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e-3804 (Education and training)

E-petition
Initiated by John Degen from Toronto, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the extremely poor state of educational materials supplied to students and teachers;
  • Lack of proper investment in Canadian materials means Canada’s students are expected to learn from outdated photocopies and scans of non-Canadian sources;
  • Canada’s writers and other cultural workers have not been properly paid when their work is copied in schools, colleges, and universities for over a decade, contributing to a cultural and educational emergency;
  • The Government of Canada has recommendations in hand to make simple legislative changes that will address this crisis, and broad Parliamentary support for such repair has been indicated; and
  • International standards exist for the kind of legislative repair recommended.
We, the undersigned, concerned voters and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to amend the Copyright Act to repair the market for Canadian materials in the classroom and to specifically and immediately:
1. Ensure educational copying is licensed, with royalties flowing back to writers and publishers;
2. Clarify that Copyright Board tariffs are mandatory, with statutory damages for non-compliance; and
3. Work with provincial governments to ensure the education sector is properly funded, so it can pay its bills for materials, and deliver essential service to Canadian students.

Response by the Minister of Canadian Heritage

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Chris Bittle

The Government would like to thank the petitioners for expressing their concerns on the issue of educational copying and publishing.

The Government understands and appreciates the importance of Canadian creators. Their work contributes to the promotion of Canadian culture and history, at home and abroad.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry are pursuing a mandate to further protect artists, creators, and copyright holders.

The federal government seeks to ensure that Canada’s copyright marketplace framework laws foster vibrant cultural industries that support creativity and innovation, fair remuneration for creators for the use of their works, and a modern and innovative marketplace that can efficiently serve copyright users. We remain mindful of the need for Canada’s copyright regime to foster a sustainable publishing industry, with fair payment for creators and an efficient way for teachers and students to use copyrighted works.

As stated in Budget 2022, the Government is committed to taking concrete actions to address these concerns while recognizing the complexity of the marketplace and the many interests involved.

The Government will continue to engage with affected stakeholders while working to address this issue in a timely manner.

Open for signature
February 20, 2022, at 3:17 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
April 21, 2022, at 3:17 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Julie Dabrusin (Toronto—Danforth)
February 2, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01098)
Government response tabled
March 20, 2023
Photo - Julie Dabrusin
Toronto—Danforth
Liberal Caucus
Ontario
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