Community Newspaper — Aid to publishers

The Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) is designed to provide eligible Canadian publishers of print magazines, print community newspapers and digital periodicals with the financial support they need to produce and distribute high-quality, Canadian editorial content for Canadian readers.

For print community newspapers, funding is granted based on a formula that takes the total number of eligible copies distributed over a 12-month period as well as eligible editorial expenditures incurred during that period.

Who can apply

Eligible publishing firms

To be eligible for funding, publishing firms must meet all of the following requirements:

• be a private-sector entity, which includes corporations, not-for-profit organizations, partnerships and sole proprietorships
• be majority owned and controlled by Canadians
• have its principal place of business in Canada
• have published 1 or more eligible periodicals at the application deadline
• maintain eligibility during the term of a grant or contribution agreement

Eligible periodicals

To be eligible for funding, periodicals must meet all of the following requirements:

• be published by an eligible publishing firm
• be majority owned and controlled by Canadians
• be a printed community newspaper
• be distributed using paid circulation
• have completed at least 1 uninterrupted 12-month publishing cycle at the application deadline, and continue to be published until at least March 31, 2026
• have published between 2 and 52 regular issues and no more than 56 issues during the financial year, including special issues
• contain an average of at least 80% Canadian editorial content in the issues published during the publisher's financial year^{Footnote 1}
• contain an average of at most 70% advertising in the issues published during the publisher’s financial year
• contain a minimum of 51% of original content
• be edited, designed, assembled and published in Canada

In addition, applicants must ensure they meet all eligibility criteria, which are detailed in the Application Guidelines 2025-2026 — Community Newspaper — Aid to Publishers.

Application deadline

November 28, 2024, 11:59 pm (ET)

How to apply

Applicants are required to:

• read the Application Guidelines 2025-2026 — Community Newspaper — Aid to Publishers
• create or access a Canadian Heritage Funding Portal account and apply online for CPF — Community Newspaper — Aid to Publishers
  Apply
• submit the following supporting documents via the Portal:
  • articles of incorporation
  • marked-up copy of the last regular issue of the financial year
  • most recent regular issue
  • last 3 printers invoices of the financial year (printers invoices must clearly show the number of copies printed)
  • circulation reports, if applicable

Additional information and documents, such as audit circulation reports, financial statements or additional issues may be required to determine the eligibility of a print community newspaper.

Contact us

Address

Aid to Publishers — Canada Periodical Fund
Department of Canadian Heritage
25 Eddy St, 25-8-U
Gatineau QC  J8X 4B5

Email

fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund@pch.gc.ca

Telephone

1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm (ET).

Guides and help

• Application Guidelines 2025-2026 — Community Newspaper — Aid to Publishers
• Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support — Canadian Heritage
• Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs

Related services and information

• Canada Periodical Fund
• Business Innovation — Canada Periodical Fund
• Collective Initiatives — Canada Periodical Fund