Mr. Gordon Brown: Mr. Speaker, I know my friend from Saanich—Gulf Islands has put some effort into learning about this issue.
I was first elected back in 2004. I sat on the heritage committee. We heard at that time that Canada had signed the WIPO agreement back in 1997 and yet in 2004 it had not complied with what it had in fact signed. We are now almost 2012 and still we are not compliant with WIPO.
I chaired the special legislative committee on Bill C-32. We heard from 100-plus witnesses. A lot of work has been done on this.
I know that the hon. member has spoken about some very positive aspects in the bill. There is one aspect I want to ask her about because in one part of the bill there is a provision for a mandatory five year review.
The digital economy is changing rapidly. Is that something the member sees as a positive aspect of this bill?
Ms. Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, any piece of legislation that includes a mandatory review is a good idea. However, I have had a lot of experience with mandatory five year reviews. I recall the first mandatory five year review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The review took seven years.
I do not think we can count on mandatory reviews every five years, when we know we have an opportunity right now to get it right. Therefore, let us get it right in committee, bring it back to the House at report stage for its passage, and have it go on to the other place with the digital lock provisions fixed.
This is a rare piece of legislation and that one fix will bring most of the critics on board.