HERI Committee Report

APPENDIX D

FEDERAL SUPPORT MEASURES FOR
CANADIAN BOOK PUBLISHING

A. Canadian Heritage: Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP)

The objective of BPIDP is to promote Canadian publishing. This is done by working with Canadian publishers to help them promote their books in Canada and around the world.

The program is targeted at meeting the needs of Canadian book publishers and their professional associations, organizations and agencies, and is comprised of four components:

1. Aid to publishers: is aimed at improving the financial position of participating publishers. Applicants must be 75 per cent Canadian-owned and -controlled publishers who have been in business for at least 36 months and whose principal activity is book publishing.

2. Aid to industry and associations: includes funding for all types of industry projects aimed at improving the Canadian book publishing sector. Associations, organizations, agencies or firms representing one or more sectors of the book trade are eligible to apply. National professional associations representing book publishers are eligible for research and professional development initiatives.

3. Distribution assistance: To encourage the development of an information infrastructure through the creation and upgrading of title databases and the acquisition of software and hardware appropriate to user needs. Projects which conform with industry standards within the various sectors of the book trade will be considered. Professional associations, agencies, and organizations that represent the Canadian book publishing industry, as well as Canadian publishers eligible for the aid to publishers component holding distribution rights for at least two other publishers eligible for the BPIDP will be considered for assistance.

4. International marketing assistance: Eligibility criteria for this component are the same as for the aid to publishers. The Association for the Export of Canadian Books (AECB) administers this component for the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Publishers applying to the Program must qualify under specific definitions for book publishing, Canadian ownership, eligible titles, and eligible sales. These include:

• The publisher's principal activity must be book publishing. At least 75 per cent of an applicant's revenues must be derived from publishing and the sale of printed books. The publisher must also demonstrate the ability to edit, design, produce and distribute the books that it publishes. Unincorporated divisions of larger organizations are not eligible.
• The company must be owned and controlled by Canadians. The percentage of Canadian ownership and control must be 75 per cent or greater. As well, the firm must provide a complete set of financial statements showing a 12-month financial year that reflects the 75 per cent ownership and control requirement. Company headquarters and at least 75 per cent of employees must be based in Canada.
• Publishers must operate in the private sector, including non-profit publishing houses. University presses are an exception and are eligible.
• The publisher must have completed at least 36 months of operation as a business whose principal activity is book publishing.
• The publisher must have published, in print form, a minimum of 15 Canadian-authored trade titles, of which at least four were published in each of the three preceding financial years; or 10 Canadian-authored educational or scholarly titles, of which at least two were published in each of the three preceding financial years.
• New editions of previously published titles are not considered new titles. The publisher must have fulfilled all contractual obligations with respect to royalty payments.

B. The Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts offers a range of grants for professional Canadian writers, collectives and publishers. In addition to providing support for the creation, translation, publication and promotion of Canadian literature, the Writing and Publishing Section funds author residencies, literary readings and festivals, as well as new areas of activity such as rap poetry, storytelling and electronic literature. All Canada Council programs are accessible to Aboriginal artists or arts organizations, and artists or arts organizations of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.

1. Emerging publisher grants and block grants: In the context of its mandate to foster the production and enjoyment of the arts in Canada, Canada Council provides financial assistance to Canadian publishers to offset the costs of publishing Canadian trade books that make a significant contribution to the development of Canadian literature. This assistance is made available through emerging publisher Grants for small or emerging publishers and block grants for established publishers. Book publishers receiving emerging publisher grants or block grants are also eligible to apply for translation grants and author promotion tour support. Information sheets on the latter two programs are available on request from the Writing and Publishing Section.

2. Translation grants: Within its mandate to promote and disseminate the arts in Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts provides financial assistance for the first translation of literary works written by Canadians. Translation must be into French, English or a Native language with a view to the publication of the works in Canada.

3. Author promotion tours 2000: for eligible titles -- The Canada Council for the Arts provides support to book publishers participating in the book publishing support program for a portion of the costs of promotion tours that give greater public and media exposure to their current publication programs. Support is available for tours by Canadian authors, illustrators, or translators of titles eligible for Canada Council for the arts book publishing support. Support is not available for writers who own or are employed by the publishing house making the application.

4. Co-Operative projects in writing and publishing: This program provides financial assistance for co-operative promotion projects that increase public awareness of, and access to, Canadian writing, books and periodicals or that directly enhance the ability of writers or publishers to create, produce and disseminate Canadian literature.