The federal government’s sweeping changes to a $595 million media bailout program crosses the “line of integrity” in journalism, says a former reporter who now sits on the House of Commons Heritage Committee.
In the fall economic statement released on Nov. 21, cabinet committed to enhancing the Canadian journalism labour tax credit by increasing the yearly limit on labour costs that can be claimed per employee from $55,000 to $85,000. It also temporarily increased the tax credit rate from 25 percent to 35 percent for four years. The changes will cost approximately $129 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, with $10 million per year afterward.
