Government of Canada Announces Funding for Booknet Canada
TORONTO, June 9, 2003 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced a three-year funding commitment, in the amount of $2.5 million, to BookNet Canada, an industry organization dedicated to improving the distribution of books in Canada."The Government is pleased to contribute to the work of BookNet Canada, whose leadership and expertise will result in improvements to the supply chain which brings Canadian books to Canadian readers," said Minister Copps. "By supporting innovative initiatives such as this one, we ensure that the Canadian book industry remains viable, healthy, and well equipped to develop and promote the work of Canadian authors."
Over the next three years, BookNet Canada will implement a strategic plan that will involve a total investment of more than $4 million in the Canadian industry's communication and distribution infrastructure. Its immediate priorities include improving the industry's bibliographic information, its use of effective electronic communication, and its access to sales data. Government of Canada funding will help BookNet meet its goals and ensure the long-term stability of the Canadian book industry. The Department intends to hold a roundtable with the French Publishing Industry in the coming months.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
BOOKNET CANADA - BACKGROUND
Mandate
The corporation, created in December 2002, oversees the adoption of technologies and best business practices that will result in an improved supply chain for books.
BookNet Canada's immediate priorities are to ensure the industry's access to clean, complete bibliographic data; to facilitate the adoption of a standard and accessible platform for electronic communication; and to examine options for implementing point-of-sale data collection for the Canadian book trade.
The corporation undertakes the following activities in pursuit of achieving its objectives:
- research related to supply chain improvements
- liaising with Canadian stakeholders, sharing the results of research, recommending standards and best practices, leading industry discussions related to supply chain improvement
- assisting stakeholders in the implementation of recommended supply chain improvements, which could include measuring companies' ability to adopt standard practices, and developing bibliographic data and Electronic Data Interchange certification processes
- liaising with third-party service providers to ensure the supply chain needs of the Canadian industry are addressed
- representing the Canadian book industry on international book industry and supply chain-related organizations, and providing the Canadian industry with information on these bodies' work
Member Organizations
Association of Canadian Publishers
Canadian Publishers' Council
Canadian Booksellers Association
Association of Canadian Book Wholesalers
Department of Canadian Heritage
President and CEO
Michael Tamblyn
Board of Directors
Kevin Williams (Raincoast Books)
Jim Lorimer (Formac Publishing)
John Dill (McGraw Hill Ryerson)
David Clarke (Scholastic Canada Ltd.)
Todd Anderson (University of Alberta Bookstore)
Doug Minett (The Bookshelf)
Peter Waldock (North 49 Books)
Victor DiRisio (Indigo Books and Music - Member at large)
Allan Clarke (Department of Canadian Heritage)
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