Consultation: Redesign of the Canada Magazine Fund and the Publications Assistance Program

About the consultation:

  • Description of consultation

    The Department of Canadian Heritage is seeking input to help with a proposed redesign of the Publications Assistance Program, which subsidizes mailing costs of magazines and non-daily newspapers, and the Canada Magazine Fund, which supports the creation of editorial content and business development for the magazine industry.

    These programs help ensure that Canadians in all parts of the country have affordable and reliable access to Canadian information and cultural content. They are supported by legislative measures that will not be included in this consultation process.

    Recent evaluations of the Canada Magazine Fund and the Publications Assistance Program found that public financial support for the periodical industry is still justified, but that there are also opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the two programs.

  • Process

    The Department will seek comments on a discussion paper that contains a proposal for a new program design.

    The consultations will be in two parts: roundtable meetings for invited participants and an opportunity for anyone to submit comments in writing.

  • Timeframe

    Start Date: January 24, 2008

    End Date: April 25, 2008

  • Outcome

    The Department intends to redesign the Publications Assistance Program and the Canada Magazine Fund. The information received during these consultations will provide input for the redesign process. The Department will produce a public report summarizing what was heard during the consultations and will announce any program changes once they have been finalized.

    All publishers and associations that currently receive funding from the Canada Magazine Fund and/or the Publications Assistance Program can expect that their funding will be affected by this redesign. Their participation in this process is encouraged.

How to Participate

In writing:

Any interested party may send comments on the discussion paper by e-mail to: periodicals@canadianheritage.gc.ca

Comments can also be sent by fax to 819-994-3154.

Comments can be mailed to:

Periodical Publishing Policy
Department of Canadian Heritage
15 Eddy Street, 15-4-F
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5

The deadline for comments is April 25, 2008.


In person:

A range of stakeholders from the Canadian magazine and non-daily newspaper industries will be invited to participate in roundtable discussion meetings held in the following cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. Exact dates and locations will be sent to the invited participants.

By phone:

Comments by telephone will not be accepted, but anyone can ask to receive the pertinent documentation by mail by calling 819-994-3118.

Additional information

Contact information

Laura Chattopadhyay
Periodical Publishing Policy
15 Eddy Street, 15-4-F
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5
Email: periodicals@canadianheritage.gc.ca
Telephone 819-994-3118
Fax: 819-994-3154

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