Federal Government Announces Major Cuts to Media and Disinformation Programs
The Canadian federal government has revealed significant changes to its funding programs for media and online disinformation initiatives. In a move that will reshape support for the country's cultural and information sectors, officials confirmed that funding will not be renewed for a program designed to help hire more diverse journalists and support emerging talent in the screen industry.
Spending Review Drives Program Cuts
These cuts come as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government embarks on an extensive $60 billion spending review spanning five years. The review aims to reorient Liberal spending priorities toward defense and economic growth initiatives. Details of the departmental cuts were outlined in the government's 2026-27 plans tabled in Parliament last month.
Canadian Heritage, the department responsible for cultural sector funding, plans to achieve nearly $80 million in savings by 2028-29 by targeting several programs. Among the affected initiatives is the Local Journalism Initiative, which provides job subsidies to help newsrooms hire journalists for local coverage, particularly in rural areas.
Changing Narratives Fund to Sunset
The department specifically plans to sunset the Changing Narratives Fund, a three-year $10 million program that incentivized newsrooms to hire more diverse journalists. This fund also supported training and jobs for Indigenous and Black film producers through two other programs. A department spokesperson confirmed that "in the context of the comprehensive expenditure review, the Changing Narratives Fund will not be renewed." The program is set to expire next March.
Alex Freedman, executive director of the Community Radio Fund of Canada, called the decision "unfortunate," noting that stations were currently in the process of hiring journalists under that stream. "What I suspect will probably happen is that we will redouble our efforts when/if the Local Journalism Initiative is renewed to ensure that there is space for emerging journalists and journalists from the various different minority communities that they had identified," Freedman stated.
Disinformation Program Restructured
Alongside these cuts, the government announced changes to a program dedicated to funding projects that combat online disinformation. Several million dollars in grants will be held back as part of the restructuring. This comes as the government seeks to optimize spending across all departments while maintaining key priorities.
The Local Journalism Initiative, first introduced under former prime minister Justin Trudeau in 2019, was part of a package of subsidies and tax measures to support Canada's journalism industry. To date, more than $100 million has been announced in spending on the program, which was launched to help fill coverage gaps in communities affected by layoffs and newsroom closures. Funding was last extended in 2024 to run until 2027.
Notably, CBC/Radio-Canada, the country's public broadcaster that receives approximately $1 billion in annual funding, does not qualify for money under the Local Journalism Initiative program. The government's departmental plans indicate a strategic shift in how cultural and information sector support will be allocated moving forward.
