The government has announced a consultation “to consider whether to adopt accompanying measures to mitigate the potential implications” of extending the general term of copyright from 50 to 70 years after the life of the author as required by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Potential measures include an expanded orphaned works regime or an out-of-commerce regime.

The consultation (link) is open until March 12, 2021. A consultation document lists some potential measures, including expanding the orphaned works or an out-of-commerce regime, and exceptions for works nearing the end of the copyright term. Stakeholders and the public are asked to comment on these measures or other ideas.