The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) has responded to the release of Canada's Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (2026), which requires publicly funded research to be made freely available immediately upon publication. The policy aims to expand access to research findings and align Canada's approach with developments in open access policies adopted by research funders internationally.
Under the policy, peer-reviewed research articles must be deposited in a Canadian institutional repository or made available through a trusted Canadian platform at the time of publication. The requirements recognize the role of research libraries in managing, preserving, and providing access to publicly funded research.
CARL has participated in consultations on the policy, submitting comments on the draft and providing feedback to the three federal research funding agencies, collectively known as the Tri-Agencies. Its input has emphasized the contribution of research libraries to open access and the implementation of the policy.
As part of its Advancing Open Science: CARL Pillars for Action and Engagement (2026–2027) initiative, CARL has committed to establishing a national steering committee and a working group to coordinate library efforts and help researchers adopt the new requirements.
CARL has also called for additional financial support to help research libraries prepare for implementation. In its 2026 Pre-Budget submission to the Department of Finance, the association recommended an investment of $7 million over three years through the Tri-Agencies and the Research Support Fund. The proposed funding would support the development of repository infrastructure and researcher support services needed to implement the policy.
The association plans to continue advocating for sustained national funding to maintain the infrastructure and institutional capacity required to meet the policy's objectives. It also intends to support the Tri-Agencies and the Canadian research community as the policy takes effect, including through infrastructure, services, and coordinated institutional support for requirements such as institutional implementation strategies.
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