Canadian book buyers often notice that books priced in U.S. dollars are cheaper than those listed in Canadian dollars. Aaditya Kandpal, for example, saw a diary priced at $14.99 USD and $17.99 CAD during a school book fair. This price discrepancy has been a longstanding issue, rooted in regulations from 1999 when the Canadian dollar was much weaker than the U.S. dollar.
The regulations allow importers to charge Canadian booksellers the original U.S. price plus exchange rate differences and an extra 10 percent for books from the U.S. This higher price helps cover distribution costs, especially to remote areas of Canada, as noted by Ryan Monarch, an associate professor of economics at Syracuse University. However, the Canadian dollar has since strengthened, making the price gap less justified.
Canadian booksellers have raised concerns about this pricing structure, particularly during a 2012 Senate hearing. They pointed out that consumers could buy books more cheaply through internet retailers, undermining local bookstores. Additionally, the fixed prices printed on books make it difficult to adjust for currency fluctuations, leaving Canadian consumers paying more over time.
Jane Friedman, a publishing expert, explained that while Canadian distributors may add stickers to reflect the correct price, U.S. publishers are unlikely to change the Canadian price unless they expect a long-term exchange rate shift. This means that books purchased years ago may still carry outdated, inflated prices for Canadian buyers.