The Association of Book Publishers of B.C. (Books BC) is celebrating the news that the provincial Book Publishing Tax Credit is to be made permanent effective March 31, 2026.
First introduced in 2003, the Book Publishing Tax Credit has played a crucial role in ensuring the survival and fostering the growth of British Columbia’s vibrant, world-class publishing sector. With the removal of the “sunset clause,” the tax credit becomes a permanent support, allowing publishers to navigate supply-chain challenges, maintain competitiveness with out-of-province firms, and capitalize their operations based on predictable funding.
This decision follows the removal in recent years of the sunset clause from both the Film and Television Tax Credit and the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit.
“Books BC has effectively been advocating for the renewal of the Book Publishing Tax Credit for twenty years,” Executive Director Matea Kulić said. “Today we wish to express our appreciation to the Government of B.C. for being responsive to the needs and concerns of our members by making this crucial support permanent. All British Columbians benefit from a thriving local book publishing industry that reflects their stories and culture back to them, and contributes to a stronger creative economy. It ensures that the hundreds of local authors, illustrators, and contractors employed by the book industry remain supported here in B.C.”
Quotes:
Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“Our government is pleased to make the Book Publishing Tax Credit permanent, strengthening the foundation of our entire creative ecosystem. This long-term, stable support gives B.C. publishers the confidence to invest in new voices and bold ideas, while ensuring local authors can continue to share stories that reflect the richness of our province. By securing this credit for the future, we’re helping to build a vibrant, sustainable book sector that nurtures talent, fuels creativity and delivers more made‑in‑B.C. books to readers everywhere.”
Andrew Wooldridge and Ruth Linka, Orca Book Publishers—
“B.C. publishers don’t just make books; we support local creators, tell B.C. stories and get Canadian books into readers’ hands—at home and around the world. By removing the Book Publishing Tax Credit’s expiration date, this government is backing a vibrant, resilient publishing industry for the long term and putting us on an equal footing with other jurisdictions.”
Rob Sanders, CEO and Founding Publisher of Greystone Books—
“Making this program permanent provides us with assurance that we can continue to take bold steps in publishing high-profile BC authors around the world. Permanency contributes significantly to preserving the company for a new generation of employees and content creators who will take Greystone into the future.”
Kevin Williams, Publisher of Talonbooks—
“The tax credit enables businesses to plan confidently for the long term, even during difficult and uncertain periods. It’s not only an essential part of the business model for B.C. publishers, but also facilitates generational change within the industry. By providing ongoing support, it helps ensure that new voices and leadership can emerge, strengthening the sector for years to come.”
Anna Comfort O’Keeffe, Publisher of Douglas and McIntyre—
“As publishers dedicated to working with authors in B.C. and Canada, we welcome the Book Publishing Tax Credit as a crucial investment in our industry. A thriving book industry means a richer cultural landscape and a stronger economy for all British Columbians.”
Download the press release here
]]>Books BC is looking for its next Executive Director. This is a full-time (35 hour/week) role based in Vancouver, BC. The Executive Director will oversee the organization’s strategic direction and operations, advocate on behalf of members, and nurture relationships with stakeholders. Key responsibilities include managing organizational resources, liaising with government agencies, and fostering opportunities for growth in the BC publishing sector. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the Canadian independent publishing industry and a desire to champion BC publishers. The full details of the job posting can be found on our Careers Page.
Applications should be emailed to: careers@books.bc.ca.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 9th
]]>Key findings include:
A Supportive and Evolving Ecosystem
Across the value chain, BC publishers of all sizes are testing new models and markets and deepening their reach to changing audiences. They demonstrate a high level of resilience to volatile market conditions, adapting to new opportunities.
BC’s Book Publishers Support BC Culture
BC publishers help communicate and preserve BC culture through a diverse range of genres and a commitment to publishing Indigenous authors as well as directly supporting BC authors, with at least 40% of their available products2 by BC authors.
What’s at Stake and the Way Forward
BC book publishers are Canadian-owned and entirely independent. Publishers are central to the network of authors, illustrators, retailers, libraries, media, and readers in BC. The risk of eroding this industry would impact more than the publishing companies and their employees; it limits independent voices that serve BC readers.
Read the full study here.
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Books BC invites you to an upcoming online panel discussion on trauma-informed editing, focusing on not further traumatizing authors during the editorial process. Starting from the principle of not causing more harm, what are some tools to support the editor/writer relationship? What are writers’ and editors’ practices? What kind of support does the writer need; what kind of support does the editor need? Author Mercedes Eng, author and editor Meghan Fandrich, and editor Kaitlin Littlechild will bring their expertise and thoughts to this important discussion.
Date and Time:
October 16th, 2025: 11:00 AM -12:30 PM PST
Panelists:
Mercedes Eng is the author of Mercenary English, Prison Industrial Complex Explodes, which won the Dorothy Livesay BC Poetry Prize, and my yt mama. Her latest book, cop city swagger, is a poetic threat assessment of the Vancouver Police Department and current mayor. Mercedes teaches at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where she organizes the On Edge reading series.
