Our Man Mark: How MP Mark Warawa is fighting to make his people heard

I recently took my first step into political activism. I was moved to act in protest to the much talked about Bill C-61. C-61 is an amendment to Canada's copyright act which was apparently "made in Canada". The problem is, nobody seems to be able to identify which Canadians actually participated in the forming of the Bill or how it will actually benefit Canadian consumers, artists or business owners. The only thing that is clear is how it will empower US-owned multi-nationals to perpetuate a depricated business model and provide them the tools needed to repeat the show they've put on in courtrooms down south.

As I learned more about the Bill and became more and more concerned, I decided it was time I learned to use the voice I have been gifted by our Charter of Rights. I wrote to Mark Waraka, the MP who works so hard to represent my community in Ottawa. Surely he would listen. Afterall, I voted for him.

Just a couple days after I tossed my bottle into the digital ocean, I was delighted to see the little red star on my blackberry indicating our man Mark was earning his keep. I had been heard! I share with you, the deeply touching and heartfelt response: BillC-61-June19.pdf

// end sarcasm

The canned message Mr. Warawa sent out regarding Bill C-61 clearly indicates he has not heard the unified voice of the Canadian public and that he and his contemporaries have a very distorted perception of today’s marketplace and emerging technology. It is obvious he is not aware of the issues at hand and has not taken the time to form his own opinion.

The letter claims the new Act will provide consumers with rights for "everyday use". What does that mean? Today's everyday use means when I buy a CD (still my preferred method of acquiring music), I promptly fire it into my computer and load up my iPod. If the major record labels decide to throw in some flimsy digital projection, which my CD copying software might not even recognize, my "everyday use" quickly exposes me to litigation! In the last paragraph, the letter goes on to tell us how C-61 will bring us "fairness and clarity". The fairness is, at best, debatable. The clarity, down right laughable.

I congratulate you Mr. Warawa on being such a faithful lapdog. I hope you enjoy your ride on the party line, you’ve certainly earned your place; You have paid for it with whatever confidence I might have had in you. If this Bill goes through, it will be a sad indicator that we will likely have to wait for the next generation to arrive in office before Canada will truly embrace the digital marketplace.

Now where did I put my copy of the Charter?....