Digital Periodical — 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 digital periodicals, funding is granted based on eligible editorial expenditures incurred over a 12-month 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 one 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 either a digital-only magazine or digital-only community newspaper
- have completed at least one uninterrupted 12-month publishing cycle at the application deadline, and continue to be published until at least March 31, 2027
- maintain a regular publishing schedule in which the majority of editorial content changes at least twice during a 12-month period
- contain at least 80% Canadian editorial content in the issues publishedFootnote 1
- contain less than 70% advertising in the issues published
- contain a minimum of 51% of original content in the issues published
- have articles date-stamped with identified authors
- have a clear distinction between editorial content, advertising, advertorial content and sponsored content
- maintain an editorial function where the editor is named
- regularly present written editorial content from more than one person
- present a clearly displayed masthead or contact page that includes, at minimum, the names of the publisher and editor
- be available in machine-readable format (for example, through a valid unique and distinct URL, an app for download, email format, or a third-party publishing platform) and provide access to the program
- generate revenues (subscription revenues, advertising sales)
- have a verifiable method of distribution specific to the publication
In addition, applicants must ensure they meet all eligibility criteria detailed in the Application Guidelines 2026-2027 — Aid to Publishers — Digital Periodical.
Application deadline
The application intake period will take place from February 2, 2026, 8 am, to March 16, 2026, 4 pm (ET).
How to apply
Applicants are required to:
- read the Application Guidelines 2026-2027 — Aid to Publishers — Digital Periodical in their entirety
- create or access a Canadian Heritage Funding Portal account and apply online for CPF — Digital periodical — Aid to Publishers
- submit the following supporting documents via the Portal:
- articles of incorporation
- Internet analytics report
- unlimited access to the digital periodical
Additional information and documents, such as financial statements or additional issues may be requested to determine the eligibility of a digital periodical.
Contact us
- Address
- Aid to Publishers
Canada Periodical Fund
Department of Canadian Heritage
200 Montcalm St
Gatineau QC J8Y 3B5 - 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, 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (ET).