During the federal election, Online Rights Canada is asking Canadians to sign a petition to have politicians make a pledge. The pledge itself violates Section 550 of the Canada Elections Act.

From the Pledge: "WE THE UNDERSIGNED DECLARE:

We believe that the politicians who craft copyright policy should not take money from a small, wealthy subset of the people whom copyright is intended to serve. In order to address this conflict of interest, we request that Canadian politicians sign the following Copyright Pledge:

'No Member of Parliament who has accepted financial contributions or other benefits from (i) a copyright lobby group, (ii) its corporate members, or (iii) senior executives as well as (iv) a copyright collective shall serve as Minister of Canadian Heritage or as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, nor sit on any legislative committee (parliamentary or standing committees) conducting hearings or deliberations on copyright matters.'"

And from the Canada Elections Act, Section 550:

"Signed pledges by candidates prohibited

550. No candidate shall sign a written document presented by way of demand or claim made on him or her by any person or association of persons, between the issue of the writ and polling day, if the document requires the candidate to follow a course of action that will prevent him or her from exercising freedom of action in Parliament, if elected, or to resign as a member if called on to do so by any person or association of persons."