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By Stuart Woods
May 1, 2010
6:57 PM

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Ben McNally rejects CBA on parallel importation reform

As Q&Q reported on Friday, the Canadian Booksellers Association has asked the federal government to loosen the laws that limit imports of foreign books. However, not all independent booksellers agree that repealing the current restrictions on parallel importation would be a good thing. In a letter to Q&Q, veteran Toronto bookseller Ben McNally (of Ben McNally Books) expresses his opposition to such a move. The letter in its entirety appears below.

Dear Friends.

While there certainly is much precedent for the Canadian Booksellers Association to act in a short-sighted and self-defeating fashion, the news that the association has asked the Government of Canada to allow it to bypass Canadian agents and buy directly from the United States really has taken matters too far.

The Canadian book business is small and fragile. The only way it can hope to survive is for all the parties in it to recognize that we are in a partnership, not an antagonistic relationship. Anyone who thinks that the health of the publishing community is not the health of the bookselling community is seriously deluded.

When the dollar unexpectedly strengthened the last time we missed a glorious opportunity to stand together as an industry and explain to the people of Canada what a vital part of its culture we are, and that if we we’re to hope to maintain a publishing industry in this country, higher book prices are not only inevitable but desirable.

This time there is no excuse. If we turn our backs on our partners at this difficult time we will only have ourselves to blame if the Canadian publishing business withers on the vine.

In my opinion this is disgraceful behaviour. This is a selfish and short-sighted attempt to have the cake and eat it, and I am appalled that it has happened without consultation with the publishers, on whom we depend for all facets of our business.

The Canadian Booksellers Association does not speak for me. I have no wish to be a part of this organization.

ben mcnally

  • Paul

    “explain to the people of Canada what a vital part of its culture we are… higher book prices are not only inevitable but desirable.”

    Somehow, I can’t see the people of Canada being overly sympathetic to having Mr McNally lecture them on how vital the book industry is to Canadian culture, and telling Canadians that they should be happy to pay higher prices while they also subsidize the industry with their federal and provincial taxes. Whatever the merits of his argument, his grasp of marketing and public opinion needs some work.

    Also, to say “The Canadian book business is small and fragile. The only way it can hope to survive is for all the parties in it to recognize that we are in a partnership, not an antagonistic relationship.” and then to go on to say of the Canadian Booksellers Association that he has “no wish to be a part of this organization” is hardly consistent. If he wants a partnership and not an antagonistic relationship he should be lobbying the CBA rather than attacking them in the public media.

  • http://www.shaunsmith.ca shaun smith

    @ Paul: Well, at least McNally puts his last name on his letters.

  • Von

    These businesses shouldn’t be getting hand-outs. It’s outrageous. Have they NO SHAME dipping into the public trough! Public monies should be used in a better way.

  • Forgetit

    The CBA don’t want Amazon in Canada, but they want to be able to order from US suppliers. Either and both will affect the Canadian industry. I don’t support protectionism on either account, but their positions are in serious conflict. This news isn’t on their website, so it seems quite sneaky on their part.

    Ben McNally is right: they do not speak for many independent bookstores. They speak for a few large “indies” such as McNally Robinson and campus bookstores. That’s why so few quality independent bookstores bother to be members. Ben McNally probably speaks better for them.

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Brian Lam, publisher of Arsenal Pulp Press

Carol Jensson and Judie Glick at the launch of the New Granville Island Market Cookbook

Robert Ballantyne, Associate Publisher at Arsenal Pulp Press, and Wesley Yuen, old friend of Brian Lam.

Judie and Carol at the end of the launch.

Susan Safyan, editor of Arsenal Pulp Press, handing out wine at the launch of the New Granville Island Market Cookbook

the spread, contributed by the vendors at Granville Island Market in support of the New Granville Island Market Cookbook by Judie Glick and Carol Jensson

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