OTTAWA—Canadian Printing Industries Association president Bob Elliott says he is disappointed in the Department of Canadian Heritage’s recent announcement which does not require publishers to print their magazines or newspapers in Canada to be eligible for the Canada Periodical Fund.

“Ultimately if there are tax dollars being used to support the printing of publications those Canadian tax dollars should be spent in Canada,” says Elliott. “This opens the door for that not to happen, for those dollars to be spent outside of Canada.” He says it is difficult to judge the potential impact of this decision but hopes through discussion with the Department of Canadian Heritage it can be changed.

The Canada Periodical Fund was introduced in the spring and replaces the centuries-old postal subsidy and the Canada Magazine Fund. The postal subsidy required publishers to print in Canada. They also had to use Canada Post to distribute their publications. That requirement has also been removed.