A small Ottawa bi-weekly collected nearly a quarter million in federal funds last fiscal year, the largest sum of any newspaper its size, according to newly released records. Hill Times Publishing Incorporated, an advocate of media subsidies, earlier received an additional $584,318 under a sole-sourced Department of Public Works contract that expires next month, according to Blacklock's Reporter..Cabinet in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons detailed values of federal contracts to media companies. Figures were requested by Conservative MP Rachael Thomas (Lethbridge, AB) who asked, “With regard to expenditures by government on subscriptions and data access services in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, what are the details of each expenditure?”.Records showed most federal agencies bought low-cost individual subscriptions to publications like the Globe & Mail, The Economist, Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Bulk contracts with the Hill Times awarded through 39 separate departments and agencies totaled $158,432 including $50,833 from the Department of Industry and $14,842 from the Privy Council Office..Accounts show the bi-weekly last year also received $51,948 in grants from the Department of Canadian Heritage. The separate $584,698 “communications research services” contract with the Department of Public Works expires March 31. The total $794,698 in federal funds is in addition to undisclosed payroll rebates paid to Hill Times Publishing under a federal $595 million media bailout fund..The weekly earlier joined most other publishers in demanding federal aid. In 2020 it published a commentary claiming that “if current trends continue Canada’s news media will not survive.” “Make no mistake, failing a sizable and swift intervention Canadian media face mass extinction,” said the commentary. “And if that happens the consequences for Canadian democracy now and after the recession would be devastating and permanent.”.The Hill Times in an editorial last December 5 praised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “smart,” “compelling” and “in control,” “a relatable character with his sleeves rolled up, ready to chat with his neighbours about the work that needs to be done.” The newspaper last May 16 published a separate commentary announcing “there is every chance the Conservative Party will lose the next election before it is ever called,” adding: “There is much more the prime minister can be proud of in what remains an undefeated record.”.The weekly in 2020 also abruptly apologized and deleted a commentary critical of then-Governor General Julie Payette. “It immediately attracted negative feedback saying that it was wrong,” the editor explained at the time.
