Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Andrew Wilkinson announced today that government will transition printing of materials to the private sector.

The Queen’s Printer is modernizing services while managing the printing of necessary documents through the private sector.

The Queen’s Printer will use the organization’s long-standing knowledge of the printing industry to continue to broker printing contracts on behalf of government and the broader public sector. In addition to print brokering, Queen’s Printer will continue to deliver services such as BC Laws and support for the B.C. legislature, as well as protocol and recognition products.

The growth of electronic publishing and digital information has reduced the demand for government printing. Other jurisdictions, including the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada, moved to a fully outsourced model for printed material more than a decade ago.

The Queen’s Printer will continue to provide all required government printing services during the transition to a fully outsourced printing model, which will be completed by summer 2015. The printing industry in B.C. is fully capable of meeting the printing needs of government, and this presents a good business opportunity for the industry.

This decision was made as a result of the Core Review. The Core Review process was initiated in June 2013 with the goal of ensuring government programs and activities are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible to ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars.