Distributor Upgrades Technology to Promote Access to Canadian Books
VANCOUVER, May 20, 2004 -- The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Member of Parliament (Vancouver-Quadra), on behalf of the Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced that the Government of Canada will support the efforts of Raincoast Books Distribution to give Canadians better access to a wide diversity of books."Raincoast Books Distribution has begun a process to modernize its equipment in order to benefit from new technologies," said Minister Owen. "I encourage this Vancouver distributor to continue its efforts to provide the various players in the book supply chain with rapid and efficient electronic communications tools, which are essential in today's world."
"Distributors are key players in the publishing industry, especially in such a geographically vast country as ours. Thanks to their work, we have access to a variety of books written by Canadian authors," said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "Therefore, it is important that distributors such as Raincoast Books Distribution use state-of-the-art management and distribution technologies in order to stay connected with their markets and to serve their clients with greater efficiency."
Founded in 1975, Raincoast Books Distribution has become the regional distribution hub in Western Canada. The funding of $237,826 will enable the distributor to complete the second phase of its technology modernization operations.
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Support for the Canadian Book Industry Supply Chain Initiative component of its Book Publishing Industry Development Program, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The component supports activities that seek to strengthen and modernize the supply chain for books in Canada.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget.
Information:
Alaistair Mullin
Director of Communications
Office of Stephen Owen
(819) 994-5412
Marc Roy
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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