Despite mounting pressure from politicians and studio heads south of the border, lawmakers remain unsure when new copyright legislation — shutting pirates out of Canadian theaters — might arrive.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was prodded on the issue last week in a letter from U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and John Cornyn of Texas, who urged him to take action against in-theater piracy before the problem ‘continues to mushroom’ north of the border.

‘Since the United States has enacted tougher laws and penalties against piracy, including camcording piracy, it seems that much of this illicit business has simply moved north,’ the senators write in the March 2 letter, adding that Canadian-sourced camcordings have risen by 24% since 2005.

The letter also went to Justice Minister Robert Douglas, Heritage Minister Bev Oda and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier.

The Tories were expected to put forth amendments to the Copyright Act last fall, though those never appeared. Reports now say changes to the aging law may not arrive until after the spring budget.

‘Copyright is a complex issue in the world, especially with rapidly changing technology,’ says Bernier spokesperson Isabelle Fontaine, adding that the Liberals had 10 years to beef up Canada’s laws but ‘failed to do so.’

The issue has become a hot potato for Cineplex Entertainment boss Ellis Jacob, who last November received an angry e-mail from Bruce Snyder at Twentieth Century Fox citing the illegal videotaping of Fox films in Canuck theaters. Jacob is among those calling for improved laws.

‘I think it’s fair to say that it’s much, much tougher to stop the piracy that’s going on with the existing laws,’ he says.

Phone calls to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson’s office were not returned.

With files from Marcus Robinson