Academic staff join archivists in mourning the loss of federal support

OTTAWA, May 28, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) joins today with archivists who have travelled to Ottawa to mourn the loss of the National Archival Development Program (NADP).

"The federal government is undermining the ability of Canadians to know our history and heritage", said CAUT executive director James Turk. "Eliminating the NADP is yet another attack on research and knowledge in this country."

The National Archival Development Program (NADP) provides support and grants to provincial archival associations and regional archives across Canada, but the program was eliminated in the last Federal Budget. The elimination of NADP is part of the $9.6 million in cuts announced to Library and Archives Canada, the national institution mandated to acquire, maintain, and make accessible Canada's documentary heritage.

As a response, archivists across Canada have mobilized an "Archivists On to Ottawa Trek" to raise awareness about the impact of NADP's elimination on Canada's archival network.

"Academic staff support the Archivist's trek and join their call on the government to reverse the decision to do serious damage to our regional and local archives," said Turk. "Without proper support of our archives, our future generations will be robbed of their history."

The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of over 68,000 academic and general staff at 124 universities and colleges across the country.

For information on today's events, go to: http://archiviststrek2012.tumblr.com/details

For more information on the changes at Library and Archives Canada, go to www.savelibraryarchives.ca

Angela Regnier, communications officer, (o) 613-726-5186, (c) 613-601-6304