The federal government has invested $43,000 in rural-orientated Liverpool magazine company, DvL Publishing Inc.
However, as General Manager Anne van Loon said, many Canadian magazine publishers are worried about the pending review of current Canadian content subsidy programs.
South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP, Gerald Keddy, on behalf of Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, announced the funding in the company’s offices April 24. The funding will go towards Atlantic Horse & Pony and Rural Delivery, which are primarily circulated throughout Atlantic Canada.
Keddy said, “This is a good investment by the federal government. This helps magazines in rural Canada remain in the market... and people do read them and talk about them.”
He added, “It allows them to pay their writers a legitimate fee for their writing and these are two magazines that are well received.”
He added being a former farmer, he buys both magazines on a regular basis.
The funding has been provided under the Support for Editorial Content component of the Canada Magazine Fund program through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Keddy said his government recognizes small, rural magazine firms have a more difficult time with costs compared to “national, glossy magazines, but there’s room for both.”
van Loon thanked Keddy but added in a subsequent interview they are worried about the review of current programs such as the Publications Assistance Program, which subsidizes mail costs through Canada Post, and the Canadian Magazine Fund. At this point, these programs will end in their current form in March 2009.
If funding is reduced, she said, “It would probably mean the death of some small businesses. What do you do? Go to subscribers and ask for double.”
And, she said, “If you don’t have readers and you don’t have writers, nothing else matters. It will be an interesting year (during the review.”
Keddy said in a later interview the government is reviewing the programs because, in part, they were initiated almost 20 years ago at a time when Canadian publishers thought American publishers would take large amounts of advertising dollars from them.
He added he understands funding as a whole won’t be reduced but the criteria could change based on what the industry requires.
“We need to see if it’s working, see what should be kept and what should be eliminated. I believe the review is a responsible use of taxpayer’s dollars.”
The company, started by Dirk and Anne van Loon, released Rural Delivery in 1976 and now publishes four magazines, various books and some contract products.
The website is
www.countrymagazines.com
