Government of Canada Invests in British Columbia Publishers

- On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament (Edmonton-Spruce Grove), today announced investments totalling $2.35 million in British Columbia publishers. These investments will support the ongoing production and promotion of Canadian-authored books, industry-wide projects to increase the visibility of Canadian titles in the online marketplace, and internships in the publishing industry.

"Our Government is proud to have renewed its support for Canadian books for the next five years," said Minister Moore. "The funding we are announcing today for British Columbia publishers is a good example of the sound and significant investment in Canadian content we are committed to making throughout the country."

"Canadians want to have access to a wide variety of Canadian-authored books that reflect their voices and their interests," said Minister Ambrose. "Our Government is taking action to ensure that they will continue to be served by an innovative and competitive publishing industry, able to deliver Canadian content when, where, and how readers want it."

"In this economic climate, it would be easy-and possibly politically expedient-to reduce funding for publishing and other artistic endeavours," said Margaret Reynold, Executive Director of the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia. "It is much to this government's credit that they have recognized not only the cultural importance of book publishing activity, but also its significant contribution to the economy."

"Given a variety of challenges that B.C.'s book publishers have faced this year, the recent arrival in our offices of the Government of Canada agreements and notice of the support funding they will provide is welcome news indeed," said Rodger Touchie, Publisher of Heritage House Publishing Company and President of the Association of Canadian Publishers. "This program is a critical component of our industry's economic viability, and the fact that Minister Moore recently confirmed the Government's ongoing commitment to ATP within the structure of the newly announced Canada Book Fund has been applauded by publishers across the country."

The investments announced today are provided through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP). As part of its renewal, BPIDP will be streamlined and renamed the Canada Book Fund to reflect the evolution of its role from being the supporter of a developing industry to reinforcing a mature industry that brings Canadian books to readers everywhere.

For more information on the Book Publishing Industry Development Program, visit www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/pgm/padie-bpidp/index-eng.cfm.

For more information on the Canada Book Fund, visit www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/book.

For more information (media only), please contact:

Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

The following publishers are recipients of the funding announced today: