Grants you can apply for · Federal program · Grant
Local Journalism Initiative
Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage
Taking applications?
Apply through the funder’s page; no deadline stated
Read from the official page on October 14, 2026. Confirm the deadline on the official page before you apply.
- Amount
- Not stated on the page
- Cost share
- Not stated on the page
- Who can apply
- Businesses; Non-profits and charities
- Where
- Anywhere in Canada
Limited to: Information, media and culture.
What it is
The Local Journalism Initiative supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.
Description from Canadian Heritage funding, the funder’s own list of programs. The Government of Canada’s Business Benefits Finder (list of July 17, 2025) doesn’t include it.
What applicants actually got
From the federal records of every agreement signed under this program.
- Agreements, last 12 months
- 4
- starting Oct 2025 or later
- Typical award
- —
- the middle half, since Oct 2023
- Median award
- —
- 4 agreements since Oct 2023
- All agreements
- 42
- $131M
Federal grants and contributions, agreements starting Jan 2006 to Oct 2026, each counted once at its latest amended value. Source: Treasury Board proactive disclosure, published October 11, 2026. Filed as “Local Journalism Initiative” (Canadian Heritage, 42).
Who got it
Organizations with the most funding under this program, all years.
Who got it in your province
Open a province to see the organizations there with the most funding under this program, all years.
Ontario29 agreements · $118M
Quebec13 agreements · $12.5M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Association Of Community Television Users And Stations (Cactus) | 6 | $7.8M |
| Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | 7 | $4.6M |
Latest agreements
| Start | Recipient | What for | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Consortium Des Médias Communautaires De Langues Officielles En Situation Minoritaire / Consortium Of Official Language Community Minority Media | Initiative de Journalisme Local 2025-2027Contribution | $7,940,000 |
| Oct 2025 | Community Radio Fund Of Canada Inc. / Le Fonds Canadien De La Radio Communautaire Inc. | Changing Narratives Fund - Local Journalism Initiative 2025-2027Contribution | $1,968,641 |
| Oct 2025 | Community Radio Fund Of Canada Inc. / Le Fonds Canadien De La Radio Communautaire Inc. | Local Journalism Initiative 2025-2027Contribution | $8,490,000 |
| Oct 2025 | Canadian News Media Association | Local Journalism Initiative 2025-2027Contribution | $12,552,994 |
| Apr 2021 | Réseau.Presse | Initiative de journalisme local 2021 à 2026Contribution | $742,530 |
| Apr 2021 | Réseau.Presse | Initiative de journalisme local 2021 à 2025Contribution | $25,200 |
| Apr 2021 | Réseau.Presse | Initiative de journalisme local 2021 à 2025Contribution | $1,500,944 |
| Apr 2021 | Réseau.Presse | Initiative de journalisme local 2021 à 2024Contribution | $1,200,944 |
| Apr 2021 | Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2026Contribution | $467,118 |
| Apr 2021 | Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2025Contribution | $180,000 |
| Apr 2021 | Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2025Contribution | $900,000 |
| Apr 2021 | Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2024Contribution | $600,000 |
| Apr 2021 | Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2024Contribution | $1,000,000 |
| Apr 2021 | Québec Community Newspapers Association (Qcna) | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2024Contribution | $900,000 |
| Apr 2021 | National Ethnic Press And Media Council Of Canada | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2026Contribution | $970,500 |
| Apr 2021 | National Ethnic Press And Media Council Of Canada | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2025Contribution | $2,400,000 |
| Apr 2021 | National Ethnic Press And Media Council Of Canada | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2024Contribution | $1,800,000 |
| Apr 2021 | National Ethnic Press And Media Council Of Canada | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2024Contribution | $1,800,000 |
| Apr 2021 | National Ethnic Press And Media Council Of Canada | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2024Contribution | $1,800,000 |
| Apr 2021 | Community Radio Fund Of Canada Inc. / Le Fonds Canadien De La Radio Communautaire Inc. | Local Journalism Initiative 2021-2026Contribution | $1,464,000 |
By year
Agreements by the year they started.
| Year | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 | $20M |
| 2021 | 32 | $79.6M |
| 2025 | 4 | $31M |
The full record: Local Journalism Initiative.
More programs: all provinces.