Is Canada's iPod tax back? And if so, will BJ Snowden get her cut?
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 17th 2010 3:24PM
posted March 17th 2010 3:24PM
We know, BJ Snowden is an American artist -- but since her song "In Canada" is probably on every iPod and computer up north, we have to wonder whether a proposed amendment to the Canadian Copyright act will help her finally get what's coming to her. The brainchild of the New Democratic Party's Charlie Angus, the bill would extend 1997's Private Copying Levy "to the next generation of devices that consumers are using for copying sound recordings for personal use." Proponents of the plan says that it ensures that artists get paid for their work -- essentially, the government wants you to pay upfront for the music you're likely to steal anyways by taxing your next digital audio player purchase. Of course, much about the plan doesn't make sense (it doesn't address digital video, for instance, or the computers that people use to download and store their music in the first place) but we guess we'll let the Canadian government hash that one out. This is obviously not a new idea, and it is one the courts have rejected already, but who knows? Maybe this time it will "take." Lets hope not, eh?
Update: No surprise, but the levy is already being shouted down by Industry Minister Tony Clement calling it "totally nonsensical" and "180 degrees in the wrong direction" with regard to the government's strategy to embrace the internet, not stifle it.
Update: No surprise, but the levy is already being shouted down by Industry Minister Tony Clement calling it "totally nonsensical" and "180 degrees in the wrong direction" with regard to the government's strategy to embrace the internet, not stifle it.
@tjcarey :: What?!? People actually live in Winnipeg?
Another "eh" joke?
C'mon guys, try a little harder. That one got old in the 70's!
@Lordjim23 Tell that to the new Tim Horton's ad guys.
I dont know much about the tax thing but i do want to ask how the ipod touch (in picture) is charging without any apparent cables being attached, and for that matter why the ipod and the hand apparently have different light sources,
im a photoshopper so maybe these things just jump at me
We got this shit already in switzerland, it's called SUISA, and you pay a tax, for mp3 player and for HD TV recorders.
But you don't even pay the same tax/GB on a flash-mp3-player as you do on a hd-mp3-player, the one on flash player is much higher because the size of a flash player is usually far less.
What a joke!!
This is a continuation of the tax that was (still is?) in place in Canada from writable / recordable media (from ye old cassettes to RW DVDs). I thought it already covered hard drives? or maybe that was just a proposal?
Anyways - I cant say say that i min it so long a they don't go after people for downloads / copies of music.
If this goes through, will people be able to download without fear of prosecution -if- they have bought a player?
Yay this is Good!!! Now I can download all my music online for free!!!!!
I live here now.
Everything she sings is a lie.
In song form
Hi, I'm Canadian, who the F is BJ Snowden
how does the state taxing the purchase of electronics "ensure that the artists get paid"? which artists? do i get paid? is it meant to discourage downloading by putting a punitive tax on listening devices so that people dont buy ipods and somehow therefore dont illegaly downlad any music? my american brain is cornfused.
sorry, Kornfused. with a backwards, capital "r".
Uh, I'm a Canuck and someone would have to pay me to download that song. That's painful.
Arrrgh, take that video off the article, it's terrible! I have to run wash my ears now from all the blood that came gushing out when I heard that atrocity.
Vote Pirate Party, people!
What is with the NDPs lately? Two-faced much? First they fight HST, and then they propose this? Screw the NDPs, I'm voting Bloc and moving to Quebec.
@Widgetech
Aww crap, the Bloc wanted this too apparently... better than the DMCA I suppose.
Canada is pathetic when it comes to technology and services. We cannot have a Netflix cause there isn't enough market, there's a tax for pre-emptive downloading, internet services aren't very competitive, and as for data and mobile services well 4 companies all have smartphone offerings but they're all the same price points. I don't care much, I don't plan to buy anything locally here anyways rather give my money to an American retailer.
Let me simplify things, in Canada (specifically Ontario) everything you see you're probably taxed for.
Food tax, Entertainment tax, Provincial Sales tax, Goods and Services Tax (which with PST is HST...).
We also pay for frivolous things, for example our phone bills.
911 fee, system access fee, incoming text message fee (including ads...)
... don't get me wrong though, I love Canada! (Cause I'm too young to pay tax... in a year I'll visit America)
I haven't bought any electronics in Canada since... forever.
14.5% tax, levies, recycling fees (in BC).
You'd have to be an idiot to pay those prices.
AAAHHH!! That is the worst atrocity I have ever seen / heard. It makes me want to scream. Please. Take it BACK! UGH! That lady is BANNED from Ceyyaannadaaa! we Don't want her to sing any more songs about our country.