OTTAWA - An independent panel of experts is recommending the federal government increase the scope of tax credits being made available to help small news-media outlets survive.
It its final report to the government, issued today, the panel says small publications should be allowed to count freelancers and independent contractors among their journalists in order to qualify as Canadian journalism organizations under the tax credit program.
The panel recommends the rules determining who should qualify as a donor to a journalistic outlet with charitable status be expanded.
And it says the Canada Revenue Agency should be given responsibility for determining which organizations qualify for funding, with the aid of an advisory body.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau included measures in his latest budget, worth an estimated $600 million, to support news media outlets that have faced a revenue crisis in recent years.
A panel of experts was then appointed to help guide the government in determining how the tax measures should be implemented.
