Roy MacSkimming uses scare tactics to defend an industry that is gouging Canadian consumers under the cover of the "protection of Canadian cultural identity" (Canada Would Be Renting, Not Owning, Its Literary House - March 17). He claims we would be "deprived of the current rich choice of Canadian and international titles." Why would more competition in the bookselling sector reduce our choice? Shouldn't we expect the opposite?
Mr. MacSkimming forgets Canadians typically pay more for the same titles, including titles from the Canadian authors he mentions.
For example, Alice Munro's Too Much Happiness is $17.13 (U.S.) on Amazon.com, versus $21.77 on Chapters.Indigo.ca, a big difference even after factoring in the exchange rate.