This program, which has a $2 million budget, aims to:

• Recognize the importance of local information for democratic, community and commercial life in neighbourhoods
• Support local print newspapers in the Montréal agglomeration

Montréal is offering $85,000 in financial assistance per newspaper that qualifies for the program.

A company that publishes several newspapers can submit an application for each eligible newspaper.

To be eligible, the publishing company must meet the following criteria:

• Be an owner or tenant of a building located in the Montréal agglomeration
• Have been registered with the Registre des entreprises no later than November 30, 2021
• Publish at least one newspaper that features general interest news and is distributed door to door to homes in the agglomeration 

The newspaper(s) must:

• Offer content that is written by at least one journalist
• Provide information exclusively to the population of one or more neighbourhoods boroughs in the agglomeration or its neighbouring municipalities
• Be published at least four times a year and print at least 3,000 copies per edition

An application must be submitted for each newspaper, and the following documents must be attached to your application:

Required documents

• Company information statement from the Registre des entreprises du Québec
• A copy of the post-secondary studies diploma in journalism held by the newspaper’s journalist (employee, freelancer or volunteer)
• A PDF copy of the last four editions of the newspaper

Supporting documents

Depending on your situation:

• A document designating someone to act on behalf of the company
• A copy of the property deed or extract from the building index showing that the company owns the building or, if it is a tenant, a copy of the lease
• Proof of employment or current work contract of the employee or freelancer who writes for the newspaper. In the case of a freelance journalist, an extract from the newspaper showing an article that was written over the course of the past 12 months or a declaration under oath attesting to his or her collaboration
• A copy of the distribution contract or proof that the last four editions of the newspaper were distributed to homes in the area of the agglomeration that the newspaper serves (such as a pay stub for the person in charge of distribution). If this document does not include the number of copies distributed, a printing contract showing that the newspaper prints at least 3,000 copies per edition

Publishing companies in any of the following situations are not eligible for the program:

• Companies that are listed on Québec’s registry of companies that are not eligible for public contracts, pursuant to the Act respecting contracting by public bodies (CQLR, chapter C-65.1)
• A public organization referred to in article 3 of the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information (CQLR, chapter A-2.1)
• A company that is under the protection of the Companies Creditors’ Exchange Act (R.S.C. 1985, chapter C-36) or bankrupt within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Actr (R.S.C. 1985, chapter B-3)

Do you have questions? Complete this form (in French).