Québec's Fonds de la Recherche en Santé has released their Policy regarding open access to published research outputs.
From the Preamble:
The Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) is mandated to promote and fund research, researcher training, and knowledge dissemination. As a manager of public funds, it is firmly committed to ensuring that the full potential of research outputs is used and that the return on research investments is optimized so that society as a whole can reap the benefits thereof. In adopting this Policy, the FRSQ, reaffirming the independence of researchers and repeating its acknowledgement of their crucial role in developing research, intends to establish measures that will structure and support researchers' initiatives to disseminate research outputs and thereby foster open access to them when possible.
Comment: this is a policy with a focus on education, and clear strength in indicating the preference for open access. The wording of this policy suggests further support for open access will follow.
Thanks to Stevan Harnad on the American Scientist Open Access Forum.
