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Native press axed
Year Published: 1990Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX3922 Abstract: Federal budget cuts will mean the end of most of the Native newspapers in Canada, according to Native leaders. At least 15 Native publications are expected to go under as a result of the elimination of the $3.4 million Native Communications Program. The papers have been receiving subsides from the Department of the Secretary of State because most of them publish in small, remote, poor communities which do not have the advertising and commercial base which sustains community papers in urban centres. Also hit by budget cuts was the Native Broadcast Access Program, which funds aboriginal radio and television broadcasts to remote northern villages. This program lost 16 per cent of its $2.2 million budget. The main Native organization in the country, the Assembly of First Nations, which represents 593 bands across the country, will have its entire core funding of $562,000 scrapped. Some 27 regional tribal councils will also lose all of their funding, while another seven provincial and territorial Native groups were cut 15 per cent. The Native Council of Canada will lose all of its core funding, and the Friendship Centre program will lose $1.2 million. Most of the cuts will take effect on July 1 -- Canada Day. Subject Headings |