Toronto, The Ontario government has announced a $7 million investment to strengthen the province’s literary arts and publishing sector, aiming to bolster local authors, support publishers, and grow Ontario’s creative economy.
The new funding will enhance Ontario’s cultural industries by protecting and promoting homegrown storytellers, while helping creative organizations deliver events and programs that showcase Ontario’s diverse literary voices at home and abroad.
“Ontario’s literary and publishing sector is a cornerstone of our cultural identity,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “By protecting and promoting Ontario’s authors, publishers and storytellers, we’re preserving our shared heritage while driving economic growth and creative opportunity in communities across the province. When Ontario’s artists thrive, our whole province thrives.”
Strengthening Ontario’s Cultural Industries
According to the government, the investment for 2025–26 will flow through several key agencies and funding programs. Ontario Creates, the provincial agency supporting the creative industries, will invest $5.1 million directly into the publishing sector to fund the creation, marketing, and development of literary projects featuring Canadian authors.
The Ontario Arts Council will allocate $1.9 million across 75 artists and arts organizations to foster the creation, publication, and presentation of new written and spoken works. Additionally, the Experience Ontario 2025 program — a competitive festivals and events grant — will contribute over $100,000 to support literary festivals that promote Canadian heritage, create jobs, and attract visitors to communities across the province.
Among the recipients is the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), which this week welcomes writers and audiences from around the world. Canada’s largest and longest-running literary festival, TIFA will receive more than $200,000 in support as it celebrates its 50th anniversary and its first year operating as a fully independent organization.
Celebrating Ontario’s Literary Legacy
“The ongoing support from Minister Cho and the Ontario government through the Ontario Arts Council and initiatives such as Experience Ontario has been integral to TIFA’s success. And never more so than now in 2025 when TIFA became a fully independent Festival organisation for the first time in its 50-year history,” said Roland Gulliver, Artistic Director & CEO, Toronto International Festival of Authors. “This funding will help bring authors to audiences all year round, to better support the province’s publishing industry, and to celebrate the best books and stories from Ontario on a national and international stage. It has never been more important to champion and celebrate Ontario and Canada’s rich and diverse literary community.”
Officials say that Ontario’s investment comes at a critical time for the cultural sector, which continues to recover from pandemic-related disruptions and global shifts in publishing and digital media consumption. By targeting support for both established and emerging creators, the province hopes to ensure Ontario remains a national leader in literary production and cultural entrepreneurship.
Economic and Cultural Impact
Arts and culture tourism continues to play a vital role in Ontario’s economy, attracting visitors from across Canada and abroad. Many stay longer, spend more at local restaurants and hotels, and support main street businesses, delivering a meaningful boost to local economies.
Investments in the literary sector, the ministry noted, not only encourage cultural participation but also create opportunities for creative entrepreneurship and lifelong learning. Ontario’s diverse publishing ecosystem contributes to both the province’s economy and its reputation as a global hub for storytelling.
In 2023, Ontario’s culture sector contributed over $27 billion to the province’s GDP and supported nearly 270,000 jobs. Meanwhile, tourism spending reached $33 billion in 2024, sustaining more than 300,000 jobs across the province. By supporting festivals, events, and creative industries, the government aims to reinforce this growing sector as part of its long-term economic strategy.
Promoting Ontario’s Stories to the World
This week’s Toronto International Festival of Authors, which runs from October 29 to November 2 across the Greater Toronto Area, brings together acclaimed writers, readers, and publishers from around the globe. The festival offers a platform to share Canadian stories and exchange ideas while fostering international partnerships within the literary community.
Minister Cho said the government’s latest investment reflects Ontario’s commitment to sustaining the arts as a driver of economic and cultural vitality.
“By protecting and promoting Ontario’s authors and publishers, we are strengthening our province’s identity, supporting innovation, and ensuring that the stories of Ontario’s communities continue to inspire audiences worldwide,” he said.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming emphasized that investments like this one demonstrate the province’s broader strategy to balance cultural preservation with economic growth — keeping Ontario’s creative industries competitive, inclusive, and globally connected.
