By: Gabriella Rabaa
Last November, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-15, the Budget 2025 Implementation Act. The Bill proposed changes to the Canada Post Corporation Act, including an amendment to remove the section requiring Canada Post to provide the Literature for the Blind program and to subsidize postage on interlibrary loans.
These programs are critical to ensure the availability and accessibility of alternate format materials, as reflected by Canada’s international legal obligation to provide a Literature for the Blind program under the Universal Postal Convention. Without a legislative mandate, future governments would be empowered to reduce or discontinue these services without public consultation or parliamentary approval, creating risk and uncertainty.
CNIB quickly mobilized to advocate against this change, alongside partner organizations including the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA), the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS), BC Libraries Cooperative, and Braille Literacy Canada.
In February, CNIB and our partners provided statements to the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM) as they studied the bill, recommending that these essential programs remain protected in legislation. CNIB’s written submission is available on TRCM’s website (PDF only), as well as a recording of in-person witness testimony to the Committee, provided by CNIB’s representative Jen Goulden.
We were pleased to see our recommendations included in the Committee’s report to the House of Commons Finance Committee, where an amendment was subsequently adopted that reinserted legislative requirements for Canada Post to provide the Literature for the Blind program and subsidized interlibrary loans.
Our joint advocacy effort officially came to a successful end when Bill C-15 received Royal Assent and became law on March 26. We will continue to monitor updates in this space to ensure mail service remains accessible for all, including people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision.
To learn more about CNIB’s advocacy to government, visit our Government Relations webpage and subscribe to our e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on current initiatives.