Ontario Budget 2018 – FAQ
Question One: What happens to enhanced funding for public and First Nations libraries following the election, if there is a change in government?
As you know, Ontario’s public and First Nations libraries play an important role in lifelong learning, community economic development and poverty reduction in municipalities across the province. At Library Day in November 2017 and throughout our engagement with elected officials at Queen’s Park, we’ve been encouraged by the recognition of and strong support for libraries from members of all parties – Liberal, PC and NDP.
Should a new government be elected in the June 7, 2018 provincial election, they will move quickly to bring forward a budget that outlines the new administration’s priorities for the province. OLA and FOPL are continuing to work to build upon our strong base of support across all parties and to reinforce that maintaining funding for libraries is vital and non-partisan. We have and will continue to engage with all three parties – before, during and after the election – on the important issues impacting the library sector across Ontario. We have a plan and professional support to build upon our strong base of support across all parties and to reinforce that maintaining funding for libraries is vital and non-partisan.
Our work is not done. Your voices and action will be vital to ensuring that all parties remain committed to supporting sustainable public and First Nations libraries. We will be providing you with information and resources that will underscore the broad impacts, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of the recently announced investments – and the disproportionate benefit for rural and Northern libraries.
These resources will include an election toolkit that will help you engage with local candidates and secure their support for sustainably-funded libraries in the upcoming election.
Question Two: Can municipalities claw back the new funding and keep it for themselves?
The collective voice of Ontario’s municipalities was a critical factor in securing enhanced, sustainable funding for public and First Nations libraries, as well as funding for a new Ontario Digital Public Library. Dozens of municipal councils and library boards from municipalities of all sizes passed strong resolutions of support calling upon the province to step up and return to its historic role of helping municipalities ensure that public libraries receive sustainable funding.
The Ontario Government committed to enhanced funding in order to build upon existing municipal investments, with the goal of improving public libraries services and putting your library on a strong footing for the future. Rather than consider the enhanced funding as an opportunity to reduce municipal investment, local councils and CAOs have an excellent opportunity to work with their library boards to identify priority investments to maximize the community impact of this additional funding from the province.
As you know, there is a municipal election happening in October on the heels of our provincial election in June. It will be important for public libraries to thank municipal leaders for their support and to urge them to continue their commitment to public libraries.
Question Three: What is the Ontario Digital Public Library?
According to Ontario’s 2018 Budget:
“To ensure that everyone can benefit from digital technologies in their lives, Ontario will invest $28 million over three years to create a provincial Digital Public Library that provides access to digital content such as e‐books, music and audiobooks; research databases; special collections; and accessible and alternative format materials across a common web platform. For the first time, equitable digital library services will be available to all Ontarians regardless of where they live in the province — including rural, remote and Indigenous communities. This will support the province’s 300 public libraries, including 46 First Nation public libraries, which serve over 99 per cent of the population.”
Ontario is following in the footsteps of other provinces – Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia – in recognizing that a provincially-managed digital library is the most cost-effective and efficient way to provide all Ontarians with equitable and seamless access to a suite of high quality databases and learning resources, no matter where they live in Ontario.
FOPL and OLA will continue to work with the province to ensure that the Ontario Digital Public Library is equitable, effective and bold. We will also work towards enabling access for school libraries to this diverse and cost-effective resource as well. It is our understanding that the $28 million over three years includes first year funding of $4 million for start-up costs and then $14 million in ongoing subscription and management costs for two years. FOPL and OLA have recommended that this be implemented locally in public libraries in the context of their other resources and cardholder relationships.
Question Four: What about funding for school libraries?
We have had months of good discussions with the Ministry of Education about mandating and sweatering the funding for school librarians. We will continue to push on this issue. We will also push, in the coming years, Ministry of Education funding for the Ontario Digital Library beyond public libraries to increase equity for ALL students and teachers in all school boards across Ontario.
This recommendation is well launched and we will continue to push the government to improve policies to resources and staff.
Question Five: What will my library system receive in PLOG funding?
We don’t know the new formula yet. We are assured that:
- That every library system will get more. The $17 million doubles the PLOG “pool”.
- It will use new population numbers. Yay!
- It will offer additional funding for rural, remote, northern and first nation communities.
- Each of these affects the actual distribution so until we see the formula and the proposed distribution, we don’t know exact numbers.
- First Nation funding and the salary supplement will be addressed as well.
The distribution is likely to be on the normal cycle you’re used to.
FOPL and OLA will continue to consult with the Ministry.