You also said that you fund publications that cost money rather than publications that are free, to be sure that the readership is are reading them. However, the Quebec Community Newspapers Association tells us that three anglophone residents out of five read their local community newspaper. That's a lot. It seems to me that this is assurance that the papers are being read.
As well, the QCNA writes, and I quote:
Our member publications cover communities that are often hard to reach. Whether ethnic, religious, senior, agricultural, educational, aboriginal or official language minority, our publications effectively provide non-duplicating coverage in both rural and urban markets throughout Quebec.
Is that not a good reason to fund these publications?