In 2008, the ruling federal Conservatives introduced Bill-61, a contentious, anti-consumer piece of copyright legislation that, if passed, would have punished people who download or share copyright material with fines ranging from $500 to $20,000.

Enforcing the bill would have been impossible, requiring near-constant surveillence of the Internet, argued opponents. The bill died later that same year when Parliament was dissolved prior to the federal election.

The government then spent several months last summer consulting with Canadians and seemed to be moving towards a more consumer-friendly amendment to the copyright bill.

That was then.

According to Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, the prime minister's office has reportedly capitulated to U.S. lawmakers and the Canadian copyright bill will likely mirror the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act — contrary to the wishes of Candian consumers — and could be passed as early as June. 

Geist contends the new bill will contain "tough anti-circumvention rules and no flexible fair dealing provision," making it "the most anti-consumer copyright bill in Canadian history."

So what can Canadians do? Write a paper letter to your Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister and Opposition leader Michael Ignatieff, says Geist. No stamp is required - be sure to include your home address and send it to the House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6. One can also join the Facebook group and/or Facebook page and encourage others to do the same.