The Department of Canadian Heritage (www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/pap) has released the Periodicals and Publishing Policy and Programs Annual Report 2003-2004. It contains listings for all community newspapers and periodicals that received a Publications Assistance Program (PAP) subsidy.
PAP provides money for the mailing costs of paid-circulation community newspapers, based on its funding formula. In 2003-2004, the department had a budget of $67.4 million, with $49.4 million allocated for magazines and community newspapers. 1,199 different periodicals received subsidies.
ÔÇ£Postal support has a long history in Canada, even predating Confederation, and plays an important role in ensuring Canadians access to the diverse opinions available in a ÔÇÿfree pressÔÇÖ,ÔÇØ the report reads.
In July 2003, even as the overall budget of the program was reduced, close to $4 million of additional funds were directed towards community newspapers. This change made close to 250 papersÔÇöat least half of them CCNA membersÔÇöeligible for funding.
At the time, CCNA CEO John Hinds commented, ÔÇ£By allocating more funds to the smallest community newspaper through PAP, Canadian Heritage is helping to ensure that rural Canadians receive relevant news by the publications they trust. Canadian Heritage obviously recognizes the strength of our industry and its connection to individual Canadians.ÔÇØ
The full text of the report is available online at http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/ac-ca/progs/pap/pubs/report-rapport/annualreport2003-04/index_e.cfm or in pdf format at http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/ac-ca/progs/pap/pubs/report-rapport/annualreport2003-04/PCH%20MAG_AR_EN.pdf.
For community newspapers not enrolled in the program, full eligibility criteria are also available on the PAP web site.