Meghan Fandrich is a neurodivergent writer and editor living on the edge of Lytton, BC, in Nlaka’pamux Territory. She is the author of Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton fire(Caitlin Press).
Kaitlin Littlechild is the founder of both Kaitlin Littlechild Editing and Juno Communications. She has honed her skills in developmental editing, copy-editing, proofreading, and authenticity reading, working with clients from various disciplines, including academic, scientific, business, fiction, and nonfiction. She is committed to furthering the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples in Canada through her work. Kaitlin holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Waterloo and multiple professional certifications, including strategic public relations and project management from the University of Toronto and editing from Simon Fraser University. She has facilitated numerous sessions and workshops for Editors Canada, where she is a member of the board, and for the Indigenous Editors Association, where she works as the executive director.
Moderator:
Matea Kulić has been working within the BC publishing and literary community for over a decade. She previously held roles as the Managing Editor and Editorial Director at the literary arts magazine The Capilano Review, and is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC). She has participated in various publishing panels, as both a moderator and guest speaker, and is interested in conversations that move the industry forward with transparency on the process.
Tickets:
Free for Books BC members and friends and $25.00 CAD for non-members. Register here.
We join the ACP in expressing our dismay at the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will permit parents to opt their children out of public school instruction that includes books with LGBTQ+ themes, citing religious objections, with the overall impact of marginalizing and erasing queer and gender-diverse representation.
At the centre of this case is Pride Puppy!, a picture book written by Canadian author Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin, and published by ACP and Books BC member Orca Book Publishers, based in Victoria, BC.
Writer Robin Stevenson writes in Macleans: “There is nothing in these illustrations that is remotely inappropriate for young kids. When I’ve read Pride Puppy to kids, they usually want to tell me about their own dogs’ names, or about a time they fell over, like the kid in the book. They like it when the puppy makes a mess, and when the dog and family are reunited. But some people object to LGBTQ+ people and families being in books at all—and rather than admit that, they misrepresent books like mine.”
Andrew Wooldridge, publisher of the books at Orca Book Publishers on Vancouver Island recently told Global News: while books have been banned for various reasons before, what is happening lately is a “more chilling” trend, especially “in terms of people choosing to target particular groups of people in the books that are being read in schools in particular.”
“What we’re seeing in this is that more and more of the books we’re publishing about LGBTQ issues are being challenged and pulled off shelves and I think that even if that book is not challenged there is the danger that it’s not being purchased or put on the shelf because people are afraid,” Wooldridge said.
Books BC recognizes the “chilling effect” such book challenges has on the book industry and joins the ACP in affirming our “solidarity with the publishers, authors, educators, and librarians who continue to champion inclusive storytelling in the face of mounting opposition.”
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—Current support for export activities through Creative BC caps at $10,000 per publisher and isn’t enough to meet the challenges of U.S. trade uncertainty. Historically, the U.S. has been the primary export destination for Canadian books — but this is increasingly at risk. If B.C. publishers are to grow and survive, they need expanded, dedicated funding for international outreach to raise the global profile of B.C. voices and showcase our cultural strengths on the world stage.
—BC Arts Council funding, a key structural support for BC Publishers, has not seen a permanent increase in over a decade. This underscores a troubling trend: while publishers continue to face mounting cost pressures for everything from paper to shipping and distribution, core funding has remained effectively stagnant for over a decade and has not kept pace with demand.
—Finally, weak copyright protections (like those stemming from the ongoing issues with fair dealing) discourage investment in new work and harm creators at every level. Copyright protections must be clarified for a sustainable book publishing sector.
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- Remove the sunset clause from the BC Book Publishing Tax Credit and reaffirm long-term support for a proven tool that supports growth and stability.
- Increase the BC Arts Council’s annual budget to $58 million. Increase market expansion funding through Creative BC — enabling publishers to explore new audiences and revenue streams beyond the U.S.
- Support work to strengthen copyright protections through both advocacy and education so that B.C. creators and publishers can continue to invest in their work with confidence.
For the first time, BC library users can explore an expertly curated list of local books, including: award-winning fiction, travel guides, children’s and YA books, nature writing, non-fiction, and more!
“BC is home to amazing authors and publishers, and now it’s easier than ever to find their stories. The new Read Local BC eBookshelf allows people across the province to explore an incredible range of local books that reflect our communities, histories, and imaginations. As an avid reader, I am so excited to see this fantastic tool launched as it shines a spotlight on our local publishers, authors, and illustrators. It will help more BC stories get discovered and shared by audiences of all ages.”
– Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport
Quick facts about the Read Local BC eBookshelf:
- Currently features 682 titles from 17 BC publishers – With more being added!
