Nearly 80 Canadian Media Outlets Have Closed Since 2020 Despite Federal Subsidies: Document

Nearly 80 Canadian Media Outlets Have Closed Since 2020 Despite Federal Subsidies: Document
Minister Pablo Rodriguez rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 28, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
Peter Wilson
Updated:
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Nearly 80 Canadian news outlets have closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 despite the federal government previously introducing $595 million in media subsidies intended to support the sector, according to an internal briefing note.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic 78 news outlets closed including 65 community newspapers,” said a briefing note prepared in March for Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.