Question Period Note: Funding to support persons with print disabilities

Why is the Government of Canada cutting funding to support services that ensure equitable access to reading 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 Canadian society.

• This is why the Government invested $10 million in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement to support the not-for-profit sector in enabling access to alternate format materials in addition to $22.8 million in Budget 2019 to help the publishing industry ramp up its creation of accessible books at source.

• The Government also provided an additional $1 million in March 2021 to the Center for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and National Network for Equitable Library Services (NNELS), recognizing the profound effect the pandemic has had and the increased need for accessible reading materials as individuals faced periods of isolation.

• The Government is committed to developing a long-term plan to make funding permanent for services enabling access to published works for Canadians with print disabilities.

SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGES

• These investments are early action items under the Government of Canada’s broader Disability Inclusion Action Plan announced in the September 2020 Speech from the Throne.

• Our government has also supported access to alternate format materials by joining the Marrakesh Treaty in 2016.

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

Since 2015–2016, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $20 million in funding for the production and distribution of alternate format materials. CELA and its partner organization, the CNIB Foundation, as well as NNELS, have received funding to ensure that persons with disabilities have accessible materials available to them through public libraries.

The Transition Strategy for the Production of Alternate Format Books in Canada

In Budget 2019, the Government announced $22.8 million over five years to fund the Transition Strategy for the Production of Alternate Format Books in Canada. The Strategy was developed based on the results of the Working Group on Alternate Format Materials for Canadians with Print Disabilities. The Strategy aims to:

• enable the production of accessible reading materials by independent Canadian publishers so that digital books are “born accessible” when they go on the market;
• support the development of new technologies so that access to alternate formats is quicker and cheaper; and
• provide transitional funding for CELA and NNELS as independent Canadian publishers prepare to produce accessible digital books.

Transitional funding of $10 million was announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2020 to support the not-for-profit sector. This funding will enable access to alternate format materials while Canada’s independent book publishing industry continues to increase the production and distribution of accessible books. This funding will also support Canadians with print disabilities in developing technological skills and the capacity to use new digital tools in an ever-changing world.

The Government also announced $1 million for CELA and NNELS in 2021–2022 in recognition of the profound effect the pandemic has had and of the significant need for access to print materials as individuals are more isolated.

The Marrakesh Treaty

In 2016, Canada signed on to 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.

2021 Platform Commitment

The 2021 Liberal Platform committed to making permanent funding to support services that ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities so that more Canadians are able to fully participate in these activities.

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