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Application Guidelines — Aid to Publishers — Digital Periodical

Canada Periodical Fund

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Objectives and expected results for the Canada Periodical Fund

The Canada Periodical Fund provides financial support to Canadian print magazines, print (non-daily) community newspapers and digital periodicals to enable them to overcome market disadvantages. The Fund ensures Canadians have access to diverse Canadian editorial content in these publications.

Objectives and expected results for the Aid to Publishers

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

We recognize that official-language minority, Indigenous, ethnocultural and 2SLGBTQI+ periodicals have a key role in the communities they serve. These periodicals benefit from special measures that improve their access to the Aid to Publishers component. These measures deal with matters such as the number of paid copies and the prices of print magazines and print community newspapers and the financial requirements for digital periodicals.

Eligibility

We are responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant and their periodical.

Your application must cover the 12-month fiscal year period of your publishing firm ending between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

Who can apply

Publishing firms producing digital-only periodicals are eligible to the Aid to Publishers – Digital Periodical component.

To be eligible for funding, your organization must meet all the following requirements:

To be eligible for funding, you must meet all eligibility requirements at the time of your application and until March 31, 2027.

Eligible projects

You must submit a separate funding application for each eligible digital periodical.

Eligible digital periodicals

General conditions

To be eligible for funding, your digital periodical must meet all of the requirements below:

Note: The minimum revenue does not apply to official language minority, Indigenous, ethnocultural and 2SLGBTQI+ digital periodicals.

Specific conditions

To be eligible for funding, your digital periodical must meet the following minimal requirements:

Content

An eligible digital periodical can be published in any language and must meet all the following requirements:

Ineligible digital periodicals

The following digital periodicals are ineligible to the Aid to Publishers – Digital Periodical component:

Note: Digital periodicals that do not specify the original source of their content may be rejected.

Eligible expenses

The component provides flexibility to allow publishing firms to direct funding to the areas of greatest need. Recipients can spend the funding on a variety of publishing activities, including:

The expenses must be incurred between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, and any unspent amounts could be required to be reimbursed.

Financial support cannot be used to pay dividends, bonuses, or other extraordinary compensation to shareholders or owners.

Limits of government assistance

To ensure the success of your activities, we encourage you to have other sources of funding. This funding can come from contributions from your organization, the private sector, or other levels of government.

The total governmental assistance received for your digital periodical through the Aid to Publishers component and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 75% of your digital periodical’s total eligible expenditures for the creation, production, marketing, and distribution of your digital periodical.

Except for farm periodicals, the maximum amount that can be granted is $1.5 million per eligible project.

Applying for more than 12 months

The duration of your project cannot exceed 12 months.

How to apply

Read the entire Application Guidelines before completing your application. You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding.

A complete application package includes all the following supporting documents, duly signed by the authorized representative:

Please note that the Web analytics report provided must come from an official application or service; an Excel or Word document will not be accepted.

Application process

Your application, including all required documents, must be submitted electronically through the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal.

Your online application must be submitted by 4:00 pm ET on the deadline established by the Program to be considered.

Should you be unable to access the new online system or apply online for any reason, please contact our support team:

Email
info@pch.gc.ca
Telephone
819-997-0055 1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
TTY
1-888-997-3123 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired)

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:30 pm ET.

How applications are evaluated

Your application is reviewed and assessed based on the program’s eligibility requirements. Funding will be allocated proportionally based on eligible editorial expenses of each eligible digital periodical under the Aid to Publishers component.

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation of your new application and could result in a rejection of your new application.

Evaluation criteria

Your application will be assessed according to the eligibility requirements of the Aid to Publishers – Digital Periodical component.

We may request additional information or documents to determine the eligibility of your application. However, the assessment of your application could be based solely on the information provided when you submitted your application.

If a change of ownership or another major change in operations occurs during the assessment process of your funding application, you must inform the Program as soon as possible. Failure to do so may result in the application being rejected.

Application processing time

Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the Program.

An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent to you by email automatically following the submission of your funding application via the Portal.

Funding decisions

Please note that decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

We will determine if funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution.

A grant is a payment issued to a recipient for a project. The conditions you agreed to at the time of application will apply. At the end of your project, you may be required to submit a report and/or participate in the evaluation of results.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by your organization and by us and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.

How funding is calculated

Total funding reserved for digital periodicals is distributed among eligible recipients based on the total eligible editorial expenses. For example, a publication that accounts for 2% of the total eligible editorial expenses will receive approximately 2% of the available funds for these expenses for digital periodicals.

The final proportion is adjusted based on the category of the periodical.

Eligible editorial expenses

In order to complete the “Canadian Editorial Content Expenses” section of the application form, you must compile only eligible expenses.