- Available via the Libby app – Getting Started with Libby
- BC library patrons can now browse hundreds of ebooks within the Read Local BC guide. Titles will be added regularly across a range of genres. Find an example of the collection here.
- Participating BC Libraries – All 71 of BC’s public libraries are part of this initiative.
- Launch Event – To mark the launch of the Read Local BC eBookshelf, BC book publishers, library representatives and two BC Authors–Candie Tanaka and Wayde Compton–will share readings and remarks at Burnaby Public Library, McGill Branch on Thursday, June 19th from 10:30 AM to noon. Register for this free public event here.
The full media release can be found here.
For more information about the collection, please visit: https://www.readlocalbc.ca/
BC Book Day aims to raise awareness among government officials and the public of BC publishers’ cultural and economic contributions and provides an opportunity to celebrate the province’s diverse range of independently published books and magazines.
“At a time when BC’s publishers and booksellers are feeling the threat of incoming tariffs and cross-border uncertainty, BC Book Day is a chance to raise our collective voice as well as celebrate the central role of BC’s book-related communities in highlighting our region’s most pressing stories,” says Matea Kulic, Executive Director of Books BC.
The Province of British Columbia will proclaim Tuesday, April 15th, as BC Book Day at an event to be held at the BC Legislature where over twenty independent BC book and magazine publishers will be exhibiting their titles. Remarks from The Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport will be given as part of the celebration followed by remarks from Nina Krieger, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts, Culture, and Film. BC author Sam Wiebe (the Wakeland Novels) and BC independent bookseller Kerri Doyle (Books & Shenanigans, Victoria) will conclude the remarks portion of the day.
Book lovers across the province are encouraged to celebrate BC Book Day on April 15th by posting a picture of their favourite BC book or BC bookstore using the hashtag #BCBookDay on social media and tagging @ReadLocalBC.
More information on the online campaign including downloadable campaign graphics and sample copy can be found here: https://www.readlocalbc.ca/
As you are aware, the U.S. government is proceeding with implementing tariffs on some Canadian goods after the 30-day pause since the initial announcement by the Trump Administration. While the full impact on our industry remains uncertain, these tariffs, which took effect on March 4, 2025, will make it harder for BC books to reach American readers and could lead to significant cost increases for BC publishers, making it much harder for Canadian publishers to compete in the U.S. market.
BC’s book industry is more than just an economic sector—it is a cornerstone of our culture, a driver of tourism, and a key exporter of Canadian stories. In 2023–24 alone, BC publishers exported over $9 million in finished books to the U.S., accounting for nearly a quarter of all Canadian book exports. For many of our members, the U.S. isn’t just another market—it’s essential to the success of their business. The ripple effects of U.S. tariffs on publishers, printers, distributors, booksellers, and authors could be serious, affecting creative output and the long-term sustainability of our sector.
Though the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) through which these tariffs have been implemented expressly limits any information or informational materials, including publications from being subject to tariffs, it remains unclear whether this exemption will apply to all cross-border book shipments and how this exemption will be applied in practice.
The events of this past week demonstrate that, even if tariffs are momentarily suspended or certain goods are made exempt, the overall chaos, unpredictability and constantly moving goal posts will lead to a broader economic fallout—rising production costs, supply chain disruptions, and border slowdowns—all of which will still impact our industry.
At Books BC, we are committed to standing with our members through the uncertainty of this challenging situation. These past three months, Books BC has continued to update provincial funders and government on the evolving situation, and to advocate for BC Publishers. Our Books BC Brief on the Impact of Tariffs on BC Publishers outlines the possible impacts, as well as both industry-led and government-funded responses that would support BC publishers through this evolving situation.
We encourage BC publishers to reach out and let us know what you are experiencing or hearing in relation to U.S. tariffs—whether it’s feedback from booksellers, conversations with U.S. partners, or concerns about supply chain disruptions. The more we share information in a timely manner, the stronger our collective response can be.
This moment is a reminder of something we already know: we must support Canadian-owned publishing. The vast majority of books found in Canadian bookstores, libraries, and schools are published by foreign-owned companies. Even when the authors, illustrators, and translators are Canadian, the profits and jobs often go elsewhere. Now, more than ever, we need to champion BC-published books in our own communities and take meaningful steps to strengthen our Canadian-owned book publishing industry.
We can do this by:
- Encouraging readers, libraries, and schools to buy and stock more Canadian-published books.
- Advocating for strong, stable support from both provincial and federal governments.
- Finding new and innovative ways to connect with Canadian readers so we are less vulnerable to disruptions in international trade.
Despite the challenges ahead, one thing is clear: BC publishers are resilient, creative, and determined. We’ve faced economic downturns, a global pandemic, and shifts in the market before—and we will find a way forward again.
At Books BC we will continue to seek out ways to support our members and to work together—through joint marketing efforts, shared resources, and new approaches to selling and distributing our books—to build a stronger, more resilient publishing sector.
Don Gorman
Publisher, Rocky Mountain Books
President, Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC)