Thank you, Roanie.
Thank you all for listening.
I've been writing for over 30 years, which coincides with Access Copyright, I guess. I have more than 35 books published, some internationally. I may not be the most famous writer, but I have one of the longest publishing careers in my genre, which is writing for children and young adults.
Funded by a Canada Council arts abroad grant, in October I visited Colombia because grade 7 students study my historical fiction set in Hamilton, Ontario, called Revenge on the Fly. I visited 17 different schools, and every one of those children held my book in their hands and cheered. It was wonderful to share our culture with these children.
However, as I told emerging Colombian writers in a Bogotá library talk, the secret of the longevity of my career is, sadly, my ability to accept less money.
Back in 2012, my income was $45,000. I edited a magazine, worked as an artist in residence, spoke at libraries and schools, and wrote articles for adults as well as novels for kids. Secondary rights, such as public lending rights and copyright licensing, were and are still a crucial part of the writer's earnings, as is selling foreign rights. It's static income. I don't have to work all night to earn it.
This year, with two novels out, school visits, and teaching, and including Canada Council travel expense money, which is considered taxable income, I will earn $17,000. Writers have always had to struggle to cobble together a livelihood, but never like this.
In 2012, our Canadian government unintentionally granted the education sector free content with the fair dealings clause in their Copyright Modernization Act. The educators believe you said that they could have 10% of my work for free. They don't need a licence at all.
My 2012 Access Copyright payment of $3,000 dropped to $300 in 2018. Schools have not paid a licensing fee since 2013 and they're suing Access Copyright for alleged overpayment.
Schools at all levels continue to buy fewer books and copy without licences. Yesterday I visited a Canadian school, grades 3 to 6 in a gym. There were 200 kids. Not one of those children held my book in their hands. None of my novels were on display, nor were they in the library.
Every page I create requires research, writing and rewriting, as well as editing and design. Not one of these pages is free to produce. I love my role of cultural ambassador. I'm proud to do this work, even if I can't live on it, but with the current compensation models for writers and artists, our culture is not sustainable.
I urge you to stand up for it. Support strong copyright laws. As Roanie said, rescind the educational exemption when our work is commercially available and address those statutory damages.
This will not only benefit me and writers—