Alan Willaert

AFM Vice President from Canada

Low Friends in High Places—How Union Solidarity and Lobbying Helped Get Political Support for Canadian Musicians

March 1, 2021

When the pandemic effectively demolished live music in mid-March of last year, the AFM Canadian Office immediately dispatched letters to whomever in government was in a position to be of assistance, as identified with the aid of our knowledgeable lobbyist, Isabel Metcalfe. While I’m sure our plea to recognize the severity of the situation did […]

Organizing to Reset: Utilizing Lessons from the Past

January 1, 2021

en français “Schools closed, church services cancelled, restaurants, shops, theatres, and venues shuttered, public gatherings limited and then banned, and a $5 ‘civic duty’ fine levied against those refusing to wear a mask,” was how it was reported. Sound familiar? Interestingly, those events took place between 1918 and 1920, when the so-called “Spanish Flu” claimed […]

Bill C-10: Amending Canada’s Broadcast Act

December 1, 2020

(en français) Broadcasting, and the sectors it supports, account for a huge economic impact on Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2019, broadcasting alone accounted for $9.1 billion of GDP, revenues of $16.9 billion, and represented 41,901 jobs. Film and video were $4.3 billion of GPD, revenues of $13.9 billion, and 71,027 jobs. Music and […]

Murder, They Wrote

November 1, 2020

français I have previously articulated that today’s society is blissfully oblivious of how a five-day week, an eight-hour working day, holidays, maternity leave, healthcare, and the simple right to organize (along with many other benefits) transpired. The perceived value of these has become minimized, and the desire to maintain the required solidarity has been lost, […]

Private Copying – An Important Source of Revenue for Musicians

October 1, 2020

Revisions to Canada’s Copyright Act are imminent, and indications are that many of the recommendations submitted by the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM), perhaps most, have a very good chance of making it into legislation. Contained within our submission was expansion of the private copying regime, administered by the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC), in […]

Who IS the Union?

September 1, 2020

en français When the pandemic is contained and conditions are favourable for live music to restart, we must all be prepared for an unprecedented, extremely difficult recovery. Every facet of the business/life we love will be tested—severely so—and the one thing that will ensure survival is also the most difficult thing to achieve: Solidarity. It […]

Pourquoi pas un revenu minimum garanti?

July 28, 2020

in English par Alan Willaert, vice-président de la FAM pour le Canada Nous sommes en avril 2018 et Frédéric (nom fictif), de Hamilton, s’est qualifié pour le projet pilote de l’Ontario portant sur le revenu de base. Handicapé, il ne pouvait compter jusque-là que sur le Programme ontarien de soutien aux personneshandicapées pour payer son […]

How About a Basic Income Guarantee?

July 28, 2020

en français It’s April of 2018, and “Fred” (not his real name) from Hamilton, Ontario, has qualified for the Ontario Basic Income (OBI) pilot project. Disabled, he had been relying solely on the Ontario Disability Support Programme (ODSP) to cover his rent and other day-to-day expenses, while also relying on food banks for meals. The […]

Planning for Post-Quarantine

June 29, 2020

Now Comes the Fun Part

Well, Now What?

June 22, 2020

Clearly, the new normal will be nothing like the old, and we may be stuck with it for quite some time. Make sure you have the AFM in your corner. Don’t go out into this new reality alone and unprepared.