News Release

2001-04

"Fulfilling the Promise"

Ottawa, February 22, 2001  --  Mr. Roch Carrier, National Librarian, will announce today the creation of the Council for Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians, a key recommendation of Fulfilling the Promise: The Task Force Report on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians.

The report found that three million Canadians are print-disabled. Print disabilities prevent the reading of standard print due to a visual, perceptual or physical disability.

"Progress will be made in providing access if individuals from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors work together," emphasizes Mr. Carrier.

Mr. Carrier goes on to say that: "This is an issue of concern to all media  -  print, television and radio  -  and to all Canadians."

The announcement will be made at 5:00 p.m. today in Room 253-D (Railway Committee Room), Centre Block, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa.

To learn more, visit our Web site at: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/accessinfo/index-e.html.

MP3 files will be available for downloading at www.webpressroom.com/ after 12:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 23, 2001.

- 30 -

For further information, please contact:

Andrea Guzzo
Media Relations

Colleen McDougall
Council Communications
Telephone: 613-992-0908