Question Period Note: FUNDING TO SUPPORT PERSONS WITH PRINT DISABILITIES

How is the Government of Canada supporting access to reading materials and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities?

• Access to alternate format reading materials is critical for persons with print disabilities to fully participate in the Canadian economy and society.

• That is why the Government is providing $32.5 million over five years, beginning in 2024-25, for a new Equitable Access to Reading Program that will increase the availability of alternate formats.

• On May 9 2024, the Government launched the first Call for Proposals for organizations to apply for funding under the program.

• The program will provide dedicated, predictable funding to not-for-profit and small for-profit organizations to make alternate format materials available to persons with print disabilities.

Funding History – CNIB, Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and National Network for Equitable Library Services (NNELS)

Between 2015-16 and 2024-25, the Government of Canada has provided over $30 million to the CNIB Foundation, Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) to support the after-market conversion of reading materials into alternate formats and their distribution. This funding has helped to ensure that persons with print disabilities have access to reading materials in the alternate format that meets their needs.

2021 Mandate Letter Commitment

On December 16, 2021, the Prime Minister released Ministerial mandate letters which reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to permanently fund support services that ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities.

Budget 2022 Investments

Budget 2022 committed $38 million over seven years in support of reading materials in alternate formats, including:

• $5 million over two years to support the production of alternate formats by CELA and NNELS in 2022-23 and 2023-24;

• $500,000 to conduct research on the needs of persons with print disabilities; and,

• $32.5 million over five years to launch the Equitable Access to Reading Program (EARP), beginning in 2024-25.

In addition, existing agreements with CELA and NNELS have been extended into 2024-25 to ensure continued support until the launch of the EARP.EARP

Beginning in 2024-25, the EARP will provide $30 million over 5 years in contributions funding to not-for-profit and small for-profit organizations (i.e., 99 employees or less) to support the production of reading materials in alternate formats for persons with print disabilities. Funding for the EARP includes $2.5 million in operating funding for ESDC to launch and administer the program.

On May 9 2024, The EARP was launched through a competitive call for proposals that will provide funding of $6 million per year, starting in 2024-25.

As part of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, the development of the EARP adopted the principle of “nothing without us” and was informed by engagement with persons with print disabilities, the organizations that represent and serve them, the broader disability community, and industry experts on accessible reading technology, as well as a direct survey of persons who require alternate formats to better understand their needs.

Results from the Survey on Accessible Print Materials were released on Statistics Canada’s website in October 2023, and a “What we Heard” report on the findings from engagement is available.

The new EARP agreements are targeting to begin in Fall 2024.

The Marrakesh Treaty

In 2016, Canada joined the Marrakesh Treaty (the Treaty). The Treaty’s objective is to increase opportunities to import and export accessible versions of print materials, while ensuring the continued protection of authors’ rights.

If Pressed

• The Equitable Access to Reading Program was part of a suite of investments announced in Budget 2022 totalling $38 million over seven years to improve access to alternate format reading materials. These investments also included:

o $5 million over two years, in 2022-23 and 2023-24, to the Centre for Equitable Library Access and the National Network for Equitable Library Service to support the production of reading materials in alternate formats until the launch of the new program. In addition, to ensure support for alternate format production was uninterrupted until the launch of the first call for proposals, the Government extended existing agreements with these two important partner organizations.
o $500,000 to support research and engagement to better understand the alternate format needs of persons with print disabilities to inform the program.