Only expenses related to the salaries (for employees) and remuneration (for freelancers, interns or outsourced production) of individuals who create original Canadian editorial content are eligible.

Eligible individuals must be:

Eligible expenses include salaries or remuneration for the work of:

The work must involve the creation of original text, images, graphics, photos, illustrations, or videos (videos must be accompanied by an article).

Note: The salary or remuneration of a person who contributes to content creation that is repeated in more than one periodical of your organization must be reported on a prorated basis or in a single periodical.

Ineligible editorial expenses

The following expenses are not eligible:

Funding conditions

You may be required to submit interim reports during your project. If you receive $250,000 or more as a contribution, you are required to submit an audited financial report.

Additional conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in your funding agreement.

Should the status of your publishing firm or periodical change, you must immediately inform us if one or more of the following changes occurs:

Should shares or assets of your periodical or publishing firm be sold, merged or by any other means transferred, resulting in a change of control of the specific firm or of the specific periodical, the following applies:

All or part of the financial support will have to be reimbursed, if your periodical or publishing firm ceases to be eligible during any part of the 2026-2027 funding cycle.

Prior to the release of a payment through a funding agreement, you must pay any outstanding amount to the Receiver General. If you fail to comply with the obligations related to prior funding, including repayment requirements, your future applications for funding may be rejected.

Anti-racism and anti-hate

Canadian Heritage is committed to address systemic racism, promote diversity, and create environments where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. We strive to challenge discriminatory beliefs and practices, cultivate understanding and empathy, and champion policies and programs that advance equality for all.

Organizations receiving funding, including any representatives whether employees, consultants, or other persons directly affiliated with the organization, must take steps to ensure they respect the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Official languages requirements

We are committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities and to promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official languages requirements set out in your application and in your funding agreement.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge – in English and in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Access to information requests

We are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting your funding application, you authorize us to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program

We reserve the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. We also conduct periodic Program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.

You must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us:

Aid to Publishers
Canada Periodical Fund
Department of Canadian Heritage
200 Montcalm Street
Gatineau QC  J8Y 3B5

Email
fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund@pch.gc.ca
Telephone
1-866-811-0055
TTY
1-888-997-3123 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired)

Agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:30 pm ET.

Glossary

2SLGBTQI+ periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, intended for Two-Spirit people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies.
Advertising content
Content intended to promote a product, service, brand, or organization in exchange for money or other benefits.
Advertorial content
Content of a periodical, presented in the form of an article or report, but paid for by an advertiser or through an exchange (goods or services), with the purpose of promoting a product, service, brand, or organization. Advertorial content is considered to be advertising.
Articles of incorporation
A legal document filed with a provincial or territorial government, or the federal government, which sets out a corporation's purpose and regulations.
Arts and literary periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, intended for an audience interested in the arts and literature. Its content covers artistic creations, reviews, literary analysis, essays, or interviews with authors and artists.
Audited financial report
An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard to the Project and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.
Audited financial statements
A complete set of financial statements including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Average circulation
The total number of copies circulated during the financial year divided by the total number of issues published during that financial year.
Business number
A Business Number is a unique 9-digit number assigned by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). A sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, trust or other organization must enter their Business number on the application form in "Publishing Firm Information" section. Register your business on the CRA website.
Canadian editorial content
Editorial content created or translated by a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or a participant to a federal or provincial/territorial program that provides work experiences or internships to individuals.
Canadian ownership and control

A publishing firm or periodical majority owned and controlled by a Canadian. For the Canada Periodical Fund, "Canadian" means:

  1. a Canadian citizen;
  2. a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
  3. a Canadian corporation; a partnership, trust or joint venture in which a Canadian or permanent resident or any combination of Canadians and/or permanent residents beneficially owns and controls, directly or indirectly, interests representing in value at least 51% of the total value of the assets of the partnership, trust or joint venture, as the case may be. The president or other presiding officer, and more than half of the directors or other similar officers are also Canadians or permanent residents;
  4. a not-for-profit organization in which at least 51% of its members and directors are Canadians or permanent residents.

If at any time one or more persons who are not Canadian have any direct or indirect influence through a trust, an agreement, an arrangement or otherwise that, if exercised, would lead to a control in fact of the publishing firm, the firm will no longer be recognized as Canadian-owned.

