Chapters-Indigo versus Canadian publishers: a battle looms over the fate of CanLit
The publishing industry in this country has long maintained a precarious equilibrium thanks to a bewildering but effective set of regulations designed to protect Canadian books. If Chapters-Indigo gets its way, though, all that could change. At the moment, federal rules prevent foreign publishers from setting up shop in Canada but allow just the right amount of foreign investment to keep the whole shebang afloat. This year, those regulations are being reviewed, and experts worry that Stephen Harper doesn’t feel that books deserve the same “strategic resource” protection afforded to potash.
An in-depth feature in last Friday’s Globe highlights concerns within the industry that the balance may be tipped in favour of big booksellers and publishers, to the detriment of CanLit. The most contentious issue is distribution rights. Major publishers in Canada depend on revenues from big-name foreign titles to pay for less profitable Canadian work. Chapters-Indigo objects, arguing that these rules give Canadian publishers an unfair advantage. The chain is pushing the feds to allow it to purchase titles directly from the States. Canadian publishers warn that such a move could devastate the industry.
Also at issue is bookstore ownership. Currently, booksellers must be Canadian-controlled, but the Indigo empire is pushing to have those regulations opened up to allow foreign investment. Concerns that this would damage the viability of Canadian independent booksellers—who arguably work the hardest promoting CanLit—are hard to ignore.
The feds are expected to announce a decision within the year. Stay tuned.
• Publishers worry that Ottawa will allow more access to foreign firms [Globe and Mail]
I won’t be surprised if Harper doesn’t feel that books deserve the same strategic resource protection afforded to potash – after all, he does not appear to read!
Considering most of the books have a philosophical slant from only a liberal perspective, at that, I would not look for Cdn lit at Chapters/Indigo in the first place. I hope they get what they want, so they can openly say what they already convey through a veil.
If you want an unbiased account of Canadian literature, check out the Resource Library. They have excellent (free) events and a hands on approach to finding Canadian lit.
Jane – DWL!!! I love it! But seriously so true. He will just brush this off like how he brushed off the recession when the world was going out of control and told us all ‘ to go buy more stocks, now is a good time’. THAT would be Stephen Harper.
HEY HEY HO HO STEPHEN HARPER HAS TO GO!
“…who arguably work the hardest promoting Can-Lit…” – that is such a typical ill-informed comment. Just because they are big, bigger, biggest does not mean they do not do their part for Can-Lit – I can assure you that the bulk and I do mean the bulk of the sales of Can-Lit come from the biggest book retailer and what they are able to stock and put into the hands of readers is more the combined total of all the independants combined. And now with amazon.ca and chapters.ca we can all access what we want 24 hours a day and they likey have it in-stock or can access it far quicker than most bricks & mortar locations. So level the playing field with these comments and be fair. What matters and only matters is that good book get into the hands of readers though any and all efforts. Stop this petty finger-pointing attitude and celebrate all the efforts booksellers far and wide are doing regardless of name or size.
Cheers
This is insane. Sorry, but I don’t give a darn about CanLit, don’t enjoy it, never read it, and don’t feel I should have to subsidize it. Let’s have a free country, where people can spend their money on the books they want to read and not have to subsidize someone else’s ego trip. “oooh, I’m a writer…” If they’re good, they’ll make it on their merits.
…and CRITIC. That was actually good advice to buy stocks. You should have listened instead of working on that clever chant.