Here we go again. The Carney government has directed cabinet ministers to identify areas for reduced program spending by 7.5 percent in the fiscal year that begins next April, 10 percent the year after, and a cumulative 15 percent for 2028-29. If expenditures are to meet NATO’s targets, stimulate the economy and protect social programs, the money must come from somewhere.
What does that mean for Library and Archives Canada?
The 2025-26 Main Estimates allocated $208,150,119 to Library and Archives Canada, representing a 4.2% increase from the previous year’s $199,806,690. LAC’s expenditures support three statutory responsibilities:
Providing access to documentary heritage
Acquiring and preserving documentary heritage
Internal Services
Here’s the fundamental financial data for each, with the 7.5% decrease applied equally across all categories in the right-hand column.
| Category | Expenditure Type | 2024-25 Amount | 2025-26 Amount | Percent Increase | 2026-27 Amount |
| Providing access to documentary heritage | Operating | $37,820,020 | $56,786,182 | 50.15% | $52,527,218 |
| Providing access to documentary heritage | Capital | $44,790,676 | $35,252,002 | -21.30% | $32,608,102 |
| Acquiring and preserving documentary heritage | Operating | $67,100,827 | $67,199,899 | 0.15% | $62,159,907 |
| Acquiring and preserving documentary heritage | Capital | $7,791,921 | $5,727,792 | -26.49% | $5,298,208 |
| Internal Services | Operating | $43,147,246 | $44,259,244 | 2.58% | $40,939,801 |
It’s improbable the cut would be across the board. How much will small p politics play into it? Would it be politically acceptable to curtail or downscale the opening of Ādisōke next year due to budget cuts?
As with plants, periodic pruning of an organization is healthy. Could we see fewer LAC blog posts, such as “Pineapple-cheese salad from the 1950s“, reconsideration of the priority of hosting a Creator in Residence, or termination of the failing Co-Lab challenges?
Will we see consolidation, resulting in a reduction in the number of managers? No doubt some of them possess skills that could be employed in priority areas outside LAC. There is presently one vacant director position and seven acting directors at LAC.
Will LAC seize the opportunity?
As you said, here we go again. Cheers, BT