"Canadian corporation"

"Canadian corporation" is one that meets the following criteria:

  1. a corporation that is incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province or a territory;
  2. a corporation whose principal place of business is in Canada;
  3. a corporation whose president or other presiding officer, and more than half of the directors or other similar officers are Canadian citizens or permanent residents within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
  4. a corporation, in the case of a corporation with share capital, of which Canadians beneficially own and control, other than by way of shares held only as security, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate at least 51% of all the issued and outstanding voting shares representing more than half of the votes; and
  5. a corporation, in the case of a corporation without share capital, of which Canadians beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, interests representing in value at least 51% of the total value of the assets.
Consumer periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, intended for a broad and non-specialized audience. Its content covers general interest topics (such as current events, culture, lifestyle, entertainment, leisure) or specific subjects (such as hobbies, cooking, sports) and is designed for open distribution to the general public.
Community newspaper
A periodical publication, print or digital, produced by and for a local community or a specific geographic group. Its content is designed to inform residents about topics of local interest, including neighborhood news, events, community initiatives, and local services, or to provide information relevant to a common affiliation (e.g., agricultural sector, ethnocultural groups, religious communities). A newspaper is published under a common title at regular intervals.
Complimentary circulation
Distribution of copies to the public free of charge to the recipient, or for which there is no proof of sale. This may be done in print format (e.g., copies distributed at no cost) or digitally (e.g., open online access).
Cost of goods sold
Value of the opening stock plus all purchases less the value of the closing stock.
Digital periodical
A publication delivered through electronic or online platforms, whose editorial content consists primarily of text, photographs, illustrations, and other editorial materials similar to those found in print periodicals, while leveraging digital features such as hyperlinks, multimedia, and interactivity. The digital periodical is published on an electronic platform, is downloadable or sent by email, is distributed on a regular schedule under a common title and is managed by an editor.
Editorial content
Content consisting of text, images, photographs, illustrations, and graphic elements. It may be original, fully reproduced, or adapted, but does not include advertising or sponsored content.
Eligible editorial expenses

Remuneration directly related to the creation of original editorial content, both print and digital. Specifically:

  • Designer(s)
    • a person responsible for the creative selection of graphic elements and their integration with text to create a visually appealing page in a ready-to-publish format.
  • Editor(s)-in-chief
    • a person responsible for implementing the editorial policy and is responsible for the editorial content of the publication.
  • Freelancer
    • a person who is not employed by the publishing firm but provides editorial services for the publication.
  • Illustrator(s)
    • a person responsible for creating conceptualized illustrations from the theme of the text and designs images consistent with the style or format of the publication.
  • Journalist(s)
    • a person whose primary profession is to contribute directly, for remuneration, to the gathering, writing, or production of information for a press organization or media outlet, with the intention of public release.
  • Photographer(s)
    • a person responsible for producing photographs as stand-alone stories or associated with a theme or story for the purpose of publication in a print or digital publication.
  • Proofreader(s)
    • a person responsible for reading text after typesetting but before printing. A proofreader compares the compositor’s typeset pages to the original manuscript.
  • Publisher(s)
    • a person responsible for the production and distribution of a periodical, who oversees content creation and manages the publication, whether in print or digital format.
  • Translator(s)
    • a person responsible for changing words in written form from one language into a different language.
  • Videographer(s)
    • a person responsible for producing videos for publication on an associated digital platform of a periodical.
  • Writer(s)
    • a person who composes thoughts and presents information in literary forms as their occupation or profession.
E-newsletter
A periodic publication sent by an organization or media outlet to its subscribers, usually by email, to share news, information, or updates about its activities, services, or content.
Ethnocultural communities
A group of people whose members identify with each other through a common heritage. An ethnocultural community or group is defined by the shared characteristics unique to, and recognized by, that group. This includes characteristics such as cultural traditions, ancestry, language, national identity, and/or country of origin.
Ethnocultural periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, intended for a commonly recognized specific cultural or racially distinct community or specific linguistic group using other languages than Canada's official languages.
Farm periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, primarily dedicated to agriculture, agri-food, or rural activities, intended to inform, educate, or support professionals and enthusiasts in the agricultural sector.
Final report
A final report is submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements defined in the funding agreement. The final report presents the results of the activities undertaken during the duration of the project.
Fiscal year
Refers to the publishing firm's consecutive twelve-month financial year that ends on a date within the period of April 1 and March 31 of a year specified in the guidelines.
Foreign editorial content
Editorial content created or translated by a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. If the creator or translator is unknown, or if the citizenship cannot be determined, the editorial content is deemed foreign.
Indigenous communities
Indigenous communities are First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
Indigenous periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, produced and distributed by and for a specific Indigenous community (First Nations, Inuit or Métis).
Interim reports
Interim reports are submitted during a project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and updated revenue and expense reports.
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
An internationally agreed upon standard number that uniquely identifies a publication. It is assigned by the ISSN Network.
Listings
A series of words, numbers, paragraphs, photos or other items, which may include descriptions, opinions or analysis, for example: stock listings, sports scores and standings, television listings, product descriptions and restaurant descriptions.
Magazine
A periodical publication, print or digital, presenting a diverse range of editorial content. A magazine is paginated and bound, issued in consecutively dated or numbered editions under a common title at regular intervals.
Masthead
The section of a periodical which lists information on the staff, the publisher, the editorial board, and provides contact information.
Newsletter

