A little while ago, Reiko sent me a link to a CLA widget that allows Canadian library workers to contact the candidates for their riding to ask their position on issues surrounding copyright and net neutrality. While the widget allows you to contact all the candidates, I didn’t bother contacting Lorne Mayencourt because (1) he’s a Tory, (2) he’s Lorne Mayencourt.
So far I’ve only received answers from the Hedy Fry (Liberal - Incumbent) campaign and the Michael Byers (NDP) campaign. Hopefully I’ll receive an answer from the Adrienne Carr (Green) before election day. The questions and their answers appear below.
As someone who is actively involved within the library community, I am writing to you today to find
out your position on key issues that the library community is currently facing:
1. The Canadian Library Association (CLA), as well as many Canadians, continues to have growing concerns regarding proposed amendments to the Copyright Act. If elected, will you support the need to introduce copyright legislation that would ensure users’ rights are recognized in balance with the rights of creators and rights holders?
Fry: Yes, we could cancel Bill C-61 and rewrite a new Bill with input from stakeholders.
Byers: Yes.
2. Literacy continues to be a top priority for libraries and educational institutions. If elected, will you support the need to implement of a national literacy strategy?
Fry: The Liberal government had a Literacy Strategy and a Minister in charge - Senator Joyce Fairbairn. The Conservatives cancelled the program. Our Platform promises a National Literacy Strategy. (No link to platform was provided, but I’ve linked to a press release as I couldn’t find it in their platform documents. - Ed.)
Byers: Yes and we have more on this in our platform at: http://www.ndp.ca/platform/jobsandaffordability/education
3. The Library Book Rate, a Canada Post service since 1939, provides a reduced rate for mailing library books between libraries and from libraries to their users. If elected, what would you be willing to do to ensure that a reduced rate of postage for library materials is maintained in order to support one million Canadians?
Fry: I will support this.
Byers: Yes. (Hm. What does “yes” mean exactly in this context? - Ed.)
4. Industry Canada’s Community Access Program (CAP) provides Canadians with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively. If elected, what would you be willing to do to ensure that CAP stays alive, in order to help Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy?
Fry: Our Liberal government introduced and maintained CAP. We will continue to do so.
Byers: Yes (Again - what does ‘yes’ mean in this context? - Ed.)
5. Network (Net) Neutrality is the principle that all information or services sent over high-speed internet access should be treated equally, with no degradation or prioritization or privileges based on content, source, ownership or destination of information or service. In 2008, Net Neutrality became a very important issue in Canada. Where do you stand on addressing Net Neutrality?
Fry: I agree with net neutrality.
Byers: have copied our entire policy position on Net Neutrality below. (And that they did. - Ed.)
In Canada, the topic of so-called Net neutrality has not yet reached household status. However, I am pleased to say, my NDP colleague, Charlie Angus, recognized the importance of this issue and has already questioned the Minister of Industry, Jim Prentice in the House of Commons on net neutrality. A copy of Mr. Angus` intervention is shown below (It wasn’t. - Ed.)and, if you have not already done so, please visit: http://www.ndp.ca/page/6326.
So what does this mean? Well, it means that both the Liberals and NDP have similar positions on issues I care about, so I can’t find any fault with either candidate. I am a little disappointed, however, to be called “Mr Walker” by the Liberal candidate (who incidentally was present at my swearing-in ceremony). While Fry seemed to address each question, Byers’ one word answers often left me wondering if he (or his representative) had read the question fully and, lacking any boilerplate, couldn’t be arsed to come up with an off-the-cuff response.
I made up my mind last week about whom I would vote for, but with all the talk of strategic voting, I’m seriously rethinking my choice. On the surface, strategic voting makes no sense to me and flies in the face of convention. Why would I vote for a candidate I didn’t like simply to keep Harper out of office? Why not vote for the candiate whose views most closely align with my own?
My riding is up for grabs. There has been talk that no one candidate will secure a majority of the vote (thanks to Mayencourt and Carr), and as such people in Vancouver Centre should vote for the candidate who is most likely to win (Fry) instead of Byers. However, in this year where the word “change” has inspired so many south of the border, I’m starting to think that Vancouver Centre could do with a little change of its own.
