A Liberal campaign promise to spend $120 million to buy new books for Ontario's schools could hurt the province's independent booksellers, as all the funds are earmarked for a particular bookstore chain, says one bookstore owner.
"I think it will mean the death of more independent bookstores," said Sheila Koffman, who runs Another Story bookstore in the Toronto's Roncesvalles neighbourhood.
If the Liberals are elected on Oct. 10, schools will get more than $100 million added to their book budgets, but can only use that money to buy books through publicly traded book giant Indigo Books and Music Inc., which is offering the books at cost.
A Liberal party spokesperson said the rule only applies to the new money, and school librarians can still spend their existing book budget wherever they choose.
But Koffman said she's upset that no other bookstores were given the chance to compete with Indigo on price or selection for the new funds.
And she said she is worried about the consequences, as her store does up to 40 per cent of its business selling directly to teachers and librarians.
She said many small stores depend on such sales to stay open.
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Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
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More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
