The Latest on Writing and Publishing in Canada
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | BOOK FAIRS | BOOK SALES | CENSORSHIP | PRIZES
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Anthropic Settlement to Be Finalized
A fairness hearing has been set for May 14 for the class action settlement in Bartz v. Anthropic, a U.S.-based court action centred on the infringing use of copyright-protected works for the training of artificial intelligence. Many Canadian-authored books are part of that class, and The Writers’ Union of Canada has shared information on settlement registration with its members.
The U.S. Authors Guild estimates the number of books used for the training coupled with the final settlement amount after costs will mean approximately $3,000 (USD) per book in the class will be awarded through the lawsuit. Over 91 percent of the books in the class have claims filed in the case, which shows an unprecedented level of interest and action on behalf of an identifiable class.
Depending on the decision in the fairness hearing, it is expected settlement monies could start flowing as early as fall 2026.
Consent Clauses Demanded for Publisher AI Use on Manuscripts
With concerns rising that some publishers may use publicly available AI systems to create manuscript summaries and in the actual evaluation process for their submissions, writer groups are demanding the use of consent clauses for all such activity. According to the U.S. Authors Guild:
Uploading or inputting a copyrighted work or an author’s personal information into AI systems without permission may constitute a violation of the author’s copyright or right of privacy, and it puts the author’s intellectual property and personal information at risk.
AI systems frequently retain the data input into them as part of their training database going forward, meaning that merely by submitting work to a publisher, an author may find their work freely given away to AI developers. The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC), along with its international colleague organization, insist that unauthorized loading of an author’s work into an AI system is infringement of the author’s rights. A licensing market for such rights is emerging, and such casual AI use endangers that market.
At the very least, publishers should be transparent about their AI use, and seek prior consent before any use involving an author’s intellectual property. TWUC has developed an AI rights clause for its Model Trade Book Contract, and insists on similar rights for uncontracted work submitted to publishers.
BOOK FAIRS
Despite Travel Tensions, Bologna Book Fair Has a Strong Showing
Fears that global tensions and higher travel costs would keep professionals away from international book fairs did not materialize for the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF). While noting a 2 percent drop in attendance from 2025, the BCBF still managed to draw almost 33,000 publishing professionals for its three-day mid-April program. Over 1,500 exhibitors from approximately 90 countries filled the halls, displaying the relative strength of the children and youth categories.
Ongoing conflict did mean that at least one scheduled booth, that from Iran, remained empty during the fair.
BOOK SALES
Canadian Authored Books Took Greater Market Share in 2025
BookNet Canada’s annual Canadian Book Market report shows increases for Canadian books in both the Canadian-authored and Canadian-published categories, year over year between 2024 and 2025.
Fourteen percent of all print book sales in Canada were by Canadian authors in 2025. This is a two percent increase from 2024. As well, independent Canadian-owned publishers increased their share at the cash register from 5.6 percent to 6.2 percent.
Canada has long struggled against foreign publisher dominance on our bookstore shelves, even during the heady days of strictly enforced foreign-ownership rules. With cultural and geographical ties to the two largest English-language book markets in the world.
CENSORSHIP
Alberta Expands Book Interference to Public Libraries
Building on a controversial policy mandating government-determined age-appropriateness of books in classrooms and public school libraries, the Government of Alberta has recently introduced Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act 2026, intended to make changes to the province’s Libraries Act.
Bill 28 seeks to impose the same restrictions on books in public libraries as in Alberta’s schools. According to media reports, this means all books deemed to contain sexually explicit images would be placed behind library counters and out of reach of people under the age of majority. Presumably, this means books that appear in the library catalogue may not be freely available on shelves, and library professionals will be tasked with policing age restrictions.
In a media release on April 9, the Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAPL) took issue with the proposed legislation. According to CAPL:
“Enforcing these restrictions could require proof of age, parental consent verification and staff-mediated access, creating new barriers for Albertans simply trying to use their public library. These requirements raise unanswered questions about privacy protections, acceptable forms of identification, and how people without government-issued ID, including seniors, people without fixed addresses, and newcomers, would be able to access materials lawfully.”
PRIZES
Manitoba Book Awards to Be Awarded Again
Two years after the Manitoba Book Awards were discontinued due to financial difficulties, its volunteer board of directors has announced the awards program and ceremony has been reinstated, and that submissions for the 2026 prizes are now open.
President and past award recipient, David A. Robertson, expressed the board’s excitement in an April 9 release:
“The Manitoba Book Awards have always been an important piece of the literary landscape in this province. They offer not only an opportunity for the public to celebrate the rich talent here at home, but to support and promote local creators. We are excited to revive the book awards and to ensure they are sustainable and supportive for years to come.”
Nominations for all six awards opened on April 15, and shortlists will be announced in August. In 2026, the awards presented will be:
- The Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award
- The Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book
- The Lansdowne Prize for Poetry
- The Margaret Laurence Fiction Award Prix Littéraire rue-Deschambault
- The Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Nonfiction
