Following the April 21^st, 2015 release of the Federal Government’s 2015-2016 Budget Plan, Strong Leadership, people interested in accessible library service will be pleased to learn the federal government has committed to signing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Marrakesh Treaty. The Treaty’s full name is Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Negotiations on the Treaty were completed in June 2013, and as of April 2015, approximately 80 countries have signed it, but only 8 nations (including two G20 countries: India and Argentina) have ratified it. Twenty ratifications are required for the treaty to come into force, so there will be a delay before we have access to the international collections about which we are so excited. However, this allows Canada to make changes (considered relatively minor ones) to the Copyright Act in advance of the treaty coming into force.

At NNELS, we aim to improve library access for all Canadians by expanding our  collection of books in accessible formats. We and our partners strongly encourage the federal government to establish a legislative framework that recognizes the vibrant network of existing Canadian accessibility service providers as authorized entities. It serves the public interest to enable these entities, including NNELS, to meet the growing and justified demands of all Canadians with print disabilities. 

Since the early days of the Initiative for Equitable Library Access (IELA), Government has recognized that a loosely coupled network of accountable partners, including the Provinces and Territories, will best meet the alternate format access needs of Canadians with print disabilities. This spirit of shared responsibility and commitment to action are resonant with the humanitarian and social development dimensions of the Marrakesh Treaty.

On behalf of NNELS, we look forward to working with our partners and other accessible-format producers and distributors to contribute to this discussion, and continue to expand world-class library service for everyone across Canada.

Background information

• Announcement of Marrakesh being tabled by federal government (April 27, 2015)
• Discussion in the federal government's Budget Plan (April 21, 2015; see, in particular, page 296)
• Michael Geist’s articles announcing the treaty in June 2013, and wondering why it wasn't signed in June 2014
• Electonic Information for Libraries (EIFL) backgrounder published December 2014: The Marrakesh Treaty: an EIFL Guide for Libraries