The ability to read and write is fundamental to participating in the workforce, being active socially and politically or defending your interests. Any information policy must provide the resources to assist individuals to get this basic skill. One source of revenue under consideration is selling government information to the private sector for repackaging and resale to the public or to charge the public directly. Some believe that government information should be sold for revenue. But many, such as librarians, believe that taxpayers have already paid for the collection of the information and they should be assured of free access to the information required to be participate fully in society.
Libraries are the major source of government information for most people in Canada.
A Federal Government program and some Provincial programs place a copy of most government publications in major libraries. Such programs are underfunded, not protected by legislation, and vulnerable to changes in government policy. Many documents are never sent to the libraries. Some information is only available in electronic form and is therefore not available in many libraries. A strong and protected library depository program will assure your access to government information such as health information, labour standards, consumer information, environmental enforcement reports, Hansard and government committee and legislative reports.