Government Consultations and Letters

OLA regularly participates in government consultations to ensure that libraries maintain a voice in key provincial discussions. Members and supporters are encouraged to reuse content in our letters as they see fit.

For more information, email Michelle Arbuckle, Executive Director

2024

March 6, 2024 – OLA and FOPL letter to the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery re: ServiceOntario in Public Libraries
March 1, 2024 – OSLA letter to Ontario Directors of Education and School Board Trustee Chairs re: Ontario’s school libraries and supporting student success in 2024-25

2023

November 23, 2023 – OSLA re: Recommendations for improving Grant for Student Needs (GSN) reporting
November 2, 2023 – OSLA’s Response: The Education Act New Regulation: Director of Education Performance Appraisal
May 8, 2023 – OLA and OSLA submission re: Bill 98, Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023
March 23, 2023 – OLA and OSLA response re: revised elementary Language curriculum and English Grade 9 course
January 6, 2023 – FOPL and OLA letter to City of Toronto re: Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 and Toronto Public Libraries
January 6, 2023 – FOPL and OLA letter to City of Ottawa re: Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 and Ottawa Public Library

2022

November 10, 2022 – Submission from FOPL and OLA regarding Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (relating to development charges).
October 12, 2022 – OLA and FOPL response to the proposed Ministers Regulations to help bring the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act (22-MMAH015).
March 17, 2022 – OSLA and CSL response: OHRC “Right to Read” Inquiry Report & Contribution of School Libraries.

2021

August 2021 – OSLA letter regarding the recent modifications to the new Grade 9 Mathematics curriculum
August 2021 – Including Library Learning Commons in 2021-22 Return to School Protocols, in English and in French
May 2021 – School Libraries & the 2021-22 Grants for Student Needs, in English and in French
April 2021 – Save School Libraries Coalition – Letter to Council of Ontario Directors of Education and the Ontario Principal’s Council

2020

December 2020 – Letter to Ontario Directors of Education and School Board Trustee Chairs in English and in French
November 2020 – Written Submission to the Library and Archives Canada Roundtable (English and French)
November 2020 – COVID-19 School Library Brief For School Boards In Ontario
October 2020 – Save School Libraries Coalition – letter to Minister Lecce
September 2020 – Response to the Toronto District School Board’s decision to repurpose all Elementary teacher-librarians
August 2020 – Written Submission to the Ministry of Infrastructure consultations with the Standing Committee of Economic and Finance
- - - September 2020 – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs Report, including reflection of OLA and FOPL’s submissions
July 31, 2020 – Open Letter to Ministry of Education and Ontario School Board Associations – School Library Staff: Essential to Supporting Students Adapt and Succeed in the Unprecedented 2020-21 School Year
July 15, 2020 – Letter to Ontario Directors of Education and School Board Trustee Chairs in English and in French
June 25, 2020 – Participation in Culture and Heritage consultation with the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
May 17, 2020 – OLA and FOPL E-mail to the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries regarding public libraries and COVID-19 Pandemic
Mar 25, 2020 – Letter to the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Cultural Industries and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Regarding municipal impacts on public libraries during Covid-19
March 2020 – OLA & FOPL joint submission to the 2020 Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy
February 2020 – Investing in Broadband Access through Ontario’s Public Libraries
January 2020- OSLA Submission to the Grants for Student Needs Consultation
January 14, 2020 – OSLA and CSL response: OHRC launches Right to Read public inquiry.

2019

Past Government Consultations and Letters

OLA Response to Culture Strategy (2015-17)

- Culture Strategy Funding Review Discussion Paper (2017) by FOPL, OLA, CULC, and ARUPLO, in consultation with SOLS and OSL-N. This paper moves towards improving the effectiveness of public libraries in the context of the new Ontario Culture Strategy.
- OLA Response to draft Culture Strategy (May 2016). OLA and its partners participated in dialogue around the strategy, and the role of public libraries in supporting our culture.
- FOPL and OLA joint Response to Ontario Culture Strategy (December 2015)

Provincial Inter-Ministerial Public Library Discussion (2014)

This session was a facilitated discussion about common themes and interests between Ontario provincial ministries and public libraries. Objectives included informing staff in key ministries about existing and potential partnership opportunities and providing information about government goals, policies, and programs to consider how public libraries and ministries can work together.

Economic Development (Video)
Sharing knowledge and communicating ideas at the library. Develop your skills, create, and become an entrepreneur. Libraries are helping to drive innovation in communities.
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs: Aboriginal Economic Development Supports (Presentation)
Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment (Presentation)
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs (Presentation)
Building Strong Communities (video)
The library can be a welcoming and socially inclusive place for families. Examples: a place to get referrals to other community services, a place for specialists to visit with families (nutritionists, early childhood education, etc.), a place for young parents and their children. The library can offer a multitude of services for people new to Canada.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Health Promotion Priorities: Building Healthy Communities (Presentation)
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) (Presentation)
Lifelong Learning and Literacy (Video)
Programs for babies, pre-school children, and youth in the library and with community partners. Children can even read a story to a non-judgmental dog! The library provides services for people who have disabilities, job seekers, and those looking to upgrade their skills and education.
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities: Strategic Policy and Programs Division (Presentation)
Early Years Division, Ministry of Education (PDF)
Partnership Ideas and Opportunities from the Roundtable (discussions)

Archive, 2018-2010

2018

December 2018- OSLA Submission to the 2019-20 Grants for Student Needs Consultation
Jan 15, 2018 – OCULA’s Letter in Support for Jill Baker – Librarian at Saint Lawrence College
Jan 15, 2018 – OLA’s Response to Ontario’s Middle Years Strategy

2017

Dec 13, 2017 – OLA Indigenous Libraries Task Group Response to Ontario First Nation Public Libraries: Needs Assessment Report

2016

2010-15

July 24, 2015 – OLA response to the Municipal Legislation Review, 2015
June 2, 2015 – FOPL and OLA letter to Karen Pitre, Special Advisor to the Premier on Community Hubs, on the provincial barriers to successful community hubs.
April 21, 2014 – Appointment of Librarian and Archivist of Canada announced
May 23, 2013 – OLA’s letter to The Hon. James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage
June 8, 2012 – OLA Motion in support of a National Network for Equitable Library Service for Canadians with a print disability
May 28, 2012 – Letter to Minister Moore Regarding Funding Cuts to Library and Archives Canada
April 11, 2012 – Termination of Industry Canada’s Community Access Program (CAP)
March 18, 2011 – OLA’s letter to the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario Regarding Proposed Regulation
July 29, 2010 – A letter to The Minister of Industry, the Honorable Tony Clement
July 8, 2010 – OLA’s submission to The Government of Canada’s Digital Advantage consultation paper