An open letter from CBA president Stephen Cribar warns the government against allowing Amazon into Canada. The Globe has some analysis. What do you think?
The booksellers association warned the Heritage Minister that allowing Amazon to operate here would contravene the Investment Canada Act, which requires that foreign investments in the book sector be compatible with national cultural policies and “of net benefit to Canada and the Canadian-controlled sector.”
“To allow Amazon to enter the Canadian marketplace will detrimentally affect independent businesses and would raise serious concerns over the protection of our cultural industries,” CBA president Stephen Cribar said in a letter to Mr. Moore.
The CBA said the federal government should reject Amazon’s application partly because an American online retailer can’t ensure the promotion of Canadian authors and culture.
The rising tension between Canadian booksellers and Amazon underlines the paradox in federal policy that allows Amazon to run a virtual business – Amazon.ca – as long as it does not have a physical presence in the country.