The recording of last week’s info session is up on our website and available for viewing. You can find the recording here. If you need assistance logging in to your account, please email Diana at admin@fopl.ca. I have also created a one-page primer for you to distribute to boards and councils.
I also wanted to send a quick update about the provincial budget. Late last Thursday, the Ontario Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled the 2026 Ontario Budget (attached as well). As expected, there are no announcements related to any new funding or changes to existing library funding or supports. There is a vague reference to libraries on page 72 that states:
“Ontario is also continuing to support the financial sustainability of small, Northern and rural municipalities across the province by enhancing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) through an increase to the program of $100 million over two years and bringing the total funding envelope to $600 million annually. The funding will help municipalities provide critical services, from public transit and libraries to emergency services and road maintenance.”
The key take-away from this statement is the province’s acknowledgement that libraries are considered a critical service, on par with other municipal funding draws such as public transit and road maintenance. While not a tangible “win” per se, this will be useful in our upcoming meetings with MPPs, policy advisors and other provincial stakeholders in the coming months discussing the ongoing safety and security campaign. I would also make this known to your boards and councils so that it becomes part of the discussion and boarder vernacular of the library’s place within a community.