Finance committee  Yes, that sort of fell off the back of my presentation because of the five-minute limit.

Finance committee  We're doing preliminary work. In the last year we commissioned a considerable study with the Canadian Ophthalmological Society on the costs of blindness, and it replicated some methodology that was used in the United States and Australia, where there were much better data about the costs of vision loss.

Finance committee  Yes, it's very common.

Finance committee  That actually is something that we've been negotiating. However, publishers are very hesitant to make their material available in an alternative format. I think it's mostly out of fear that the same thing would happen to their industry that has happened to the music industry.

Finance committee  If you're talking about commercial production--

Finance committee  For the most part, no. Only about 5% of the material you would get through a library is available in alternative formats.

Finance committee  Thank you very much.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. My name is Chris McLean. I'm here representing the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Thank you for this opportunity to present to the committee. In its August 14 submission to the pre-budget consultations, CNIB proposed two recommendations, which I will try to address very briefly today.