The Left Review To port! is more worried than ever about its future after losing a major grant from Canadian Heritage this year. The magazine, which has had to appeal for donations to ensure its survival, deplores the lack of government support for publications of its kind, which focus on social and political ideas.
“We are a non-profit organization, we do not have working capital and we do not have a very, very large financial cushion. Losing this subsidy means putting us at risk of closure in the medium term,” worries the magazine’s treasurer, Yannick Delbecque, in an interview.
Founded in 2003, To port! is run by a team made up entirely of volunteers. Producing four paper issues per year still involves expenses: computer graphics, printing and mailings. Expenses that the magazine was able to afford in large part thanks to the aid to publishers from the Canada Periodical Fund, from which it had benefited for about ten years.
“The federal grant represented about a fifth of our funding. Otherwise, we live off advertising – and even then, barely – subscriptions and a few donations. That puts us in a situation of continual survival,” says Mr. Delbecque.
He explains that a “stricter” application of eligibility criteria this year led to the loss of this grant. Among the criteria established by Canadian Heritage, magazines must have sold a certain number of paid issues to be eligible for funding. However, this year, “group purchases” – such as collective union subscriptions – were excluded from the calculation.
“We never had a problem with this before, but this year, suddenly, it doesn’t work anymore,” laments the treasurer.
Questioned by The DutyCanadian Heritage declined to comment on this particular case. By email, David Larose, of the media relations department, simply recalled that, according to the guidelines of the assistance program, “copies purchased in lots of 11 or more through a single transaction are considered sponsored copies.”
Between two chairs
At the beginning of the summer – and the day after the launch of its symbolic hundredth issue – the team ofTo port! has therefore launched a crowdfunding campaign on its website. “It’s to give us a little oxygen to see things coming and find a plan B,” emphasizes Yannick Delbecque.
The goal, which was initially set at $15,000, the amount needed to produce the next issue, was reached in just a few weeks. Inspired by the generosity of its readers, the magazine increased its goal by an additional $10,000, hoping to create a financial reserve that will allow it to continue its activities in the longer term.
It’s as if we don’t exist, or as if what we produce has no interest. Even a show like “Dans les médias” has almost never mentioned independent Quebec magazines in almost 7 years of existence.
The team is also waiting for a response from Canadian Heritage by the end of the year, which directed it to another grant called “Special Measures to Support Journalism.” “Suffice to say that hope is slim,” says Mr. Delbecque. “It talks about journalism, but we don’t hire journalists. We give the floor to community groups, union activists or teachers.”
And that’s the problem. “We’re falling into a subsidy vacuum. There’s nothing for us.” As a journal of social and political ideas, To port! cannot receive subsidies reserved for traditional media, such as the payroll credit. The magazine cannot count on aid for literary or cultural publications either. “The worst part,” he continues, “is that even if the government does not consider us a media, Meta does. So we have been blocked on Facebook, which takes away our visibility.”
Philippe de Grosbois, who is a member of the collectiveTo port!also points out the magazine’s lack of visibility in the mainstream media. “It’s as if we don’t exist, or as if what we produce has no interest. Even a show like In the media has almost never mentioned independent Quebec magazines in almost 7 years of existence,” he laments, criticizing the lack of solidarity in the sector.
In his eyes, the magazine has its raison d’être, since it produces informative content that is not found elsewhere. “Let’s think, for example, of our regional files, where we portray the social and political issues of a Quebec region. […] We also explored the issue of contemporary poverty, the financialization of housing, the queer movement, engagement in science, etc.,” he gives as examples.