The Pirate Party of Canada was bemused to learn of the content of a speech recently delivered by the Honourable Jim Flaherty at a function in Ottawa on September 21st, which, in part, compared the current political situation in the House of Commons to “a would-be captain and his ragtag crew […] trying to storm the bridge”.
Mr. Flaherty’s comments are ironic given that the policy of his government is being subjected to close scrutiny and criticism by the Pirate Party. In particular, we strongly object to its push to enact Bill C-32 with DRM circumvention clauses that attack the interests of Canadian artists and consumers, and its continued involvement in negotiations in the misleadingly-named “Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement” (ACTA), which strives to protect the multinational music and film corporations from artists, consumers, and entrepreneurs’ attempts to develop a stronger, more sustainable creative industry.
Founded in 2009, the Pirate Party of Canada was established to protect the rights of consumers of information and culture against increasingly-draconian laws enacted in response to the demands of corporate interests. Specifically, the Party is committed to reform Canadian copyright laws, encourage innovation through patent reform, protect all Canadian citizens with strengthened privacy laws, and affirm their right to monitor their own government by promoting the ideals of open government.
