In 2010, the Canadian periodical fund gave financial assistance to newspapers and magazines that were delivered by mail. Part of the $75 million was given to newspaper and magazine owners who used the mail. It worked well. This money didn't go into our pockets; it went directly to Canada Post. This represented a 50% decrease in mailing costs.
Later in 2010, the government decided to call this the Canadian periodical fund, and decided that all periodicals would be eligible for funding, no matter how they were sent to readers. Instead of giving money directly to Canada Post, it decided to give it to newspapers and magazines.
It goes without saying that the lion's share of the $75 million, which stayed the same, was significantly lower for those who used the mail. We were left to compete with Chinese newspapers in Vancouver, for instance, that have absolutely no problem distributing their newspapers with carriers. We're talking about a city with a high population density, and they have no problems getting carriers to deliver newspapers to their readers' doors. That being said, my readers are scattered across Manitoba. Maybe one day polar bears will be able to deliver our papers, but for now we have to rely on the mail.
This sum of $75 million was shared between many papers that compete with mine, but do not face the same challenges as mine. The amount was never reviewed. We can say that $75 million isn't bad, but the worst part is that, for years now, only $7 million has been allocated to newspapers in official language minority communities.