Special Measures for Journalism — Canada Periodical Fund
Budget 2025 announced a total of $38.4 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to extend the Canada Periodical Fund’s Special Measures for Journalism component to help small and community media outlets continue producing quality Canadian editorial and journalistic content.
The Special Measures for Journalism component of the Canada Periodical Fund is designed to provide Canadian publishers of print magazines and print (non-daily) community newspapers that have a free circulation model or low levels of paid circulation with the financial support they need to produce and distribute high-quality, Canadian editorial content for Canadian readers.
Please note that periodicals currently receiving Aid to Publishers — Canada Periodical Fund funding for the same funding cycle are not eligible under this component.
Digital periodicals are not eligible for funding under the Special Measures for Journalism component. However, they may be eligible under the Aid to Publishers — Canada Periodical Fund component, for which separate guidelines apply.
Using a formula based on eligible editorial expenditures incurred over a 12-month period, the Special Measures for Journalism component provides funding to eligible Canadian publications. Publishers are able to use funding to support the creation of content, production, marketing, and website development and enhancement.
Who can apply
To be eligible for funding, publishing firms must meet all of the following requirements:
- be private-sector entities, including corporations, not-for-profit organizations, partnerships and sole proprietorships;
- be majority owned and controlled by Canadians;
- have their principal place of business in Canada;
- have published one or more eligible periodicals at the application deadline.
To be eligible for funding, periodicals must meet all of the following requirements:
- be published by an eligible publishing firm;
- be edited, designed, assembled and published in Canada;
- be a print magazine or a print (non-daily) community newspaper;
- maintain an editorial function with an appointed editor;
- have published between 2 and 52 regular issues and no more than 56 issues (including special issues);
- have completed at least one uninterrupted 12-month publishing cycle at the application deadline;
- continue to be published until at least March 31, 2027;
- have a minimum of $2,500 of eligible editorial expenses.
To be eligible for funding, periodicals must meet the following minimal requirements for content. An eligible periodical can be published in any language and must meet all the following requirements:
- the Canadian editorial content represents an average of at least 80% of the editorial content in the issues published (or 50% for ethnocultural periodicals);
- the original editorial content represents an average of at least 51% of the editorial content in the issues published;
- advertising represents an average lower than 70% of the content in the issues published;
- clearly indicate authorship and date of publication of each article and published content.
In addition, applicants must ensure they meet all eligibility criteria detailed in the 2026-2027 Application Guidelines — Special Measures for Journalism.
Application deadline
The application intake period will take place from June 15, 2026, 8 am, to July 13, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time (ET).
How to apply
Applicants are required to:
- read the 2026-2027 Application Guidelines — Special Measures for Journalism in their entirety;
- create or access a Canadian Heritage Funding Portal account and apply online for Canada Periodical Fund – Special Measures for Journalism;
- submit the following supporting documents via the Portal:
- a marked-up copy of the last regular issue of the publisher’s fiscal year;
- the most recent regular issue as of the application deadline;
- the founding documents (official document establishing the organization) if the applicant has never submitted a funding application to Canadian Heritage or if there has been a change in your organization;
- a voided cheque or a Direct Deposit Enrollment Request form (if the organization has not received funding from Canadian Heritage in the last two years).
Additional information and documents such as financial statements or additional issues may be requested to determine eligibility.
Contact us
- Address
- Special Measures for Journalism
Canada Periodical Fund
Department of Canadian Heritage
200 Montcalm Street
Gatineau QC J8Y 3B5 - fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund@pch.gc.ca
- Telephone
- 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, from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (ET).