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September 22, 2009
Government of Canada Renews Investments in Canadian Books with an Emphasis on Digital Technologies
VICTORIA, September 22, 2009 - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced renewed funding for the Canadian book industry totalling $39.5 million per year over the next five years. The renewed investment will help publishers and other book industry stakeholders to weather the current economic slowdown. "Today's announcement means that the recession will not reduce Government funding for the production and promotion of Canadian books," said Minister Moore. "This will help maintain thousands of jobs, while ensuring that readers everywhere continue to have access to a variety of Canadian-authored books." Electronic media present new ways for Canadians to buy, read, and learn about Canadian books. This funding will help ensure that the book industry is able to keep pace with the digital publishing world as it evolves. It will enable Canadian publishers to adopt more competitive business models, use more efficient distribution processes, and publish more Canadian books in the formats that Canadians demand. "Canadian-owned book publishers compete every day to bring books to Canadian readers. Thanks to the support provided by the federal government, Canadian publishers are able to compete effectively with multinational houses many times their size," said Andrew Wooldridge, President of the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia. "On behalf of the Association of Canadian Publishers, thank you, Minister, for the commitment your government is making today to our industry. This will help ensure that Canadian books continue to be available for Canadians to read, in whatever formats readers want them." This investment is currently managed through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP). The Government of Canada is building on the success of the existing program and shifting its role from being the supporter of a developing industry to reinforcing a mature industry that brings Canadian books to readers everywhere. To reflect this evolution, the BPIDP will be renamed the Canada Book Fund. The government will also streamline program delivery to reduce administrative burden and costs for applicants.
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