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Canadian Consumer Groups Respond To Moore on C-32

By Michael Geist

The Canadian Consumer Initiative, which represents major consumer organizations from across Canada including the Consumers Council of Canada, Option consommateurs, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Union des consommateurs, has written to Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore to respond to his comment in the House of Commons asserting that the Chamber of Commerce acts in the best interests of consumers.  The letter notes that the Chamber in no way represents consumer interests and that the CCI is united opposing the digital lock provisions found in C-32.  Full text of the letter below:


Dear Minister Moore,

On Monday, June 14, 2010, Mme. Lavallée, the Honourable Member from Saint- Bruno—Saint-Hubert, questioned you in the House of Commons on the failure of Bill C-32, the Copyright Modernization Act, to benefit either creators or consumers. Incredibly, you responded that 'An organization that my colleague knows well, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, does act in consumers' best interests' and supports Bill C-32.

Minister Moore, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is a business lobby group that in no way represents consumer interests, and in fact opposes the position of consumer groups on copyright policy.

The member groups of the Canadian Consumer Initiative do, in fact, represent consumers. The Canadian Consumer Initiative includes four major Canadian consumer organisations: the Consumers Council of Canada, Option consommateurs, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Union des consommateurs. The CCI is united in opposing the digital lock provisions of Bill C- 32. On June 4, two days following the release of Bill C-32, the CCI issued a joint media release that – contrary to your position in the House and the position of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – condemned Bill C-32's anti-circumvention provisions:


We invite you to meet with any of our member groups to learn how Bill C-32's digital lock provisions undermine Canadian consumer interests.

Full post as published by Michael Geist on June 16, 2010 (boomark / email).