Skip to Main content

24.81°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Mar 1, 2024 7:41 PM - The Canadian Press

Ottawa pledges $58.8M to continue local journalism program to 2027

Share On

ottawa-pledges-58-8m-to-continue-local-journalism-program-to-2027

The program, which provides funding for news organizations to hire local reporters, was first established in 2019.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

The Liberal government is extending a program that funds 400 local reporting jobs across the country.

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge says Ottawa will spend another $58.8 million to continue the Local Journalism Initiative until 2027.

The program, which provides funding for news organizations to hire local reporters, was first established in 2019.

The government says its journalists provide news coverage in underserved communities including Indigenous, official language minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

The funding is administered by not-for-profit organizations to protect the independence of the press.

The Canadian Press participates in the initiative through a contract with News Media Canada for editorial support and technical and delivery services.

News Media Canada is one of seven non-profits that administer the program. CP is not directly funded by the LJI and does not get LJI grant money for journalist positions.

A representative for CP participates on the panel that reviews applications for LJI grants administered by News Media Canada.

Latest news

calgary-police-say-suspect-in-officer-shooting-had-organized-crime-ties

AlbertaAug 11, 2026

Calgary Police Say Suspect in Officer Shooting Had Organized Crime Ties

Calgary police say the man who shot at officers and struck one officer twice during a traffic stop yesterday had ties to organized crime. Police have not identified the suspect, who was later found dead in the Bow River from what they describe as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators have not provided details about the type of organized crime group he was allegedly connected to. The officer was shot twice and is expected to make a full recovery. The shooting happened shortly before noon near Spruce Cliff and Edworthy Park, west of downtown Calgary.

CanadaAug 11, 2026

Environment Canada launches new polygon-based weather alert system

Environment Canada has introduced a new polygon-based alert system across Canada to provide more precise warnings about severe weather. The goal is to reduce unnecessary alerts being sent to people who are not directly in the path of a storm. Previously, when a severe storm warning was issued, alerts could be sent across an entire area, even if the storm was not expected to affect all of it. Under the new system, meteorologists will draw a specific polygon on a digital map to identify the areas facing the greatest risk. This means mobile alerts will be sent only to people located within the st

rcmp-investigating-cause-of-bald-range-wildfire-near-summerland

RCMP investigating cause of Bald Range wildfire near Summerland

RCMP have launched an investigation into the cause of the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, B.C. The Penticton South Okanagan RCMP say the fire may have been sparked by suspicious activity and investigators are looking into the circumstances. Police are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity on the afternoon of Aug. 7 near Princeton-Summerland Road, Bathville Road or Crump Recreation Site to come forward. Investigators are also asking anyone with dashcam or cellphone photos or video from the area to contact police. Police are warning the public not to spread unverified informat

canada-u-s-trade-talks-continue-as-tariff-deadline-approaches

CanadaAug 11, 2026

Canada-U.S. trade talks continue as tariff deadline approaches

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington today as the two countries continue efforts to resolve their ongoing trade dispute. It is their third face-to-face meeting in the past few weeks. LeBlanc was scheduled to travel to Washington on Monday, but his flight was forced to return to Montreal due to bad weather. Meanwhile, Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, spent Monday in the U.S. capital, where she met with an official from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Team Canada is working to find a middle ground to av

CanadaAug 11, 2026

Ontario Liberal leadership race opens with debate over Ford record and need for legislature seat

Ontario Liberal leadership candidates, including former federal minister Navdeep Bains, took part in their first debate Monday night, with the five contenders criticizing Premier Doug Ford’s government on the economy, health care, education and affordability. The candidates also disagreed over whether the party’s next leader should hold a seat in the Ontario legislature. Two of the five candidates are sitting provincial MPPs and argued that having a seat in the legislature would provide a stronger platform to challenge the Ford government. Bains and two other candidates do not currently ho

Related News

Environment Canada launches new polygon-based weather alert system

Environment Canada launches new polygon-based weather alert system

Environment Canada has introduced a new polygon-based alert system across Canada to provide more precise warnings about severe weather. The goal is to reduce unnecessary alerts being sent to people who are not directly in the path of a storm. Previously, when a severe storm warning was issued, alerts could be sent across an entire area, even if the storm was not expected to affect all of it. Under the new system, meteorologists will draw a specific polygon on a digital map to identify the areas facing the greatest risk. This means mobile alerts will be sent only to people located within the st

Canada-U.S. trade talks continue as tariff deadline approaches

Canada-U.S. trade talks continue as tariff deadline approaches

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington today as the two countries continue efforts to resolve their ongoing trade dispute. It is their third face-to-face meeting in the past few weeks. LeBlanc was scheduled to travel to Washington on Monday, but his flight was forced to return to Montreal due to bad weather. Meanwhile, Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, spent Monday in the U.S. capital, where she met with an official from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Team Canada is working to find a middle ground to av

Ontario Liberal leadership race opens with debate over Ford record and need for legislature seat

Ontario Liberal leadership race opens with debate over Ford record and need for legislature seat

Ontario Liberal leadership candidates, including former federal minister Navdeep Bains, took part in their first debate Monday night, with the five contenders criticizing Premier Doug Ford’s government on the economy, health care, education and affordability. The candidates also disagreed over whether the party’s next leader should hold a seat in the Ontario legislature. Two of the five candidates are sitting provincial MPPs and argued that having a seat in the legislature would provide a stronger platform to challenge the Ford government. Bains and two other candidates do not currently ho

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital