Government of Canada "Getting Out of the Map Business"

I've just learned of this initiative called "Save the Maps". The whole issue is emerging as a concern because the government has decided to close the Canada Map Office and to stop producing maps. This could mean more difficulty in accessing maps and a move toward maps becoming increasingly proprietary. Doesn't seem good. Does anyone know more about this?

From: Heather_McAdam <heather_mcadam@CARLETON.CA>
Subject: Save the Maps website now live
To: CARTA-L@listserv.utoronto.ca
Date:         Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:23:28 -0400

As of January 2007, Natural Resources Canada will discontinue the
printing of paper topographic maps and will close the Canada Map Office.
Our government wants to get out of the business of producing maps.



Many Canadians place a priority on the paper map service the Government
currently provides. Natural Resources Canada's digital mapping policy
will effectively cut off access to the majority of Canadians. However,
our politicians see this issue as a minor one. ACMLA, which represents
both the public and research communities, would like to convince them
otherwise. This policy will have an enormous impact on the Canadian
public and our map users. The Minister of Natural Resources has a
responsibility to listen to our point of view. This is not a minor
policy amendment but a major change that has implications not just for
map librarians but for the ordinary Canadian who is looking for a map
for their cottage or who wants to go snowmobiling or hiking. Canada can
be a vast and unforgiving country without a map in hand.

How you can help:

This is a political issue and we must get the message out to as many
Canadians and organizations as soon as possible. An independent website
has been set up to lobby and inform Canadians. ACMLA asks its members to
support this initiative by sending emails to inform associations,
university departments, schools, individuals, etc. of the Government of
Canada's decision to abandon printing paper topographic maps. Let your
M.P. and your Minister of Natural Resources know what their constituents
think of this decision.


Support Access to Maps for Canadians mapsforcanadians.ca


Heather McAdam
GIS Coordinator
Maps, Data and Government Information Centre
Carleton University Library