Conservatives, young NDP-ers, and probably a lot of closet young Liberals, and none of them are going to switch allegiances because a certain party channels Avril Lavigne into their platform...

      It seems to me that there are more inroads to be made targeting like-minded portions of the population. The Green party may actually have a great platform here, but up until now I had no idea they had any idea what the GPL was. If they broadcast those ideals to their target audiences, rather than picking fights for mainstream voters on the "usual" issues, they might find themselves with a few MPs this time around.

      Of course, somehow getting this message across on Slashdot probably does a lot of good to that end.

      --
      The world's only surviving livewriter.
    2. Re:Green Party of Canada's responses by Trepalium · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I think this is a communication problem in two ways. First is the fact that the traditional communcation methods between candidate and voter aren't as effective with young voters as they are with older ones. I don't find political advertising particularily compelling, nor am I attracted to the cookie cutter promises of each party's platform. I can visit their content free websites and marvel at the complete lack of information. This story is the perfect example of information I'd like to see, but do I want to spend time contacting each candidate that I might consider voting for?

      I would love to see the parties use webboards and/or blogs, however this brings me to the other problem. The media loves to dig up dirt on any party, and this would just be a mass invitation to chaos. On the other hand, I would love to read a blog from my MP that details exactly what he's doing, but it would have to be an activity where he would not be punished by his party for saying things counter to the party line. A blog that was screened by the party would be no different than those stupid feel-good mailouts MPs seem to like to send to their constituents. I want to know the bad with the good, and I want to feel that my input would be welcomed even if it's not used.

      There's a certain perception that MPs really don't do anything in Ottawa except bicker in the House of Commons. Feel-good pamphlets don't really change that perception, either.

      --
      I used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in dead.
  6. Five words by Phleg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Single issue voting is BAD.

    --
    No comment.
  7. Too green for me by MachDelta · · Score: 3, Informative

    Right on.

    I'll admit, the green party has some very tempting planks, but some of their other stuff I disagree with (or is just flat out weird). For one, I think their fanaticism with the environment is severely detrimental to the rest of their platform. Increased gas tax? Penalizing petrolium companies? I'm sorry, i'm from Alberta and that shit just won't fly here. They try it, and the hard feelings over the NEP will seem like a gentle breeze compared to what would happen out west.
    Honestly though, I DO find them interesting... they seem to be very open minded, and actually in touch with the modern world -- which is more than I can say for the rest of our deluded parties. But I think they're just a little too far left of my tastes. They seem to be idealists more like the Communis... uh, NDP, than Conservative style realists. So their stance on things like defence spending, justice, and corporate Canada strike me as being weak-handed.


    But yeah, the parent is right. Single issue voting is bad. Look across the whole spectrum of parties and issues before you jump on a bandwagon.
    Or not. You could very well be like me, decide no one party comes close to representing your views, conclude that Canadian 'democracy' sucks and is broken, and consequently you won't bother voting but will just go back to playing video games instead. ;)

    1. Re:Too green for me by Feztaa · · Score: 2, Informative

      Dude, VOTE! If you don't vote, nobody will ever know or care why you didn't vote and nothing will ever change.

      At the very least, show up at the polling station and register your refusal to vote (you can do this). If more people do that than the losing candidate(s) needed to win, they might call you and ask why, and then you can bitch and moan to them.

    2. Re:Too green for me by checkyoulater · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Or not. You could very well be like me, decide no one party comes close to representing your views, conclude that Canadian 'democracy' sucks and is broken, and consequently you won't bother voting but will just go back to playing video games instead.

      It is this exact reason that the Fiberal party of Canada has been in power for so long, and it part of the reason that the NDP ran Ontario into the groud about 10 years ago. The hardcore party supporters will always vote, and the rest of the people get so disenchanted with politics that they stay home. Plus, the Liberals have done a masterful job of painting the rest of the parties as nothing more than a bunch of unfriendly radicals. They make the Conservaties look like a bunch of Republican fundamentalists, and the NDP look like a bunch of commies. Vote for us, because we are the only non-racist, non-radical, and quite friendly party.

      That link to the Liberal response is a great example of the kind of answers they always give. When is the last time the Liberal party has been straight with an answer? They just wait until every other party has answered, and try to stay right in the middle.

      I wish Canadians could organize by riding and all choose to vote for the best person who can beat the liberal party. Or bring in Monty Brewster and hold a big "Who You Gonna Vote For?" Campaign.

      All that being said, I do vote for the Green Party, but I also know that if they won the election, we would be completely screwed.

      --
      Is that a real poncho? I mean, is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
  8. NDP and Bloc have replied by Russell+McOrmond · · Score: 2, Informative
    We have received many more responses to the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) Election 2004 questions.

    We look forward to commentary on the NDP and the Bloc Québécois (Google Translation).

    Missing at this point from the major parties is the reply from the Conservative party.

    --

    Digital Copyright Canada forum