Access to information and privacy records show 35 publishers attended a controversial 2020 teleconference with the Canada Revenue Agency and Finance Canada to discuss terms of the $595 million media bailout, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .“Canada Revenue Agency is holding calls with stakeholders on Monday and Tuesday next week about journalism tax measures,” said Finance Canada staff. .“They received some questions in advance and asked if we could provide input.”.None of the publishers reported on the meeting. .One publisher asked what's the expected time to receive payment. Another asked when the first applications would be approved. .The call is detailed in 622 censored pages of released documents. Finance Canada withheld the records for more than two years..Questions included: when can publishers expect confirmation, what are they doing for smaller publications and those who publish for particular targeted audiences, and how can freelance journalists who work for different news outlets benefit. .Records show 35 people joined the call. All names were censored. .Parliament passed Bill 97 in 2019, which approved $595 million in media subsidies deemed by the revenue minister to qualified Canadian journalism organizations. Subsidies included 25% payroll rebates and 15% subscription tax credits. .No publisher acknowledged lobbying for aid. Lobbyist Registry records do not mention the teleconference. .ATIP requests revealed in 2019 indicated cabinet agreed to provide media subsidies after News Media Canada hired lobbyist Isabel Metcalfe. Metcalfe worked as a campaign organizer for former environment and climate change minister Catherine McKenna. .The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) launched a petition in February to bring an end to the $1.4 billion in subsidies going to CBC and almost $600 million given to the mainstream media..READ MORE: CTF calls for end to CBC funding, media bailouts.“That’s bad for taxpayers, but you know that’s also bad for the media’s credibility when it should be holding governments accountable,” said the CTF. .“You should be able to choose which media organization you want to support.”
