Intellectual property rights are a hot topic in Canada, with federal government promising to develop an “intellectual property strategy” in this year’s budget. This idea is welcome. Canada has an uneven record on intellectual property policy.
With a major new project, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is seeking to start a national conversation about the importance of IP, and how it positively contributes to investment, innovation, and job creation. On June 15 we heard from Parliamentary Secretary David Lametti about the government’s plans, and we have convened a high-level panel to discuss the state of intellectual property rights in Canada.
The event also featured:
- Host: Brian Lee Crowley, Macdonald-Laurier Institute Managing Director
- Opening Remarks: David Lametti, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
- Presentation: Richard Owens, MLI Munk Senior Fellow
- Panel Moderator: Sean Speer, MLI Munk Senior Fellow
- Panellists:
- Barry Sookman, Senior Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
- Erin Finlay, Chief Legal Officer, Canadian Media Producers Association
- Stephen Ezell, Vice President, Global Innovation Policy, at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
- Declan Hamill, Vice-President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs & Policy, Innovative Medicines Canada
