Subjects: ECO, POL, CFG
The Government of Canada Supports Canadian Journalism to Ensure the Vitality of Democracy
The Government of Canada supports Canadian journalism to ensure the vitality of democracy
GATINEAU, QC, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada understands that for a democracy to function properly, it needs to have solid, independent news media. It also recognizes that Canadians now consume information differently. Readers are changing their habits and are getting information online.
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, today confirmed that an independent panel of experts is being set up to make recommendations on the eligibility criteria for tax measures announced in Budget 2019 to assist Canadian journalism organizations that produce original news.
Support for Canadian journalism
Canadians must have access to informed, reliable journalism. In the 2018 Fall Economic Statement and Budget 2019, the Government of Canada proposed measures to support Canadian journalism: two tax credits and a measure to encourage charitable donations to eligible journalism organizations.
Minister Rodriguez will ask an independent panel of experts to make recommendations on the eligibility criteria for the tax measures in order to ensure that they are efficient, transparent and fair.
Minister Rodriguez announced that he has invited eight associations that represent Canadian journalism to submit the name of a candidate to take part in the work of the independent panel of experts.
The eight associations are News Media Canada, the Association de la presse francophone, the Quebec Community Newspaper Association, the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists, the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec, Unifor and the Fédération nationale des communications.
These associations were chosen because they represent the majority of Canadian news media publishers and journalists. The independent panel of experts will be able to consider the views of third parties, including industry stakeholders. In this way, Minister Rodriguez is also ensuring a wide variety of independent advice is provided.
The mandate of the independent panel of experts will come into effect with the appointment of the panel, which is planned for mid-June, and will continue until the panel provides its recommendations to the minister later in July.
Supporting local journalism in underserved communities
In Budget 2018, the Government announced a new investment of $50 million over five years to support professional local journalism. The objective of this funding is to allow Canadians living in underserved communities to continue to have access to media coverage on topics of public interest that affect them.
Minister Rodriguez has also designated seven independent non-governmental organizations, representing different segments of the media industry, to independently administer the funds (the list of administrator organizations is available in the attached backgrounder).
Media outlets that receive funding from the Local Journalism Initiative will be able to hire journalists to strengthen local coverage of civic matters in underserved communities.
Quotes
"Our government is committed to ensuring that Canadians everywhere continue to have access to accurate, diverse and relevant news. In order for that to happen, we have to continue to have an active, professional, reliable and independent press. Today, we are reaching another milestone toward the implementation of these measures that aim to support Canadian journalism and journalism in underserved communities."
?The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
"When we talk about supporting Canadian journalism, we're talking about supporting the right to accurate and reliable information. We need responsible journalism to help Canadians get a better understanding of what's happening in our country and around the world. Whether it's holding governments to account or getting involved in a local cause, Canadians rely on the journalism industry to shine a light on what's important?and these measures will help the industry continue to do exactly that."
?The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance
Quick Facts
In Budget 2019, the Government proposed three new initiatives to support Canadian journalism:
- allowing not-for-profit news organizations to receive charitable donations and issue official donation receipts;
- creating a new refundable labour tax credit for qualifying news organizations; and
- creating a temporary non-refundable tax credit for subscriptions to Canadian digital news media.
In the latest Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada reiterated its commitment to invest $50 million to support local journalism and announced that the first funds would be paid out in 2019?2020.
Media outlets that receive funding from the Local Journalism Initiative will be able to hire additional journalists or undertake projects to give their news greater visibility in underserved communities.
For a complete list of the organizations selected to administer the Local Journalism Initiative, please consult the attached backgrounder. All inquiries related to funding from the Local Journalism Initiative should be directed to the organizations themselves.
Associated Links
Backgrounder
Local Journalism Initiative in Underserved Communities ? Administrator Organizations
Print and online media
News Media Canada (in partnership with the Canadian Press)
37 Front Street East, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1B3
Phone: 416-923-3567 or 1-877-305-2262
Email: [email protected]
Web: nmc-mic.ca
Official-language minority media
Association de la presse francophone
267 Dalhousie Street, Suite 201
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E3
Phone: 613-241-1017
Web: www.apf.ca
Quebec Community Newspapers Association
400 Maloney Boulevard East, Suite 205
Gatineau, Quebec J8P 1E6
Phone: 514-697-6330
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.qcna.org
Ethnic press and media
National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-921-8926
Web: nationalethnicpress.com
Community radio
Community Radio Fund of Canada
130 Albert Street, Suite 606
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1B1
Phone: 613-321-3513
Email: [email protected]
Web: crfc-fcrc.ca
Community television
Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations
Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham, Quebec J0X 2W0
Phone: 819-456-2237
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cactusmedia.ca
Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec
227 Notre-Dame Street East
Victoriaville, Quebec G6P 4A2
Phone: 819-604-7900
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.fedetvc.qc.ca
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
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