QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
Support for Independent Bookstores
March 30, 2021
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, last year many Canadians picked up reading again and chose to purchase their books online. On the surface that seems like good news, but the shift in consumer habits to online shopping has had a devastating effect on the dramatic increase in delivery fees for independent bookstores, fees that are sometimes as high as 50% of the retail value of the book.
There is a solution, and that involves giving Canadian independent bookstores the same preferential rate that Canada Post gives to libraries, which allows books to be delivered for about $2 a unit.
My question for you is the following. In recognition that our Canadian independent bookstores are part of Canadian culture, that they promote Canadian culture across the country and that they have to compete with giants like Amazon, can your government commit to supporting them so that they can get the same preferential rate at Canada Post that libraries get for book delivery?
Thank you for your question. I certainly share your enthusiasm for independent bookstores. It is such a pleasure and a joy to go into a bookstore.
If I’m not mistaken, you’re referring to Canada Post’s reduced postage rate for library materials on loan, including return postage to the loaning library. Canada Post is able to provide this service because the Canada Post Corporation Act explicitly provides for, and I quote, “a reduced rate of postage for library materials.” This is the only reduced rate the act provides for.
I also want to point out to my esteemed colleague that Canada Post operates at arm’s length from the government and that it would be better to address these questions to the corporation itself.