A periodical publication generally produced by a business, institution, or other organization, intended to convey information and provide news of relevant interest to its members, clients, or employees. The newsletter is distinguished from other types of publications by the following characteristics:

  • absence of a cover page – articles begin on the first page;
  • simple and unbound format;
  • content limited to fewer than 20 pages;
  • absence of a table of contents, list of authors, full masthead;
  • absence of regular editorial columns or letter to the editor;
  • part of a continuous and regularly issued series of publications.
Newspaper
A periodical publication, print or digital, intended for a broad audience and primarily focused on the rapid dissemination of news and general information. It covers current events, political, economic, cultural, or social topics, and is published at regular intervals (daily, weekly, or otherwise). The articles are listed in chronological or numerical order.
Non-revenue content
Content other than advertising or editorial content. This may include self-promotional material or content provided free of charge to a third party.
Offensive content

Content created that, in our opinion, contains or promotes any of the following:

  • material that is hate propaganda, obscene or child pornography, or any other illegal material, as defined in the Criminal Code;
  • pornography or other material having significant sexual content unless it can be demonstrated that there is an overriding educational or other similar purpose;
  • material that contains excessive or gratuitous violence;
  • material that is denigrating to an identifiable group; or
  • any other similarly offensive material.
Official language minority communities
The official language minority communities are the English-speaking communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.
Official language minority periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, produced and distributed by or for the targeted official language minority community (a Francophone community outside Quebec or an English-speaking community within Quebec).
Original content
Editorial content created by the publishing firm or a collaborator that has not previously been published elsewhere, including websites or other Canadian or foreign periodicals. The translation of content created by the publishing firm or a collaborator is considered original content.
Distribution of copies provided in exchange for direct payment by the recipient. This includes subscriptions, single-copy or newsstand sales, as well as sponsored copies.
Professional association periodical
A publication produced and distributed by an association, a regulatory body, or an organization representing a professional sector. Its content is primarily intended for members of the relevant profession and covers topics related to professional practice, regulations, industry trends, and professional development.
Publishing cycle
An organized process involving the production and distribution of content at regular intervals and on predetermined dates, from planning through to publication.
Publication frequency
The number of issues a periodical publishes during the 12 months of the financial year. This number is determined in advance by the publishing firm.
Religious periodical
A periodical publication, print or digital, whose content is primarily devoted to religion, spirituality, or the activities of a religious community, intended to inform, educate, or support its members.
Repeated content
Content created and used for multiple periodicals or platforms under the same publishing firm.
Reproduced content
Content that has been reproduced or translated from an external source, including other media or information sources, and that is not created directly by the publishing firm.
Request circulation - Direct request copies
Distribution of free periodical copies sent or delivered individually to persons who have made a direct request to the publishing firm, whether by mail, telephone, email, or any other methods of communication.
Scholarly journal
A magazine, aimed at specialists, which presents results of research in a specific field for disseminating knowledge.
Single-copy/newsstand copies sold
Copies purchased by an individual at a point of sale or newsstand for which there is a monetary transaction and a proof of sale.
Special issue

A special issue:

  • is published within the regular publishing cycle;
  • is an additional issue, sent separately, that focuses on a specific theme or topic;
  • has a title and International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) common to the host periodical; and
  • has its cost included in the subscription cost.

An insert or a combination of two issues is not considered as a special issue.

Content published by an advertiser in exchange for money or other benefits and integrated into the editorial style of a media outlet (article, video, feature, etc.), generally related to the subject matter. Sponsored content is considered advertising.
Single copies or subscriptions purchased in sets of 11 or more, at a reduced price, in a single transaction or copies purchased by a sponsor for distribution to targeted consumers.
Subscriber
An individual who has knowingly paid or undertaken to pay for a subscription to a periodical, to be delivered over a specified period.
Trade magazine
A magazine that is targeted to workers in a particular field of employment, usually using request circulation. Also known as a business, business-to-business, or professional magazine.
Verified circulation report
A circulation report issued by an accepted audit circulation board that reports on the volume of circulation by source, circulation type by breakout, frequency, locations of distribution and selling price for a periodical during a specific period.
Volunteer
An individual working on behalf of others without receiving financial or material gain.
Web Analytics Report
A report that provides traffic information on a given website.

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2026-01-30