Perth-Wellington MP John Nater (Photo provided by Keith Mitchell, Legislative Assistant, Office of John Nater, M.P.)Perth-Wellington MP John Nater (Photo provided by Keith Mitchell, Legislative Assistant, Office of John Nater, M.P.)
Midwestern

Local MP calls on federal government to reverse cuts to Centre for Equitable Library Access

The Member of Parliament for Perth-Wellington John Nater is calling on the Federal government to reverse cuts to the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA).

Nater penned a letter addressed to Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough, saying he knows first-hand the critical need for such resources in communities with specialized reading materials that can be scarce, or difficult to access.

Nater also sent a letter from the Stratford Public Library, which he says "clearly articulates the devastating impact the immediate and long-term cuts will have on the ability for libraries to provide much-needed accessible reading materials to Canadians who live with print disability conditions."

The MP says the federal government "continually boasted that making services more accessible and inclusive for all Canadians is a priority, yet, you have targeted a program which costs only $3 million dollars a year but has an infinitely much greater value to those who rely on this essential service."

Saying he is contacting Qualtrough on behalf of all public libraries in his riding, Nater urged the government to reverse the decision, saying the "reduction and eventual elimination of this service will, without question, negatively impact an already vulnerable population."

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